Fell at the third...

Was it too much to ask for a third loss in a row? Apparently so, but that's what I get for eating too much ice cream and having a takeaway.

We've put up new stars in group to mark our progress towards target. Mine is at the 1 stone mark when the best award on my book is 2.5 stone. That's pretty depressing to say the least.

I will do my best to stick to plan this week - I need to go into my holiday on a high because i will have very little control over what is on the menu when I am away.

I need to exercise more and make use of the freezer for multiple portions of sync free meals.

Staying to group for the second week in a row - hoping that will inspire me.

Show me the mojo...

3.5lb off this week. So chuffed! That puts me back at 1.5 stone lost in total and is the first time in ages I've lost weight two weeks in a row - here's hoping for the hatrick next week!

I think it was partly down to having a good start last week - that loss wasn't as much as I'd hoped for, but combining the 2 weeks gives me something to build on. I also felt I did well at the two garden parties I went to at the weekend - at one I was BBQ chef so avoided picking at food (and my fab wife bought me some chicken kebabs so I could avoid sausages and burgers), and at the other I avoided sausage rolls, samosas and garlic bread, instead opting for rice, chilli and kedgeree (although I did have a few bits of dessert!).

Keeping the plan somewhere near my mind, rather than locked away at the back, meant that I paid more attention to what I was eating - I made a massive batch of cabbage and leek soup which I've been eating every day since I made it, and experimented with some other new recipes - I think I'm beginning to rediscover my SW mojo!

I stayed to group for the first time in a while and people were genuinely pleased to see me - at first I was staying because my arm was forefully held behind my back, but I'm glad I did it and will do so more often in future. We've got such a friendly group that it's about time I started giving them the support they've given me - thanks folks!

After group, I got home and made some turkey pasta (sorry - we ate it that quickly that I didn't get a chance to take a pic!) and some SW quiche (that I was planning on lasting a few days for lunch, but which I've had half of already!). Food optimising has never tasted so good!

I've got a couple of social occasions coming up that could make it difficult to stick to plan, so I'm aiming to stick to it the rest of the week and minimise the effect of those occasions. Tune in next week to find out how I did!

Recipe: leeks and cabbage soup

Take a look at this gorgeous soup. Eating one portion now, 5 in freezer and another in fridge.

Syns
Free on EE

Ingredients
3 leeks, chopped into 1/2 inch slices
1 cabbage, roughly diced
3 veg stock cubes
Handful of frozen sprouts
Couple of handfuls of frozen casserole mix
Pearl barley

Method

1. Make up loads of stock with the stock cubes, bring to boil.
2. Add all of the other ingredients and cook until tender.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Baby steps...

When I used to run regularly (believe it or not I completed two half marathons when I was younger), I used to use the approach of taking "baby steps" to get to the top of particularly difficult hills, or when my energgy was running low.
At weigh in this week I'd lost 1/2lb - a baby step on the hill towards my ultimate goal.
The running analogy is quite fitting because, in an effort to kick start my weight loss and get some new awards under my belt (since it could be quite some time until I get my next weight based award of 3 stone!), I went out for a run twice last week. I didn't get particularly far (less than a mile), which at the time was quite disheartening, but I know I have it in me to run as far as I used to. At one point I tried to power up a hill, but ended up struggling and deciding to walk the rest of the way. Transferring that to weight loss, as much as it's frustrating I know that the best way is to lose a little and keep it off, so every week that I have a 1/2lb loss is another 1/2lb closer to target.

I think I might struggle slightly this week - I'm at two parties at the weekend and helped a friend celebrate her birthday last night. Hopefully the good work I've done the rest of the time, along with the cumulation from last week will help me to stay on track, or at least not fall too far away from it.

One of the ladies from our group got to target last week, and has quite often only lost little bits at a time. She's probably not aware, but she's an inspiration to those of us who are plodding along.

Recipe: Scrambled beans

SynsFree on EE if using cheese as HE

Ingredients
Cheese, grated
Eggs, beaten
Baked beans

Method

1. Put all ingredients in a pan and cook until it resembles scrambled eggs

Resisting temptation...

This is what I was faced with in our office kitchen on more than one occasion this week. Fortunately I resisted!!

Recipe: Scampi and onion rings

SynsFree on EE if using wholemeal bread as HE

Ingredients
King prawns, cooked
Onion, sliced into rings
Fine breadcrumbs from wholemeal bread
An egg or two, beaten
Peri spices
Fry light

Method

1. Mix the breadcrumbs and peri spices
2. Dip the onions and prawns into the egg then coat them with the breadcrumb mixture
3. Put onto a baking tray and cook in the oven (200 degrees C) until golden