claire's countdown diary

hi to you all,

I joined this site last year in the hope of loosing a few pounds but it didnt last very long so here i am again. Over the last year or so ive tried to convince myself that i havent been putting on weight but now my clothes are more than uncomfortable, ive decided to do something about it. Im only 5"2 and alway have been a very small frame weighing just under 8st (was to thin then) but the wieght has slowly crept on and im now 9st 12. I had a very stressful year in 2012 with lots of personal problems which still arent over. During this time ive turned to comfort eating, takeaways and junk food and not eating 3 square meals. My biggest issue is a total lack of will power so on Monday night i joined slimming worls. My aim is to reach 8 and half stone by June when im attending my friends wedding abroard. I thought id write a diary on here in the hope that some of you can give me some pointers of what im doing right and wrong and to give me a cyber kick up the ass when my will power disapears again. I will be following extra easy so i dont have to make seperate meals for the rest of the family so here goes:

Tuesday EE

Breakfast
2 eggs scrambled, half tin of baked beans
Lunch
2 slices of wholemeal bread (HEB), half tin of baked beans, 5xslice of wafer ham.
Dinner
stir fry- 1xcarrot, 2xsavoy cabbage leaves,mushrooms,1/2 pepper, 1xsmall onion, 1xsmall red chilli, 1xnest egg noodles, prawns, soy sauce.
Snacks
1xbananna, 1x plum, handfull of raspberries, semi skimmed milk with coffee (HEA)
syns 9 1/2
tablespoon of Lurpak 5 1/2
2xcrackbread 2
philadelphia light garlic and herbs 2



Wednesday

Breakfast
2xweetabix, Semi Skimmed milk (HEA), bananna
Lunch
3x crackerbread (3syns), philadelphia light garlic and herbs (4syns), orange and plum
Dinner
Home made cottage pie - extra lean mince, carrot, leek,onion,pepper, mushroom, red lentils, mashed sweet and white potato, with cabbage and green beans, bisto gravy (1 1/2 syns)
Snack
strawberry mullerlight yogurt.
syns 8 1/2

I think my family will enjoy me being on a diet as i will be doing a LOT more home cooking!

Thursday EE

Breakfast
potato rosti and garlic mushrooms (2syns) -2x very small grated potato, half a grated onion mixed with half an egg and fryed in frylight- fried mushrooms with garlic and herb philadelphia.

Lunch
left over cottage pie (last nights tea)

Dinner
Beef stew - extra lean stewing steak, potato's,leeks, swede,mushrooms, pepper,parsnips,onion, carrots, red lentils,pearl barley, veg and beef stock cubes, mixed herbs, tablespoon of flour (3.5 syns), tablespoon tomatoe puree, - all thrown in a pan and cooking as i type. Think ive made enough to feed the whole street!

HEA skimmed milk- will have a milky coffee later
HEB 1xwholemeal bread -planning on having this with my stew later.

For someone who doesnt normally eat breakfast my rosti and garlic mushrooms felt quite indulgent but ive been craving a rosti after reading it on someone else diary.

Im a bit low on syns today but the day isnt over so may well treat myself to some chocolate later .

I wonder if anyone can help me, is there anywhere on the slimming world website where i can store meal ingredients and work out average syns per serving. For example the stew above has flour in but there is a number of servings.

Update
The stew went down a treat with the family (although I think I went overboard with the pearl barley, might measure next time instead of just chuck it in) and I have left overs for lunch. I had pickled red cabbage with it so does that count as another SF or just F food?. Didn't manage both slices of bread so I'm gonna have to edit the HEB. I'm totally stuffed and don't know how I'm going to fit it in tonight. Will it be really bad if I don't have it?

Syns were a teaspoon of lurpak= 2 and cadburys brunch bar 7.5

Total syns today = 10 (I've true to figure out the sun for the flour per serving but math wasn't my strong point so give it half).

Friday EE

Breakfast
2x weetabix (HEB)
Milk (HEA) rest for brews
Banana

Lunch
3x cracker bread (3 syns)
Philadelphia garlic and herb ( 2 syns)
Wafer thin ham

I couldn't face the left over stew for lunch as I was feeling quite bloated, so now it's in the freezer for a quick meal next week.

Dinner
Chinese style pork and egg fried rice
Pork strips (no fat), 3xtbsp honey ( 7.5 %5 syns), 3xtbsp soya sauce, red chilli, garlic, 5 spice, onions, peppers, mushrooms, spring onions, cornflour ( 2 syns %5)

Meal served five of us so I need to divide the syns per portion. I wish I could find an easy way of averaging out syns per portion, tonight isn't so difficult but I often cook for 5 and I can see it being a pain trying to figure out syns.

Snack
Plum, orange

Total syns 7.5 ( might have a biscuit later, it is Friday afterall)

Its only been a couple of days but trying to get into the habit of 3 meals a day is hard when I'm used to one meal and a load of junk food.

Hi Clare.. Your food diary sounds brilliant and all those lovely home made meals sound delish.. Having read your first thread.. It's like reading about myself, started off at 9 stone 12 and measuring just 5'2, last year was also a hard year for myself so I gathered myself together and thought this is my year.. I've been doing slimming world for 2 weeks now and have 7 pounds off already, hAvnt really set a goal as of yet but I'd say ill be aiming to lose the same as you. Well done for getting back into it and good luck! xx

Hi bumblebee

Well done on your loss. 7lb in two weeks is great. I hope I manage something near that. Ive just got that dread that im gonna weigh in on monday and gained, im not used to eating so amy meals! Maybe we can give each other motivation and support as we're both roughly the same.

As for the home cooked meals, my family is loving it as a don't usually cook so much. I've planned the meals throughout the week. I've only managed to do it because I'm not in work at the mo so have more time. I hope when I have to go back to work I can stick to it and not revert back to convenience foods!

I hope 2013 is a better year for us both. I know I for one need to move forward although I know I've got a couple of hard months in front of me re the personal stuff x

I thought exactly the same, wasn't used to eating so much pasta rice and potatoes but somehow it has worked so far.

Each time I'm making a meal for example spag Bol, stew, lasagne I make extra and freeze it, then have some for a quick lunch rather than grabbing for the convience food. We don't have a terrible amount of weight to lose so slow and steady is prob the best way to lose it for good. I'm in the same position with another few hard months ahead of me no doubt but we've got to think positive and concentrate on ourselves and our future! Keep me updated with how your doing! xx

I'm planning on taking it slow bumblebee. I want the weight loss and to keep it off, so it's going to be all about changing my eating habits and mindset, as I just don't feel comfortable in my clothes anymore.

Well I'm going to update now because I'm off to friends very shortly. Today isn't going to be a good day. I got up VERY late with a banging headache so missed breakfast! I've been invited to a friends house for drinks, so will be well over my syns today. Hopefully it shouldn't be to bad because I haven't maxed out my syns this week so far.

breakfast
Missed, had a long lay in instead

lunch
Full English, 2 poached eggs. 2 rashers of bacon (rind removed) mushrooms fried in fry light, beans, 2 be good to yourself cumberland sausages (1syn) potato and onion Rosti.

Dinner
Not really hungry yet but going to try and force some fruit down me at least.

Will be quite a few vodka and diet cokes this evening, so will have to count the syns when I've finished drinking and update tomorrow!

I've only just realised I've to had any healthy extras today either. Not a great day, back to normal tomorrow and hopefully it won't dent my good work this week to much!

Hi chick, i'm here to subscribe to your diary!

Like you, I mainly follow Extra Easy as the rest of my family eat the same meals instead of cooking separately, (luckily they prefer SW versions lol)

I'm not sure theres anywhere on the SW website you can input your ingredients to work out the syns, but that would be a fab idea! I usually just add up the total syns for the meal and then divide by the number of servings.

Hope you have a lovely night hunni, xxx

Hi WinkOfPink, welcome to my diary. I'm finding extra easy is so good for cooking for the whole family. My family are enjoying all the home cooked meals too rather than quick and easy convenience food. They even love the chips rather than the usual oven chips.

I had a good night last night, I lost count of the vodka (syns) needless to say I'm feeling the effects today! I'm quite proud of myself today as I haven't reached for the usual hangover junk food, although I have been VERY tempted!

I'm to delicate to cook today so hubby is gonna make a pan of tuna pasta for us all later.

Sunday
Breakfast
2x whole meal toast (HEB) lurpak (4syns) strawberry jam ( 2 syns), mullerlight yoghurt.

Lunch
3x cracker bread ( 3syns) Philadelphia garlic and herb (2syns) wafer thin ham.

Dinner
Tuna and whole wheat pasta, spring onion, sweet corn, and extra light mayo (will work out the syns of the mayo when dinner is made)

Total syns 11

Snack
Orange

That's the main reason why I love SW, although my family don't follow SW, we can all enjoy the same meals and they don't see it as "diet food". Like you say it's home cooked meals, cooking from scratch and prepared the healthy way. We love SW chips too and the SW curries, my dad thinks they taste better than any jar/packet sauce he's used (and he's a hard man to please when it comes to food lol)

Awww, i'm glad you had a good night hun I feel for you with the hangover, it always makes me reach for the naughty stuff! Lol bless your hubby for cooking dinner for you and well done for resisting the junk food! x x

I've had a pretty hectic day today and haven't eaten as much as I should have done. In fact I've missed lunch And had a quick tea of an omelette which isn't good! I need to get back on track tomorrow. It's also the wrong time of the month (not good) and so far I've not reached for the chocolate so I'm quite pleased!

Monday
Breakfast
2xweetabix (HEB)
Milk (HEA)

Lunch
Bananna

Dinner
3 egg omelette with onion, pepper, mushrooms, wafer thin ham and 30g low fat cheese ( need to work out the syns)

Snack
Muller light yogurt, orange

1st weigh in today and I've lost 3 1/2 lbs woo hoo!

Back on track tomorrow, I need to get some shopping in and plan the meals for the week. So far I'm have in mind, turkey curry, chicken and chickpea casserole, lasagne, beef stew and cottage pie.

Monday EE

BREAKFAST
muller light yogurt and banana

LUNCH
left over stew from last week that I'd frozen

DINNER
Syn free turkey curry ( pinched the recipe from this site) and brown basmati rice
2 onion bahji's (pinched the recipe from this site) 3 syns
Poppadom 2 syns

Snacks
Bananna, apple , orange

Total syns 5

HEA milk used in coffee
HEB 2x whole meal bread

Well I haven't moved out of the today because I couldn't face going out to the snow. I did give myself a kick up the arse though and forced myself to do 30 mins exercise and well as walk up and down stairs 10 times. Since I've not been in work I'm getting stuck in a rutt watching crappy daytime tv, which doesn't help with the weight gain or loss for that matter. Walking up and down stairs 10 times on the trot isn't as easy as it sounds, especially for an unfit smoker! I need to give up smoking! This will be my next goal following my weight loss!

I absolutely love this site and I'm getting more and more addicted. I love the inspiration for recipes. The syn free curry went down a treat with the whole family and so did the homemade onion bahji's. I never thought I'd be able to make anything like that.

The time of the month munchies are kicking in today and I'm feeling hungry. I've not had my HEB yet so I think I'll use it for some toast later. I'm craving something sweet too but I'm trying to avoid chocolate and hoping to go for the fruit. I think I will succumb though, I'm not to bothered as I've got plenty of syns left for today.

Update from Monday and today as I forgot to count the syns.

Monday
30g be good to yourself cheese (4syns)
Cadburys brunch bar (7.5 syns)
Total syns 11.5

TUESDAY
lurpak spreadable (3 syns)

I've just noticed that I've titled today's menu as Monday! Just goes to show my days are rolling into one at the mo, must be loosing my marbles ha ha !

Wednesday EE

Breakfast
2x weetabix (HEB)
Milk (HEA)
Banana

Lunch
Left over curry from last night (tasted even better!)

Dinner
Chicken casserole with cabbage and sweetcorn. chicken legs (skin removed), can of chickpeas, sweet potato, butternut squash, carrots, parsnips, leek, dried thyme, mixed herbs, stock made from chicken n veg stock cube. (Tasted bloody lovely!)

Snacks
Apple and banana

No syns so far today so gonna treat myself with a kit Kat later (5.5 syns)

Did another 30 mins of exercise today. I'm aching from yesterday. Didn't realise I'm so unfit!

Thursday EE

Breakfast
2xwholemeal toast, Lurpak (3syns)
Bananna

Lunch
homemade soup from left over veg and stock from last nights casserole.

Dinner
lasagna and SW chips. Lasagna- EL mince, carrot, garlic, mushrooms, pepper, onion, tin tomato's, tomato puree,red lentils, dried lasange sheets, cheese. need to update and syn the cheese later when ive cooked it.

35 mins excercise

Could do with some advice. I made a chicken and veg casserole last night. I didnt syn it as i removed the skin and any visible fat from the chicken legs, although im now thinking i should have added some syns. when the casserole was cooked there was some slight fat on the top of the broth which i tried my best to skim off. I blitzed off the remaining veg and chicken stock and put it in the fridge for soup today. when i took it out of the fride it had set slightly (until warmed up). now im thinking there may have been more fat left over than i thought. So do you think i should a few syns to account for the fat even though skinned chicken is free? Also, how long do you think the soup will last in the fridge?

So im just updating my diary to add my syns from tonights dinner. The added cheese to the lasagna was 6syns! dont think i'll be doing that again in a rush. I also had a peice of garlic bread ( i couldnt resist) which works out at 3.5 syns.

Thursdays Total syns 12.5. Didnt really want to go over 10 syns but at least im under.

Going to have a mullerlight strawberry yogurt and some grapes and apple for a snack later to get some more SF food in for the day.

So here's today's diary.

FRIDAY
breakfast
2xweetabix
Banana

LUNCH
left over homemade veg soup

DINNER
home made burgers,(extra lean mince, garlic,onion,thyme and oregano 7 syns), potato wedges and salad with fat free French dressing.

SNACKS
3x cracker bread (3syns)
Garlic and herb Philadelphia (2syns)
Strawberry muller light

Total syns 12

Walked 2.1 miles

The burgers were a bit of a disaster, I added far to many herbs and I cooked them in the oven which completely dried them out. I realised today that I need to count the syns for the mince, which I haven't been doing. So I reckon yesterday's syns were over, hopefully it won't be to bad as I think I've been under other days this week.

I'm not feeling very positive about weight loss this week. I don't think my menu has been to bad so far this week but I feel like I've put weight back on again. I lost the bloated feeling last week and my stomach didn't look as swollen (bloated) but this week I feel the back to the same I was before. I had twins nearly 14 years ago which completely knackered my stomach muscles so I will always have a pouch. Since I've put weight on the pouch has looked worse and I look pregnant and constantly walking round with my belly pulled in to hide it. I did feel it had gone down a bit last week but not this week. I need to just stick to my guns and keep trying. I've just had no motivation this week to do anything and hardly moved out of the house!

Anyway, I found the 30 day shred on you tube yesterday and I'm contemplating starting it on Monday. I can feel the pain already ha ha.

On a Completely different note, I just watched zainabs exit from eastenders and sobbed like a baby, needless to say my children were laughing at me and giving me strange looks.

Saturday

Got up late again so breakfast was brunch

Brunch
2x scrambled egg 2xwholemeal toast (HEB) wafer thin ham, lurpak (3syns)

Dinner
Prawn stir fry- prawns, carrot, onion, cabbage, pepper, mushrooms, chilli, garlic and soy sauce

Snack
Banana
Cadburys brunch bar (7.5 syns)

Total syns 10.5

30 mins exercise

Not had my HEA yet so will prob have a milky coffee later. Don't think I've eaten enough today so will have a free food snack of some sort later.
Made the mistake of stepping on my totally unreliable scales before. They are the digital type and unreliable because a few weeks ago when my hubby and I stood on them ( not together) they kept giving us totally different readings. Weigh in isn't till Monday but I just wanted to see if I've lost anything and it looks like a may of lost 5lb. I know when I get to weigh in on Monday it prob will be less than that. I need to take the battery out of my scales and throw it away to resist my own mid week weigh in with my scales which have a mind of their own!