Monday 30 December 2013

New year new you? Read this!

I first went to slimming world thanks to a very good friend of mine before I got married! She had been on the plan for a few weeks and couldn't praise the plan enough to me so I thought maybe it was with a try! I didn't go in January, I started in March, the fact of is, the month you start doesn't matter, but if you're not happy don't put it off! 

I went home from work that day, and did some research on the slimming world web page, which I must add is a complete god send so don't forget to make a note of your pin to get you on line! 
So, it all looked good and I decided to give it a try, with the help of my very supportive husband! 

When the day came it was scary to say the least! I personally went through so many different emotions! Denial, thinking that I didn't need to go at all, then thinking they'd kick me out for being too fat, and worrying that it would be just a big group of clique women who wouldn't make an effort to talk to you! Thinking that it was all a big faddy diet and no one can lose weight without being hungry! How wrong could I be!

When you walk through the door you'll be shown by someone where to go, there is usually a little table set up for new members so your consultant can talk you through the plan with out any disruptions, as it can be a bit over whelming at first! But don't worry we all felt like that to start with, and there is always someone around to ask questions! 

You'll fill in an enrolment form and be processed through at the end of group with all the weighing done in private! I can't stress enough about the privacy of group! 

I help out on the social team, which are the volunteers who help the consultant run the group, I help with the weighing and I can hand on heart say, we see so many people that I couldn't even remember someone's weight, even if I really wanted to! Also, we have to keep all information confidential, so if you are shy, don't worry :) 

At the first group, you'll listen to how everyone got on in their week (que a lot of clapping, you'll get used it it!) It was at this point on my first session I literally thought that everyone was brainwashed!!! 
I couldn't work out how these people I shared the room with had eaten all of the lovely food they'd talked about and were sat there with their huge weight losses! 
Staying at group to me is the most important thing! I know some see it as just sitting and talking about food, but it really is more than that! It's what you're paying for so if you have time I'd really recommend it, for ideas sometimes the solution to something is so easy but just something you've not thought of :) 

The first week is hard, I'm not going to lie! You feel like you've constantly got your head in your 'slimming world bible' but you will get it, even if you spend the first week living off of jacket beans and salad for fear of messing it up!! (Pretty sure we've all been there!)
I think the biggest fear is eating too much! As there are so many free foods!

There is always a way to ask for help though, wether it's on line, through Facebook, or just a quick phone call to your consultant, there is no need to stay confused till the next group :) 

How quickly or slowly sw works to me is irrelevant! If you lose quickly, fab well done, if you lose slowly, it's ok it's coming off and that's much better than the weight you could have put on by not going! 

I hope this post has helped at least one person who's feeling nervous about coming to group, it really is one big family who really look out for each other. 

I wish you well in your journey if you start it next week any questions please get in touch 
:) 
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles 
Tracey x 

All done!

Well, that was easier than first expected! 2lbs on :) I am delighted with that result!

Moved it completely forward now, and had a fab day, and even pre cooked some food for the week so I've got myself a good start to the week!

I even for the first time in years wrote a food diary to keep me thinking about what I'm eating too!

Feeling very positive about the week, and hope to end the year as I mean to go though 2014, lots of losses :)

Hope everyone keeps with it, even if you're feeling down, and defeated keep with it :)

Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles
Tracey xxx

Sunday 29 December 2013

Early meal planning Monday!

Monday
Breakfast - Bacon, eggs, tomato
Lunch - Tuna and rice salad 
Tea - Salmon, rice, carrots, broccoli 
Tuesday 
Breakfast - kedgeree 
Lunch - sw quiche, salad 
Tea - Steak, chips, salad 
Wednesday
Breakfast - smoked salmon and scrambled eggs 
Lunch - sw quiche and salad 
Tea - Roast beef and veggies 
Thursday 
Breakfast - Omelette 
Lunch - prawns and jacket potato with salad 
Tea - Rabbit stew 
Friday 
Breakfast - yoghurt and fruit 
Lunch - jacket and beans 
Tea - plaice, chips, salad 
Saturday 
Breakfast - haddock and poached egg 
Lunch - sw quiche 
Tea - chicken curry 
Sunday 
Breakfast - grill up 
Lunch - noodles 
Tea - Pork loin steaks, jacket, veggies 

The eve of the post Xmas weigh in.....

Ohhhhh if only I could tell you all the thoughs going around my head right now!! 

I really tried the whole s/w Xmas thing, and my meals were good to start with!! It was the snacks!!! 

Here is my sw lunch and starter on Xmas day just to show I did have good intentions, 

Meat and pickles 

Crab and smoked salmon terrine 

Now I just feel annoyed, disappointed, fat and, eugh!!! 

Why on earth I've done this to my self I have no idea! But it stops now! 

I can feel my clothes are tighter I feel like I did when I went on holiday and gained half a stone, there's no denying or hiding it, I've over indulged, but the important thing is what I do next! 

I could bury my head in the sand and say I will go back next week after I've had 'chance to work it off' but we all know it won't happen that way! It will just go back to a game of how much chocolate I can eat in a day and I'm not having it this year! 

I'm going to sit down after my bath, and plan next weeks meals, and work on my blog post! Thankfully my head is back in the game now thanks to how disgusting I feel right now! 

Anyone struggling with what to do with regards to this weeks weigh in, I 100% advice you just do it, get it done like a plaster, over and done with in a flash, you don't even need to look at it, just get it done! 

At the end of the day, it's Xmas we're in good company we're mostly in the same boat. We can have a laugh/cry about it and fix this together! 

It's not a failure, blip, mistake, or anything else negative, it's just life! We all have choices and which ever ones we made were ok! 

I hope everyone has as lovely Xmas as I did, and don't forget weigh in this week!!! 

Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles 
Tracey xx

Wednesday 18 December 2013

First Xmas on slimming world!

Well, it is proving to be a hard one!!! 

At first I felt the phase 'on plan when you can' was irrelevant to me as I was planning to just carry on as I was doing, but my god it is sooooo hard!!!! 

I find my self literally drooling at the tv watching all the Xmas ads, why does Xmas all of a sudden become all about the food?! :((( 

All my Xmas shopping has now been done, so all I have in my house (syn wise!) is a Xmas pud, a box of mince pies, a small tub of clotted cream and some flakes! 

I'm just struggling with all the bits in between!! 

Tomorrow is our groups party and I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to this as it's not often I get the chance to go out, especially in my new clothes size-photos to follow!! Anyway, I can tell you now anything after 6 pm is not going to be on plan, and you know what I am going to blooming enjoy it too!!! 

My main thoughs now are being positive and setting my mind to how much I'd be GAINING if I hadn't been going to group, as I know for me Xmas would have well and truely started by now! But not this year! My meals have all been good sw meals, yes I put on a lb there is no hiding that but at least it wasn't the full 6lbs that I know I can do in a week!!!! 

So I'm finishing off this post with a little motivational photo- me from size 24 in 2005 to me now!!! 

Merry Christmas everyone, I have a blog post I am working on in between Xmas and new year for anyone thinking about joining up and changing their lives for the better so watch this space! 

Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles 
Tracey xxx 


Thursday 5 December 2013

Neglecting my poor blog!

Well, I'm not sure if the lack of posting is a good or a bad thing!! 
I presume it can't be a bad thing as I only have 1.5 lbs left till I get my 3.5 stone weight loss! 

Everything seems to have clicked lately and it feels sooooo nice :) my clothes are all smaller and my old skinny clothes now fir again :))) 

It's Xmas party season so I have got myself a fab new outfit to make me more confident I will post pix on Sunday! 

Also, I will get my friend to take a photo of me in my size 24 jeans! I tried them on today and I was gobsmacked!!!! 

Anyway, sorry for the brief post, I will do better promise! :P 
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles 
Tracey x 

Monday 4 November 2013

Meal planning Monday

Monday 
B- eggs on toast
L- jacket potato 
T - cod with butternut squash risotto

Tuesday
B - omelette 
L - quiche with salad
T - Peters cooking 

Wednesday 
B - breakfast bake 
L- quiche with salad
T- spaghetti Bol 

Thursday 
B - Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs 
L - jacket potato with cheese and beans 
T - Meal out for anniversary 

Friday 
B- Grill up 
L - weatherspoons  
T - New slimming world recipe 

Saturday 
B - Hammy eggs 
L - tuna rice salad 
T - salmon with vegetables 

Sunday 
B - grill up 
L - Rice 
T - steak jacket and salad 

Monday 28 October 2013

Meal planning Monday

Monday 
B- Omelette
L-  Jacket potato, beans and salad 
T- Salmon, smash, speed soup 

Tuesday 
B - Sardines on toast 
L - Tuna, rice and salad 
T - Roast beef, carrots, swede, cabbage and broccoli 

Wednesday 
B- Grill up 
L - Speed soup 
T - paella 

Thursday 
B - smoked salmon, scrambled egg on toast with mushrooms and tomato 
L- Speed soup
T - Curry 

Friday 
B- Breakfast bake 
L - speed soup 
T - lamb casserole 

Saturday 
B- weetabix & fruit 
L - smoked haddock and poached eggs 
T - pork chow mein 

Sunday 
B - grill up 
L - jacket potato & salad 
T - Turkey and prawn curry with green beans 

Monday 21 October 2013

So this is how it feels!!!

To finally reach the next milestone!!!! 

I've finally done it!! After nearly 2 years (on and off plan to be fair!) I've got my 3 stone weight loss!! I am so over the moon with today's result! 2.5 lbs off giving me a total weight loss of 3 stone and half a pound! (That all important half a pound!) 

I'm so proud that I didn't give up even when things got hard after I went on holiday which is where I normally fall flat! 

I can't take all the credit though I have to thank my slimming buddies who have kept me going and made me realise that by me doing this I am inspiring others to do the same and this makes me very proud :) 

So now it's the task of keeping it off, and losing another 2.5-3 stone! Arghh no rest for the wicked, but I truly think I may be able to do this, this time round! 

It's not going to be easy but I'm going to try and remember how amazing achieving something you really want is!! 

Here are some of the meals that helped me get a good result this week 

Tuna pasta salad, grill up, spag bol 
                    Special curry 
If anyone wants recipes feel free to get in touch :) 
Better go! Just wanted to share my fab news!! 
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles! 
Tracey xxx

Meal planning Monday

Monday 
Tea
Salmon with vegetables

Tuesday
Breakfast 
Omelette 
Lunch 
Prawn Salad 
Tea
Peters cooking! 

Wednesday
Breakfast 
Hammy eggs
Lunch 
Rice mixed bean salad with tuna 
Tea
Lamb casserole 

Thursday 
Breakfast 
Grill up 
Lunch 
Jacket potato, prawns and salad 
Tea 
S/w Fish and chips 

Friday
Breakfast 
Omelette 
Lunch 
Mixed bean salad and tuna
Tea
Turkey and seafood curry 

Saturday 
Breakfast 
Cereal 
Lunch 
Fish 
Tea
Chow mein 

Sunday 
Breakfast 
Grill up 
Lunch 
Jacket potato 
Tea
Roast beef 

Monday 14 October 2013

Meal planning Monday

Monday
Tea
Swordfish, veg, rice

Tuesday

Breakfast  
Omelette 

Lunch 
Jacket with spaghetti 

Tea
Roast pork with veggies

Wednesday 

Breakfast 
Fruit, yoghurt 

Lunch 
Noodles 

Tea
Spaghetti Bol 

Thursday
 
Breakfast
Grill up

Lunch 
Rice 

Tea 
S/W fish and chips 

Friday

Breakfast 
Bacon and eggs

Lunch 
Jacket potato, tuna, salad.

Tea 
Scallops, chorizo, pasta pasata 

Saturday

Breakfast
Wheatabix 

Lunch 
Fish 

Tea 
Chicken Curry 

Sunday 

Breakfast 
Grill up 

Lunch 
Noodles 

Tea 
Roast 

Friday 11 October 2013

Having a moment of weakness!

Well, this post kinda shows how much I have changed, because I'm not ignoring accidental syns but the the fact I still have this cravings still mean that I still have my inner demons telling me chocolate is good! 

Well, I had lunch today with today with my lovely slimming buddy katrina who I know will be reading this.......so hi!! :P 

We set out with such good intentions, a lovely sounding jacket potato with chicken and bacon! And lovely it was!!!  

It came out full of mayo lovely ness!!!!!! 

So now we have two problems!
Problem 1, we have no idea of syns and can't find out! 
Problem 2, I now want my evening cuppa and a sweet thing and only have a two day old piece of cous cous cake left!!!!!

Problem 1 is fine, I'm writing it off as a day worth of syns and not making an issue of it because I enjoyed it and it was yummy! 

Problem 2 is, I'm now scared to grab a cuppa because my little mans chocolate buttons and chocolate fingers are in the kitchen, I really want them, but I know Saturday and Sunday are my hardest food optimising days of the week! Arghhh!! 

So I am blogging to help pass the time so I don't eat!! It's not even that I want a binge, but I don't want to slip up this close to getting to 3 stone weight loss!! 

Arghhh off to see how 2 day old cous cous cake tastes I guess!
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles! 
Tracey xxx

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Remembering to good times :)

Hey guys! Sorry I've been so rubbish again at blogging! This whole working mummy thing is taking its toll lol! 

Anyway, things are going grand at the moment :) after my massive gain on holiday I've managed to lose 5lbs of it in two weigh in's so now I'm back to being close to getting my 3 stone award! In fact I need to lose 2 and a half lbs! Difference is, I've not put any pressure on my self! It will happen, doesn't really matter when! 

I've had a fab morning of slimming world cooking to set me up for the week! Batch cooking rocks! So far we have quiche and soup all sorted and hubby has his chicken marinading for his amazing chicken tikka tonight! So today is going to be a nice syn free day! (After my big cream tea last night! Ah the perils of living in the westcounry!) 

I figured I needed to do this blog post to remember the highs, as I post too much about my lows and when I find it hard, but not enough about when it really works for me :) I hope I can continue to have this attitude as some of you already know this time of year is hardest for me, but you know what I think I can do it this year! I think I can safely say I can make it, without having to come back in January with my tail between my legs because I've slipped up!! 

I think the key to it all is making things different (yes as it does say in the slimming world bible!!! Lol) but it really is true! To keep at this you can't possibly eat the same every week, we we're learning to make lots of new yummy food and try out new things lately and it seems to be working for us!

Things will be hard this week as we have the builders in, but Sainsburys and wetherspoons are my favourite food optimising places so I know what to do! 

Anyway, better go, bath is waiting haha! Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles! 
Tracey xxx 

Monday 7 October 2013

Monday meal plan

Monday 

Breakfast
Beans on toast

Lunch 
Stew

Tea 
Salmon, jacket potato, veggies 

Tuesday
 
Breakfast 
Omelette 

Lunch
Quiche 

Tea
Surprise! 

Wednesday 

Breakfast 
Grill up

Lunch 
Soup 

Tea
Tuna pasta bake 

Thursday

Breakfast
 Hammy eggs & tomatoes 

Lunch
Quiche with salad 

Tea
S/w fish and chips 

Friday
 
Breakfast 
Sardines on toast

Lunch 
(Out to lunch) 

Tea
Seafood curry 

Saturday 

Breakfast
Cereal 

Lunch 
Fish 

Tea
Nandos chicken with s/w chips and salad 

Sunday 

Breakfast
Grill up 

Lunch 
Noodles 

Tea 
Roast beef with veggies 

Wednesday 2 October 2013

Mid week check in!

Well, I was planning a nice long blog post this evening but my darling son will not sleep, so I think I've given up on that idea! 

Weigh in was on Monday and I lost 3 of the 6.5lbs that I gained on holiday, which was fab! Luckily I have managed to get straight back on track which is new for me as I normally leave after a huge gain from being on holiday! 

Some new slimming world meals I have tried are butternut squash curry which I think hubby found on mini mins and also last night we tried the chicken tikka from the mini mag in this months magazine. Well all I can say is wow!!!!! It's become my favourite slimming world meal! And yet I don't know how to cook it!!! Lol

I seem to be paying much more attention to things this week and checking the syn value rather than just guessing it (tut tut!) so I hope that shows on Monday!! I hope to my main blog post on Friday, as I do have a good idea for a post in my head, just no blooming time to juggle being a mummy, work, s/w and blogging lol!!! :) 

Have a nice evening :) 
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles
Tracey xxx 

Monday 30 September 2013

Meal planning Monday

Tonight
Monkfish with butternut squash risotto.

Tuesday
 
Breakfast 
Omelette 

Lunch 
Soup 

Tea
Chicken tikka

Wednesday
 
Breakfast
Hammy eggs & tomatoes. 

Lunch 
Quiche, jacket, salad.  

Tea
Chilli

Thursday 

Breakfast 
Grill up 

Lunch 
Quiche, jacket, salad. 

Tea 
Salmon stir fry 

Friday 

Breakfast
Eggs on toast

Lunch 
Picnic (eggs, pasta salad, fruit) 

Tea 
Slow cooked stew 

Saturday 

Breakfast 
Weatibix 

Lunch 
Smoked haddock 

Tea 
Stew 

Sunday 

Breakfast
Grill up 

Lunch 
Noodles 

Tea
Roast beef 



Tuesday 24 September 2013

A brand new day :)

Right, so the sulk is over and I am back on track :)

Had a nice big omelette for breakfast 

Which was filled with tomatoes, ham and potatoes :) I have to say I've missed my omelettes quite a lot! 

Broccoli is all cooked for my quiche which I think this week will be chicken and bacon...who knows!?! 

Tea, well this is the bit I get scared of, hubby is cooking me a butternut squash curry. Recipie can be found here.....
http://www.slimmingeats.com/blog/malaysian-butternut-squash-curry

Kinda wishing that I had made today a green day now, but hey it's done now, I'm not synning ham!! 

Another thing I have done today is upped my fluid intake and I am trying to use that silly water my body app to try and help me remember to drink!!! 

Well, wish me luck! 
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles
Tracey xx 


Monday 23 September 2013

Almost a record!!

Well, that's it all over and done with! I finally got my post holiday weigh in all done and dusted! The grand total was 6.5lbs!!!!!! 6.5!!!! How the bleeding hell can I put on that much in 6 days!!! 

I know what I did, obviously but feel a bit like I wish I had kept some kind of control towards the end of my week as I think I could have kept it under 4lbs if I didn't piggy out yesterday on dips, chocolate, and booze! (Which is so not like me!) 

Well, weigh in was odd as I obviously knew I had gained and I was ready for it and had even said as long as it's under half a stone I will be fine, but still, doesn't stop you from feeling gutted!! 

Anyway, I know exactly what I did, I'm still ok, no tears just a bit of a sulk, but I am back on it now, as some of you may have read my meal plan is all sorted, all I need to do is get my shopping in, in the morning and I'll be set! 

I've had my holiday and like a friend said, it's not every day my beautiful boy turns two! :) 

So, if anyone sees me with anything bad near my mouth, kick me, hard!! I'll allow you this week and this week only :P

Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles 
Tracey xxx 

Meal planning Monday

Monday
Breakfast
Bacon baps

Lunch
Noodles

Tea
Trout with mushroom risotto 

Tuesday
Breakfast
Omelette

Lunch
Soup

Work quiche

Tea
Pork loin, jacket potato, salad

Wednesday

Breakfast 
Sardines on toast

Lunch 
Quiche, jacket and beans.

Tea
Spaghetti Bol 

Thursday
Breakfast 
Grill up 

Lunch 
Spag Bol and jacket potato

work - quiche

Tea 
Salmon, s/w chips and salad 

Friday
Breakfast
Omelette 

Lunch
Beans on toast 

Tea 
Seafood risotto 
Saturday 

Breakfast
Weetabix 

Lunch 
Fish 

Tea
BBQ pulled pork kebabs and salad 

Sunday
Breakfast 
Grill up

Lunch
noodles

Tea
Chicken and broccoli pasta bake 


Sorry it's been so long!

Well, here i am! I'm back!

And guess what i haven't done my normal trick of giving up just before xmas again! YET!!

what an eventful week!

We've spent 4 days in Newquay for my little dude's 2nd birthday, which well hummm he kinda enjoyed inbetween teething, having a cold, and not sleeping very well!!

We left on the monday afternoon so i missed my normal s/w group, so i weighed on the tuesday which is completely new for me as i've never gone to another group to weigh on holiday ever!!

Well, if anyone else is reading who has never weighed away, i'd highly reccomend it! i took my inspiration from my lovely friend sophie, who's fab blog can be found here....http://bend-dontbreak.blogspot.co.uk/ as she went to get weighed when she was visiting her family down here in Plymouth.

It was worth going as i got told i had lost another pound which took me to 1 lb away from losing 3 stone!!

Anyway, then the rest of the week happened!!! 

I basically let my hair down and ate what i'd missed for the last 9 months! eak!! At first it was all very controlled but then i lost it, but you know what, i'm not going to be too hard on myself because i was on holiday!

I know deep down i did my best, and if you knew what i'd eaten you may not think so, but i know i did, purely because of the fact i actually went to weigh on that tuesday! By doing so, my holiday started on the tuesday, not the monday before, so if i hadn't have gone, i'd have had another whole 6 days of not so healthy food choices! (Notice i didn't mention bad!!)

So today, is the big day, when i find out how big a gain i have had! but i am feeling ok about it, because at least i know why i have put on and i know exactly what i need to do to fix this! My meal plan is all sorted and my shopping will be done after slimming world!

I'll post my meal plan and my after weighin post later on this evening :)
PS Sorry for any mistakes, i am tired and my spell check is down x

Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles
Tracey xxx

Monday 9 September 2013

Things i need to remember at weigh in time!

Well, as some of you know it was my weigh in day today, and i was really really hoping to lose 2 lbs to get to my 3 stone weight loss....well that didn't happen. I'm now going to post about how it makes me feel when i have the weigh in results i didn't want, and also, what i need to remember in the future.

Right, so lets start the day with how i felt in work, and before my weigh in, which i think are the feelings i tend to neglect and push aside, when in reality these are the feelings that i really need to be keeping hold of as these are the feelings that are the ones that are going to keep me going when times are hard and i want to give up!

well, i started work this morning at 7, on my day off, so this could be the reason i am shattered at the moment so i apologise now if i make any atrocious mistakes!!

As i put my overalls on for work and they felt that little bit looser i felt good, happy, like this whole journey has been worth while and i was happy with how i was doing!

Then as i rushed home to get to class on time and change into my weigh in clothes, i felt even better, almost like i was really happy with my self which is rare!

So the whole morning i felt all these happy and proud feelings, all of which i let get taken away from me, and why?????!!!

Because the scales told me i had stayed the same!

Nothing more, nothing less, i stepped on the scales, and from that moment it was like everything had been snatched away from me!! I could have cried, i think i nearly did, i had lots of thoughts going through my head, like disappointment, confusion, sadness, even jealousy as I'd heard of how well everyone else's weigh in's went!!

Now, if you re someone reading this who doesn't have a weight problem, you'd not be wrong to think i am mad, because you know what? I agree!

Why why why on earth do i let my self get dragged down by the numbers? And it's not just me, most of us do it! But why!!

Because unless you ate a couple of big mac meals in between the happy feelings, and getting weighed nothing has changed!!! Absolutely NOTHING!!!

So this is what i need to remember every time i have had a weigh in where i am not too happy with what the numbers tell me!

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS!!!

Not at all, do you know what it's really about, it's about how far I've come in the last year, hell it's about the fact that i am still coming to group!

It's about being a healthy wife to my husband and mother to my baby boy.

It's about not having to run to the plus size side of the shop when i go shopping.

It's about the fact that i have lost more weight than my toddler currently weights! (which feels like a tonne when he stands on your foot trust me!!!)

And it's about, and the whole reason why i am doing this, so i can walk my darling son to school with out him being ashamed of me being his fat mummy!

And that is the thought that i have to keep with me when i feel like I've got no where or when i feel like i want to give up!

And this is the part where i preach about why staying to group really is so important!

If i had left with out having the image therapy this afternoon i would have walked straight into domino's pizza, but i didn't!! Listening to so many inspirational stories, told me not to give up, i reasoned with my self in my head, worked out where i could have gone wrong and built up a plan for the week ahead, all very productive stuff! So instead of running for pizza, i went straight back to work and stocked up on healthy foods!!

i now feel ready to start this week, and hopefully nothing is going to come up to give me any blips and i can get my 3 stone another day, because you know what, it will happen, doesn't matter when all that matters is not giving up!!

Not sure if any of them will read this but I'd like to say a massive thank you to the girls at my group who keep me going, including Fay, Katrina, and of course Rachel our fab consultant! I truly think the people in our group are some very special people, and they keep me coming back! :D

Right, i'm off for some chill out time!
love and syn free chocolate sprinkles 
Tracey xxx




Meal planning Monday!

Monday
Tea
Salmon, on a bed of spinach, with mushroom risotto.

Tuesday
Breakfast
Hammy eggs 
Lunch
Smoked salmon Quiche and salad
Tea 
Sweet chilli place & s/w chips 

Wednesday 
Breakfast 
Omelette
Lunch 
Smoked salmon Quiche and salad 
Tea 
Spinach, potato and egg curry

Thursday
Breakfast
Veggie grill up
Lunch 
Fruit salad 
Tea
Quorn stir fry 

Friday
Breakfast
Sardines on toast 
Lunch
Prawns in a Jacket potato with salad
Tea 
Sea food risotto
 
Saturday 
Breakfast
Weetabix
Lunch
Smoked haddock 
Tea
Tuna pasta bake

Sunday 
Breakfast
Grill up 
Lunch
Soup 
Tea
Spicy chicken and rice 

Friday 6 September 2013

Where to start.......

Evening everyone! I'm back!

Well, like the title of tonight's post says............really, where do i start?!!

This week has been a challenge, a real challenge, but i have taken it, and i have embraced it, and if i do put on this Monday, at least i know i gave this week the best shot i could have!

I have rocked this week, on my food choices, and my meals have been lovely and varied, I've even managed to have a lovely KK doughnut fitted in to plan, which is always lovely!

These times were the times I'd consider the up times, the times where i am perfectly happy, not a care in the world and the only thing which would be in my way would be poor planning, which as well all know, i have my food set out to military standard lol.

I've had some lovely meals, fish stew with pasta, salads, spag bol, tonight was steak and chips, lots of lovely fruit salads, I've really worked at it this week!

And now on to the deep part of tonight's post...........this week, i have had the urge to binge, now.....I'm aware not everyone is familiar with the concept of a binge so now, i will try and explain them from my view!

Binges, well they are a double edged sword..........
On one side, they are full of the lusty promise that they will make you feel amazing, it will physically get to the stage where all you can think about is the food you need, and it seems to run in phases, for instance, in school it was crisps and chocolate, and coke cola. then a few years on in college it was squares, the crisps, and weirdly, cheesy mash with chicken and peas was always a favourite too! Then in my working life when times were hard it would be a whole chocolate cake with litres of full fat coke, and you have no idea how bad i feel writing this down when i remember how many times i have done this! Like i have said before I've been an emotional eater since 15.

i have a physical feeling when i start these binges, like it awakens all of my taste buds, and that food, is the only food i can imagine wanting in that very moment, i'd almost compare it to a pregnancy craving kinda feeling!

It was always something very specific, like an old friend if you will, something i could rely on, it would never be busy, or let me down last minute, it never left!!

Then the other side of the sword..................which would come about 30 mins (yes that soon, sometimes even sooner!) the guilt, the disgust, the disappointment, the feeling of gluttony the feeling that what i had just done wasn't normal it was horrible and that in fact after the initial buzz i felt fat and gross, and had an even worse image of my self!

you see the food i chose, made me feel happy, secure, protected and i think the fact i had phases of the same foods made me associate it would being in my happy place, a place that was familiar.It was a time where i had a very low self esteem and very low opinion of my self.

So, with the help of some very good friends and a very supportive hubby who makes awesome s/w cakes!! i avoided a binge this week, and I've never been so proud :) I'd like to take all the credit, but i can't as i REALLY REALLY wanted to binge, i was in that zone, and it was all i could think about, but they stopped me, and for that i feel so lucky!

This week has made me realise how far i have come in the 15 years i have been doing this to my self, it has made me realise that i really have managed to sort out some of my esteem issues, and that these days i really do have people who love and want to support me through out the whole of this hard, but very rewarding journey :))

phew, i think, that's blog post over :))

Thanx for reading :)
Love and Syn free chocolate sprinkles
Tracey xxx 
Fish stew 
S/w quiche (above is my KK! :))
S/w chocolate cake recipe here.....
http://www.slimmingeats.com/blog/squidgy-chocolate-cake#.Uiomf2S9Kc0

Omelette 
Surf and turf :) 


Monday 2 September 2013

Meal planning Monday :)

Tuesday
Breakfast 
Kedgeree 

Lunch
Celery soup/jacket potato with salad 

Work
Quiche

Tea
Place with slimming world chips & salad

Wednesday 
Breakfast 
Grill up 

Lunch 
Quiche & salad

Tea
Spaghetti Bol 

Thursday 
Breakfast
Sardines on toast 

Lunch 
Tuna salad 

Work
Spaghetti Bol 

Tea 
Gammon, veggies, jacket potato 

Friday 
Breakfast
Omelette 

Lunch 
Savoury rice 

Tea 
Mussels & chorizo in a creamy sauce with spaghetti  

Saturday 
Breakfast 
Weetabix  

Lunch 
Smoked haddock and poached eggs 

Tea
Spicy chicken 

Sunday 
Breakfast
Grill up

Lunch 
Beans on toast 

Tea 
Roast beef &veggies 

Things not to say to some one trying to lose weight!

Well, today has been a thought provoking day to say the least!

Have you ever had one of them days where people feel the need to question your actions? That was my day!

Firstly I get asked why I am bothering to do slimming world....surely its common sense?! Well, in a word, yes it is! They're right! But is so much more than that!!

Mondays for me are my chance to spend a couple of hours with people who I know 'get me'. These people some of who I known for the full 4 years, some not have been such a big inspiration on my journey, they've become such good friends as well as my massive support network! I genuinely could not have done this without my group and my fab consultant's help!

So yes, I am paying to be taught to eat healthily but at the end of the day it's much more than that! And as I and millions of others have proven it works!!

Secondly.....you can't eat that you're on a diet!! Now this is my MASSIVE bug bearer!

Right, I expect this won't be the last time I say this, but I'm not dieting, I am food optimising/healthy eating!

This is a maintainable plan which you can follow long term, with this in mind, can anyone, really maintain a lifestyle with no cake, crisps, chocolate and all other nice yummy foods, the answer is no!

Which is where the beauty of slimming world comes in! There is no food off limits, which is why I picked this plan!

So please, if you see me munching on a krispy kreme, or a pasty, or indeed my sausage bap, from today, please accept that I have made this choice and can build it into plan! I have lost almost 3 stone doing this so I think I will be just fine thanks!

Thirdly, which a lovely twitter follower tweeted me, do not ask a curvy girl 'when she's due!' How anyone can make this mistake is beyond me! Preggie bumps are totally different! I LOVED my preggie bump!

Well, that's my ranting over! (For today!)

Today's weigh in was actually fab considering I had a massive wobble, a pound and a half off! Which means I have 2lbs to go till my 3 stone award! Feeling good again now and moving forward! I think I can do this you know!!!!

Right, that's me done!
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles!
Tracey xxx

Sunday 1 September 2013

Planning planning planning!

Well, today has been a day of thinking and planning and more planning! 

I keep changing my approach to my holiday! 

First approach was to cook all my own food and stay 100 % on plan, meal plans and all, but now I think I have changed my mind all over again!

How does planning in planned syns sound? As in, I have certain foods I miss and would like to enjoy, so why don't I just get on with it, enjoy them, but keep the control which as I think we have gathered is my main issue! 

So here's the list......
A cream tea.
A pasty (only a decent one!) 
An ice cream.
Half a dominos pizza. 
A couple of ciders!

That's it! That's all I really want!! Now, considering when I go to Newquay I walk miles, and there will be lots of opportunities to get some fitness in, and as long as I eat lots and lots of fruit and veggies, I can get through that! Also I think going to a group Tuesday morning is the key to not leaving this time! So it's only a week not two in between weigh ins!

Not sure about everyone else but for me, that Monday I know I'm not weighing for two weeks is like permission to eat what the hell I want and lose it for two weeks!! Well not this time!!! 

I'm dreading weigh in 2moz but I know it has to be done, and what will be will be, this journey is a long one but will be worth it! 

Night! 
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles 
Tracey x 

Saturday 31 August 2013

Thank you!

Well, I don't know what to say :-). I was overwhelmed by the PM's and comments I've had about last nights entry and I just want to say a massive thank you for the support I have had :-).

This blog for me is kinda surreal as I write it as if no one cares and no one will read, so to get that much help/support and encouragement is lovely!

Well, today has felt much better and I have made better choices which is a good place to start!

The silly thing is I felt happier today in my huge clothes that hang off of me than my nice new ones.......surely there's some psychological reason why I feel safer and happier in my old clothes!?! Maybe i just don't like change! Who knows! Thought's anyone?!

Anyway of to sleep now!
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles
Tracey x

Friday 30 August 2013

Massive wobble

Evening people :)

Well, this evening i am struggling, i seem to have lost all my motivation, i am hoping it is just a blip, i am sure it is just a blip, but it doesn't stop me from feeling like poo this evening!!

I am making this blog to be brutally honest with myself, and i will be as hard as it is, but i feel myself falling into 'holiday mode' already :(

I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS lose control when i go away, and then i give up and join again in january feeling pissed that i let my will power, and my hard work all go to waste, this next couple of months really are my danger zone, and i know it............and rather than embracing the challenge and fighting it, i feel my self letting histroy repeat it's self for yet another year :(

In fact, i am 90% sure in the 4 years i've been on and off of plan, i have NEVER made it through to November! So i feel like i am setting myself up for a fall already as it's like a yearly ritual!

It's like i expect to fail, even though i try so hard, i always slip up eventually!

There, that was the brutally honest, wobble, and i guess i am being this honest publicly, not for attention, but as a cry for help.........i don't know what it is about food, if i have an over eating disorder, or just plain and simply like it just a little too much, but either way i have some kind of emotional issues from it, that won't go away, and i have been like this for half my life now.

So, today, if i am 100% honest, i have gone way over my syns, and now i feel rubbish, where as a couple of weeks ago (Hell even last week) I'd have been my normal positive self and said i can turn it around!

I know some people will be reading this thinking 'woah girl get a grip' but the ones that don't think that, will be the ones who 'get it!' The ones who have been there and out of the other end, and i KNOW i am not the only one to ever think like this, i can't be, but at the moment, i feel like food has some kind of hold on me. :\

I will beat this, i have to, i've not lost nearly 3 stone to get beaten by something as silly as food, but tonight, the end of the tunnel looks like it's been closed for a long time :( Heeeellpppp!

sorry for the negative post, but i really needed to get that out in the open
phew.....................
thats all for now
Love and syn free choclate sprinkles
Tracey xxx

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Just another day in paradise....

Evening fellow mummy's, slimmers and general nosy people!

Well, today has been pretty uneventful so not much to blog about, but then the beauty of this blog is, it's mainly about food, and of course i eat every day!!

So, today's meals have been.....

Breakfast - Sardines on toast. (Had to menu change due to the fact i couldn't go shopping till late due to the police closing off our road! (Another story!)

Lunch - Ham and prawn salad which i have a photo of which was rather simple and yummy

Tea - Paella

So all pretty much still on plan but i do need to add some more fruit in to the mix as i really want to lose this 3 and a 1/2 pounds in 2 weigh in's for my holiday!

Only snack i have had all day was some melon slices which i had while Ethan scoffed a chicken and sweetcorn sarnie that i got for him on our walk to Tesco!

I do still need to get my motivation for body magic, walking some where with a purpose, or with friends i can do, but i don't really venture out much apart from that which is what i think i need to change! The good news is my step machine has finally made it upstairs though, which is progress!!

I have had lots of nice comments about my weight loss lately which is really helping when i have the times when i am on my own, and think......well it won't hurt if i have something really naughty and off plan :)

Anyway, here are some photos of the yummy food i have had including last nights tea, and of me and my little boy having some mummy and son time!!

I'm now off to enjoy my well deserved flake and a cuppa,  as bed times have all of a sudden got VERY hard in this house, which is enough to drive me to chocolate to be honest!!

Have a lovely evening!
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkles!
Tracey xxx 

Ps, sorry about the random placing of photos! Trying to get to grips with this haha!

Tuesday 27 August 2013

A Mad mad day!

Good evening everyone!!

Not forgotten my blog today, just had a manic crazy day with a lot of challenges food optimising wise, which i think i overcome to the best i could!!

Well, this morning started well, made a lovely omelet with whatever free foods were in my fridge which is a common theme with my breakfasts to be honest!! Left overs rule!!! LOL

Then, on to getting my quiche made which is the ultra important job of the day as it means i have my snacks sorted for a couple of days, i do have to add that the quiche is MEGA family friendly, this week's is smoked salmon and sugarsnap peas which went down a treat with my son which is always a good thing!!

Then on to lunch.....well, as my day got more complicated so i lost the control in my choices which for me is a mega danger zone, luckily i hadn't let my self get hungry but still the eating out option always gets me a little.....hummmm shall we say, anxious to say the least, purely psychological, in my head, even after doing slimming world for 4 years, i still think eating out is 'cheating' even though i only had a jacket potato, beans, cheese and salad!! Please some one tell me this is not just me!

Well, anyway, that was lunch done, which was also shared with said toddler lol!

Snack time at work was pretty uneventful thankfully due to the fact someone else who is slimming sat with me, and all i can say is thank god!!!! i was weighing up syn options in my head of all the crisps and chocolate in the vending machine at work, and almost went for the crisps but decided wasn't worth it!!

Well, i can't blog about tea as i haven't had it yet, but it's on plan so that's all good, but i can tell you about my lovely surprise after work :)))

Hubby decided to do some baking with Ethan this evening and made a rather yummy s/w chocolate cake for me to come home to! :)) If any one wants the recipe i can post links, well, it was lovely! Yes, a little eggy but beggars can't be choosers!! hehe

Anyway, that was my food day, not really that thrilling but all on plan, having spicy chicken for tea, but that's not cooked yet so for now i will have to just sit, relax and drink tea!!

I will post some photo's of today's food when i get back to my i phone!!

Well, by for now,
Love and syn free chocolate sprinkes!
Tracey x

Ohhh here is my omlette and my quiche, which admittedly looks like vomit but I forgot to take one of it finished and looking lovely lol!



Monday 26 August 2013

This weeks meals!

Tuesday 
Breakfast 
Ham, tomato Omelette 

Lunch
S/w Quiche and salad 

Work
Quiche 

Tea 
Gammon,  jacket potato and beans

Wednesday
Breakfast 
Eggs on toast 

Lunch 
Chicken salad

Tea 
Paella 

Thursday 
Breakfast 
Sardines on toast

Lunch
Celery and potato soup

Work
Paella

Tea
S/w Fish and chips 

Friday 
Breakfast 
Veggie Grill up

Lunch 
Beans on toast 

Tea
Quorn Stir fry 

Saturday 
Breakfast 
Weetabix 

Lunch 
Fish 

Tea 
Home made burgers 

Sunday 
Breakfast 
Grill up 

Lunch 
Noodles 

Tea 
Special Curry