Em's mission to live up to the username!

Hi everyone!

I am a SW returnee after a 2.5 year absence... My avatar is me the summer after I left SW (without getting to target) when I was about 10.5 stone - and I'd love to be back there for a start! A combination of moving in with my boyfriend and having my hormones played with last year has led to a gain of over 2 stone in just a year. I've got to the point where my friends are getting married and I hate myself in every single photo - when really I'd love to want to keep some of them as such good memories of fab times together.

I had a really low period a few months ago where everything felt really bleak and out of control. One of the biggest sources of my unhappiness was just hating myself so slowly but surely I've been tackling it one bit at a time. Work started running Spinning classes (the ones on stationary bike-type-things) and I am determined that I'm going to get really good at them! I've stuck with them since August and have noticed a real improvement in my fitness. I wasn't losing any weight doing them but my shape changed so much that a skirt I'd bought when classes started literally fell off me 6 weeks later! One challenge well underway, I decided it was time to return to SW...

Last time I did SW my weight loss was painfully slow and I got really disheartened at 0.5-1lb losses each week. Women who'd joined the same week as I had were getting their 1 stone aware before I'd even got my 1/2! Eventually a load of stuff went wrong (lots of boy stuff) and I just stopped going to group. Silly me!

This time I seem to have really hit my stride so far, and I want to keep it that way! So, here goes a food diary to help me me accountable to people allll week and remember that not losing is not the end of the world!

I'll check in later with day 1...

Hey, good luck on your weight loss journey - i put on a lot of weight when me and Boyf first moved in together think it was around 3 stone in a year (how embarrassing) I've only been spinning once and couldn't walk for a week!! look forward to reading your food diary for some inspiration.

Well, today hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be, although I'm still glad I saved all of yesterday's syns...

Breakfast: 35g Bran Flakes (HexB), Mullerlight toffee flavour and a chopped pear.
Lunch: Homemade Bolognese (extra lean beef mince, onion, lots of mushrooms, red pepper, garlic) and sugar snap peas.
Snacks: Apple, strawberries, grapes, 2 clementines.

Then, I was round at a friend's for dinner - I haven't seen her for ages so I didn't feel able to demand she stuck to SW principles, and she wanted to show me her new flat so I couldn't offer to cook for her. It turns out she's starting the Cambridge Diet tomorrow so tonight was her blow out night!

Thankfully her idea of a blowout night was pasta bake, but it still racked up a few syns...
Homepride Tuna Bake sauce: 10 syns per half jar
Beef mince: No idea which variety she used but I'm allocating 12 syns for half a pack of standard (non-lean) mince.
Cheddar cheese: I'm assuming she put 100g in, so 30g as HexA and 20g as 4syns.

26syns in one meal is a hell of a lot for me! Thankfully I took my own Sprite Zero, otherwise I would have been racking up more on wine or fruit juice!

I'm going to be super syn conscious for the rest of the week - and try to get in as many superfree foods as possible. I'm out for an 8 mile walk tomorrow so hopefully that will offset some of the damage...

Time for bed. See you tomorrow!

Nellylou said:

Hey, good luck on your weight loss journey - i put on a lot of weight when me and Boyf first moved in together think it was around 3 stone in a year (how embarrassing) I've only been spinning once and couldn't walk for a week!! look forward to reading your food diary for some inspiration.

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Hi! Thanks for the support. I've never put on weight as quickly in my life as I did moving in with the boyf! Spinning is hell some weeks - there have been a few sessions where I could barely climb stairs for the next few days - but it's so nice to feel proud of myself for something! And it's good to know I've actually worked myself hard. I just don't push myself or stick to it if it's just me in the gym - too easy to give in for the day!

8 mile walk will def burn off some of those syns, just have a few less everyday and I'm sure you'll be fine
The lady who taught the spin class I went to had lost 7 stone through healthy eating and spinning! I was quite a bit heavier when I went so will try it again now I'm a bit fitter.

Have a good Saturday

best of luck to you with your restart. Sounds like your head's really in it

Oh my goodness, so 8 miles would have been bad enough but it turned out to be a 10 mile walk! I am aching now so heaven knows how bad I'll be in the morning!

It started well - the group was stopping for a pub lunch halfway, so I packed my bag with a load of fruit, a thermos of SW Leek and Potato soup and plenty of water (along with walking stuff like first aid kit etc) to guarantee good behaviour. We drove the 30 miles to the start of the walk, went to get my backpack out the car and it wasn't there! Numpty that I am, I've returned to find it on a bench in the kitchen. :d'oh: I've done my best under the circumstances but I would have loved to have been syn free today!

Breakfast: 35g Bran Flakes (HexB), vanilla Mullerlight, black forest fruits [blackberries (ss)*, blackcurrants(ss), morello cherries(s)*, cherries(s)]
Lunch: Lamb shank (fat and skin removed), carrots(s), peas(ss), leeks(s), cabbage(s). There was mash and gravy which I left, but I'll still add 3 syns to allow for cooking methods and the gravy that was all over everything!
Dinner: SW Leek and Potato soup [onion(s), leek(s), potato, chicken stock] (free on EE and Green - but I use 2 leeks instead of 1 otherwise it's not as flavoursome) with HexA of 30g cheddar chopped up into little cubes and left to melt in the soup - scrumptious!

Snacks: 2 x clementines(s), half a bunch of grapes

All in all, that's 29/105 syns so far this week. I read somewhere that 1 syn = 20 calories so that translates as an extra 580 cal - and even if we only walked at 2mph I burnt about 955 cal! Feeling a lot more at ease about yesterday's synfest now!

Time to curl up with the other half and a good film - if we can keep our eyes open!

*(ss) = super speed food, (s) = speed food

CiaraDaisy said:

best of luck to you with your restart. Sounds like your head's really in it

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Thanks! It really is at the moment - but that's probably because it's been going well... Congrats on your loss so far - I can't wait to be that close to the 11st mark!

lyricallylittle said:

Thanks! It really is at the moment - but that's probably because it's been going well... Congrats on your loss so far - I can't wait to be that close to the 11st mark!

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Thanks! It's been slow and steady but I'm nearly at my stone loss so finally feels like I'm getting somewhere!

I'm sure it's gonna keep going well! Positive vibes!!!

I've had a really good day today - no chance for distractions - just busying myself with lots of overdue tidying and housework. Still not finished but then I suppose it never really is! As a consequence I haven't really eaten very much because I haven't been bored. Rewarding myself with a nice night of catching up with the Sky+ box!

Breakfast: 2 x Alpen Light Bars (HexB) and half a bunch of grapes
Lunch: Bowl of SW Leek and Potato soup [onion(s), leek(s), potato, chicken stock] with 30g cheddar (HexA)
Dinner: SW chips, SW chicken goujons (chicken, egg, Smash flakes, salt and pepper, paprika) with sugar snap peas(s) and petit pois(ss)
Snacks: Mullerlight vanilla with black forest fruits [blackberries (ss)*, blackcurrants(ss), morello cherries(s)*, cherries(s)]

Syn-free day today! I haven't felt I've needed them though. Still at 29/105 syns. 3 days to weigh-in!

So not ready for Monday - busy busy! I hope everyone has a good start to the week.

I don't know what's wrong with me today - I've been so hungry! It was supposed to be soup for tea but I just needed something more filling. I found a lovely recipe online for creamy garlic mushroom sauce and gave it a go! I'll add it below. I threw in some bacon for the OH and he seemed happy! Only trouble was it was quite runny - I could probably have done with reducing the stock down a bit more. It was really tasty anyway! I love dieting when food tastes this good.

Breakfast: 35g Bran Flakes (HexB), toffee Mullerlight and black forest fruits [blackberries (ss)*, blackcurrants(ss), morello cherries(s)*, cherries(s)].
Lunch: Homemade bolognese [extra lean beef mince, onion(s), lots of mushrooms(s), red pepper(s), garlic, chopped tomatoes(s)] and rocket salad.
Dinner: Creamy mushroom and bacon pasta [mushrooms(s), onion(s), garlic, bacon (fat removed), chicken stock cube, fat free fromage frais] and 30g cheddar (HexA)
Snacks: 2 x clementine(s), orange(s)

Creamy Mushroom Pasta Sauce

400g sliced mushrooms
2 garlic cloves
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 handfuls of flat leaf parsley (I skipped this, don't like parsley! It's only for garnish anyway)
7fl oz/about 200ml chicken stock made from a cube
150g very low-fat/fat-free fromage frais
Pasta

Heat a large non-stick pan and spray with Fry Light. Add the mushrooms and fry for 3-4 mins.
Add the onion and garlic and fry for 2-3 mins.
Add the stock, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 12-15mins (or until almost all the liquid has evaporated)
Remove from the heat and slowly stir in the fromage frais.
Season well and serve with cooked pasta.
Sprinkle with parsley.

Very tasty! Just make sure almost all the liquid has evaporated before you stir in the fromage frais, otherwise it will be really runny!

It's probably that long walk you did making you hungry today! Food sounds good today will give that mushroom sauce a go

Nellylou said:

It's probably that long walk you did making you hungry today! Food sounds good today will give that mushroom sauce a go

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Perhaps you're right! It's funny because I wasn't hungry at all over the weekend and all of a sudden it's caught up with me! Might have to use up some syns and have a hot chocolate before bed...

I got home and someone nearby was cooking sausages and I just had to have some of my own! I'm catching up with Bake Off Masterclass now and practically drooling at them eating treacle tart. I'm not sure there are any SW friendly recipes for that!

Breakfast: The usual! 35g Bran Flakes (HexB), mixed berries [blackberries (ss), blackcurrants(ss), morello cherries(s), cherries(s), strawberries(ss), blueberries]
Lunch: Homemade leek and potato soup [onion(s), leek(s), potato, chicken stock] with 30g cheddar (HexA)
Dinner: My mum's budget sausage casserole and rocket, with Tesco Light Choices Cumberland sausages (x2.5 = 2.5 syns), baked beans(ss), chopped tomatoes(s), Worcestershire sauce, garlic, beef Oxo cube, sliced onion(s).
Snacks: 2 x clementines(s), apple(s), grapes, Mullerlight Greek coconut yoghurt (0.5 syns).

That casserole really hit the spot. I've had another hungry day today but that's probably thanks to this morning's Spinning class. Going to turn off the cooking programmes in a minute - all I want are sweet pies and pastries!

Weigh-in day today - 2.5lb off . On a mission now to get my 1 stone award! Picked up the SW magazine in class today and it's full of scrummy ideas so I've got lots of inspiration. I'm eyeing up the Swedish meatballs on the free calendar!

Breakfast: 2 Alpen Light Bars (HexB), apple(s) and grapes
Lunch: SW Leek and Potato soup [onion(s), leek(s), potato,chicken stock] with 2 Babybel Cheddars (HexA).
Dinner: Quick chicken stir fry - Asda Chinese Chicken ready to eat pieces, noodles, soy sauce, onion(s), broccoli(s), mangetout(s), baby sweetcorn(s).
Snacks: HiFi Mint Crisp (6 syns), apple(s), pineapple(s), grapes.

The stir fry was so tasty and ready in under 10 mins because we used the pre-cooked chicken pieces. Even better, my OH made it for me when I got in from group!

Syn count so far: 6/105.

I've really got into the Mullerlight Greek Coconut yoghurts! I've been trying to change up what I eat a little bit more and use my Healthy Extras for something different to keep my body on its toes!

Breakfast: Mullerlight Greek (0.5 syns), apple(s)
Lunch: SW Leek and Potato soup [onion(s), leek(s), potato,chicken stock], 2 x Ryvita Pumpkin seeds and oats (HexB)
Dinner: SW melt in the middle burgers [extra lean minced beef, 2 x Babybel Original (HexA), red onion(s), salt, pepper, paprika] with salad.
Snacks: 2 x apple(s), pineapple(s), grapes, Mullerlight Greek coconut (0.5 syns)

Feeling satisfied but super tired. I did a really tough Spinning class at lunch time and it's really knocked it out of me.

I've got job applications buzzing round my head. The OH and I are hoping to get two of very few posts up in Huntingdon - the rest of our organisation is due to move in 2018-2020 - which would give us the chance to buy somewhere together. There's posts on promotion and posts at the same level as us, and the ones for promotion have just been advertised. I hate writing about myself! So tough. Doesn't help that I feel under a lot of pressure to get one of them. Not expecting to get promoted but it would be a good chance to get interview experience ahead of the level transfer ones. I think I just need a good night's sleep and to look at it all fresh in the morning.

Sorry for such a tired and mopey post! It's not all bad, honest!

Oh good luck on the job applications, they're really a pain!

Thanks Ciara! I'm feeling a lot better after a good night's sleep. I'm such a child - overtired and grumpy!

The posts are only available to people already at the grade until next Wednesday - I have to wait for them to go through another stage before I can apply. I'm currently drowning in paper though with all the job application guidance out there! I want to get a draft ready by the end of today so I can send it to some people to check it over.

I officially have the loveliest boyfriend in the world. I was in a really blah mood when I got home from work. I had all the best intentions of going out and getting the ingredients for SW Katsu Curry but I just couldn't bring myself to do anything, so I curled up in bed and moped. He went through a load of possibilities for dinner (I suggested non-SW fish and chips and he gave me a mini pep-talk on how well I'm doing) and eventually went off in search of Tesco Simply Heat Lamb Shanks in mint gravy (1.5 syns!). When he got back he'd picked up the wrong one (Lamb Shoulder = 7.5 syns), and despite my protestations he still went back out in the cold to get me the right ones. He's a saint!

Breakfast: Mullerlight Coconut (0.5 syns) with Alpen Light Double Chocolate (1/2 HexB) sprinkled in it, apple(s)
Lunch: SW leek and potato soup [onion(s), leek(s), potato, chicken stock] with 2 Babybel Original (HexA) (This soup is lasting forever!)
Dinner: Tesco Simply Heat Lamb Shanks (1.5 syns) with lots of salad and rocket.
Snacks: Apple(s), clementine(s),strawberries(s), Alpen Light (1/2 HexB), Options Mint Hot Choc (2 syns), misguided attempt freezing a toffee Mullerlight.

Total syns: 11/105

I cannot sing the praises of the lamb shanks enough. They come in a green box and you can find them in the frozen section - they come in packs of two. They take 10mins in the microwave and taste absolutely gorgeous, so they're great to have in the freezer for nights when you can't really be bothered.

Out for dinner somewhere in Southampton tomorrow night. A bit nervous about it as I don't know where we're going so I can't plan! We'll see...