Donna's fab for fifty plan

It sounds really odd when I say 'I'm nearly 50', I still think of the 80s as being about 15 years ago. But there it is. I have loved my 40s, done some amazing things, and I want the next decade to be another stage of the adventure. My weight has been an issue since the early 90s in terms of how it affects my confidence; but now it's starting to affect my physical health too. I'm aching and stiff and feel lethargic. It's all down to being around 5 stone overweight - and that weight keeps rising!

I'm a full time postgraduate student, and if all goes to plan I will be 50 when I get my doctorate (I shall be 48 next May) - so the plan is to lose those stones over the period of my PhD.

Yesterday I weighed in at a rather depressing 13 stone 8lbs, and I'm only 5ft. The barrel look has never been a good one. I think this forum will be really helpful, as long as I stick with it this time - dipped in and out over the last couple of years - and I've already been inspired with recipes, fantastic before and after pics and stories of 'real' people, not airbrushed former wives of rock stars.

So, as I read somewhere else on here, 'onwards and downwards'

Hi Donna, good luck with your weight loss - you can do it!

Are you going to classes or going it alone?

Thank you! I'm doing it at home this time. I cannot justify spending money on any more diet classes. This year alone I've joined WW and RC, investing money in books, magazines and various gizmos that they promote. Have done SW before, and have the starter pack from 2011 I think it was. But hoping to tap into the vast amount of knowledge and support that is very apparent on this site - I have my own scales.

Are you going it alone Cee?

So today I thought I'd have a go at making scan bran cake. I walked up to the shopping centre - usually catch a bus from the top of the road. It's not that far, but I felt really out of puff at some points and never hit anything like a brisk pace! Still, it's the most I've moved for months. Two years ago I was following the C25K plan and was running 3 miles three times a week. Now I'm struggling to walk that!

The scan bran cake was a bit of a disappointment. It was edible, but only just. I made it by soaking the wafers, stirring in a Turkish Delight Muller, couple of eggs and some sweetener, then microwaved for about 8 minutes. It was ok, and I can see that it would satisfy a sugar craving, but it's definitely not the sort of cake I'm used to - could be that I need more practice or look for a different recipe.

Dinner was good - I made some kebabs by chopping up some boneless, skinless chicken thighs, then marinating for a couple of hours. I used things I had in for the marinade - a glug of passata from an already opened jar that I wanted to use up, chopped up garlic and a chilli with the seeds taken out, couple of teaspoons of smoked paprika and fresh coriander. Put it all in a bowl and whizzed it with my stick blender, then coated the chicken in it. I could have happily eaten another few skewers, and wish I'd made more. Served with home made wedges and salad:



I still don't feel as though I'm properly in the swing of things, maybe because I don't go to class, so not sure I've stuck 100% to all the rules. Still, I've not had a drink this week - while I was studying for my Masters over the last few months I could get through 3 or 4 bottles of wine every week - and I've had no crisps, chocolate or cake, each of which had been daily treats. So fingers crossed there'll be something of a loss this week.

Hi Donna how are you doing today?

I go to class although I'm not there at the moment as I'm in the US for the next few weeks with my husbands work. I feel I need the discipline of the class but can see the benefits of going it alone at home too.

I have never actually tried scan bran...I have a feeling I won't like it lol! Some people in class love it, others hate it, I guess it's just like Marmite

Hi Cee, wow lucky you! Hope you have/are having a fab time in the States. I've been to SW classes, WW classes and RC classes. Of these, the Rosemary Conley were the best, but the diet didn't suit me. The SW classes were definitely the worst, and I tired quickly of just sitting for an hour listening to other people's weight losses - there were people there who seemed to rarely stick to plan, but still lost weight while I was doing it religiously and seeing ss's. This was really demotivating for me. Your weight loss looks really impressive, well done, and thanks for the support!

Yesterday was a busy day, and today is going to the same, but I don't want to get out of the habit of posting on here. Yesterday started to go a bit down hill in terms of eating, and I'm sure that if I'd logged in here and read a few inspirational posts I'd have been a bit more motivated. Still, I did do much better than I usually do.

There was a postgraduate meet and greet coffee morning. So I started the day with a filling scrambled egg on toast, though I had to syn the toast as it was 50/50. I think it was 5 syns for two slices, from a small loaf. I resisted all the yummy looking cakes at the coffee morning, which was actually fairly easy to do because there were so many interesting people to talk to. I met people from all over the world who are researching some amazing projects. Had a really good time.

There was some shopping to do, and I picked myself up some lean mince - there was no extra lean in - to make myself 'Big Mac in a bowl'. It's a quick fix, and very comforting. I fried it in a dry pan, draining it twice; I'm sure this is probably still not within the 'free food' range, but I still didn't syn it. I love this recipe, and my son tried some 'it tastes like MacDonalds' he said, amazed.

I ate loads of that, and wasn't that hungry at tea time, but cooked myself some chicken drumsticks in a honey and mustard marinade that I got from another site. It was really good, but as everyone was eating different food it wasn't cooked till quite late. Still I managed to polish off eight - yes eight! - drumsticks during the course of the evening. I didn't do anything near a third super free, but then I didn't have any green foods, so it could have been a red day. I ate three chocolate biscuits - this was something of a triumph for me. I have my 'star' week coming up, and the sugar cravings and greedy eating seem to be in full swing. Normally I'd eat a whole pack of biscuits. Once I knew I was going to eat some - resistance was futile! - I decided in my head that I'd have three, and told myself this firmly, almost as though someone else was telling me 'you can have three, but no more'. It worked, I had the three, really enjoyed them, and then sat down to watch Peaky Blinders with a glass of diet orange pop. Another change there, as I usually have a bottle of wine (yes a whole bottle).

So food was: 2 eggs, scrambled with a bit of milk; a huge bowl of 'Big Mac'; 8 honey and mustard chicken drumsticks; three chocolate digestives; one banana and one satsuma; Muller Turkish Delight

Today is induction day at uni. I shall be there all day, and food is generally laid on in the form of cakes and lots of dead bits in breadcrumbs, and later there will be wine! But I know where I can get a large ham salad on campus. Still, I have a feeling that it's all going to go tits up. And wi tomorrow morning!

So yesterday was totally off plan - from start to finish!

It was my PhD induction day at uni, a really good day and I'd sort of decided that I was going to enjoy it. Breakfast was two chocolate biscuits and a mug of coffee; at uni I had another coffee, but avoided the full fat latte; lunch was a brought sandwich - there were no healthy options in the selection available, so I just chose what I fancied, a very mayo laden cheese and pickle sandwich which actually tasted of nothing. I also had an iced drink, which probably had as many calories as the sarnie! There was a wine and nibbles reception at the end of the afternoon. I had two plastic cups of white wine, exactly two crisps and a bottle of water. Dinner was take away, and for that I had pork chow mein and a few of the free mini spring rolls. And then a large (not quite family size) block of Dairy Milk. Still, 2lbs off today, so can't complain. Going to be hard getting back on plan today. Think I might do some tidying to occupy me

Today ended up as a green day, but a very nice one. I didn't have breakfast, still felt a bit icky after all the crap I consumed yesterday. I used to work every weekend until quite recently, so really savour my Saturdays, and tend not to do a great deal, just potter about, read the big paper and now am beginning to remember that I used to enjoy cooking. For lunch I made a vegetable soup in the pressure cooker - this is becoming a Saturday regular, and I just chuck in what veg I have, a stock cube, herbs, seasoning and water. There was only white bread in, and it upsets my tummy, so I thought I'd use some of the scan bran that I have left to bulk the soup out. I'm now convinced that scan bran has been invented to ruin food. The kids - who ate theirs with white bread - said it was a good soup



this soup was just stuff lying in the veg rack: onion, garlic, sweet potato, bendy carrots and a couple of sticks of celery. The second picture shows my bowlful with clumpy scan bran

I spent the arvo tidying round my room and moving furniture ready for wallpapering in there; also enjoyed a big weekend paper, footie results and Homes under the Hammer. Cooked three different dinners this evening! Steak and rice for my son, quorn burgers and chips for veggie daughter, and then an average mushroom risotto for me. Found a big pack of mushrooms in Tesco reduced to 8p and had the other ingredients in. Of course it wasn't a 'proper' risotto - no wine, no butter, no parmesan still it warmed my tummy up. I've not had many snacks today, a banana and a satsuma.

Strictly now!

Yesterday was officially 'cba' day, so I didn't diet. Though when I think of it I didn't eat much - but what I did eat was syn/calorie loaded junk. I went up to Morrisons and got a cheats Sunday lunch - ready cooked chicken, microwave mash and a huge chocolate fudge cake. The box suggested it served eight, but four of us got through it. I had a huge slice with extra thick cream instead of lunch. And felt jolly sick afterwards! For tea I had a tiger roll with humous, some cold leftover chicken and a two finger Kit Kat, then a bit later shovelled down a few mini-pastries which I'd picked up from the reduced section. Along with copious mugs of coffee that was all I ate.

Today has started much more positively. A sliced banana with Muller banana and custard poured over and topped with 28g of Fruit n Fibre - more Fibre, because it's the bottom of the box. Had a good walk up the big hill to uni. Ham and boiled egg salad for lunch, with a small crusty roll and a two finger Kit Kat. This afternoon I've had a banana - even though there's still Kit Kats left. Which is a good girl

Have some turkey strips defrosted for dinner - think it might just be going in a curry sauce!

the kebabs look delish

DonnaMT66 said:

So today I thought I'd have a go at making scan bran cake. I walked up to the shopping centre - usually catch a bus from the top of the road. It's not that far, but I felt really out of puff at some points and never hit anything like a brisk pace! Still, it's the most I've moved for months. Two years ago I was following the C25K plan and was running 3 miles three times a week. Now I'm struggling to walk that!

The scan bran cake was a bit of a disappointment. It was edible, but only just. I made it by soaking the wafers, stirring in a Turkish Delight Muller, couple of eggs and some sweetener, then microwaved for about 8 minutes. It was ok, and I can see that it would satisfy a sugar craving, but it's definitely not the sort of cake I'm used to - could be that I need more practice or look for a different recipe.

Dinner was good - I made some kebabs by chopping up some boneless, skinless chicken thighs, then marinating for a couple of hours. I used things I had in for the marinade - a glug of passata from an already opened jar that I wanted to use up, chopped up garlic and a chilli with the seeds taken out, couple of teaspoons of smoked paprika and fresh coriander. Put it all in a bowl and whizzed it with my stick blender, then coated the chicken in it. I could have happily eaten another few skewers, and wish I'd made more. Served with home made wedges and salad:

View attachment 108285

I still don't feel as though I'm properly in the swing of things, maybe because I don't go to class, so not sure I've stuck 100% to all the rules. Still, I've not had a drink this week - while I was studying for my Masters over the last few months I could get through 3 or 4 bottles of wine every week - and I've had no crisps, chocolate or cake, each of which had been daily treats. So fingers crossed there'll be something of a loss this week.

Click to expand...

thank you, and well done on your losses!

twisted logic

I've had a couple of brilliant days away from home - well, a day and a bit. On Monday I stayed in a lovely hotel and then yesterday (Tuesday) I went to London for a museum event that I'd been invited to. It was very swish, and really enjoyed it, though I think would have felt more comfy if I'd been thinner. Maybe people who work in the City can't afford to eat, though they seem to be able to afford very lovely clothes! I was wearing a cover-all-the-bumps loose black dress over some leggings, with boots that I can no longer properly do up. So tried to stay inconspicuous. On the food front, I've done remarkably well - resisted all temptations. Being horrified at the cost of the food I ate very little, and not being fond of the tube I walked a lot. Must have walked a good few miles across London. No idea of my way round London, but a very nice lady offered me a map, suggested that where I was going was a very, very long walk and was I sure that I wouldn't prefer the tube? It was about 3 miles, and that was after a good walk across the Thames and round St Paul's. My poor, fat little legs are feeling it today!

Not been so good today though - off plan really. Yesterday I'd stopped off for breakfast, toast was the cheapest, and there were baskets of butter and marmalade to help yourself to. I had helped myself, stuffing a few little packets in my bag to bring home. I am a student! So that's what I had on my toast this morning. Popped to town to pick some little gifts up for my soon-to-be-born grandson number 2 and while I was there stopped for tea and a bakewell tart at Pret. Had a steak bake from Morrisons to eat at home, with some wavy idea in my head that it was ok, because of all yesterday's walking. And the fact that I didn't drink any wine at the function. No idea about the logic behind rewarding my weight loss attempts with high fat foods! When I got home I ate a giant sized bag of giant chocolate buttons along with the steak bake. BUT, I did have a SW evening meal - cooked a veggie version of Pete's peanut butter curry, and had that with salad and a pot of chopped fruit.

Been a great couple of days. The next few days are probably going to be as disorganised, because haven't done a decent shop. However - on Monday we have a brand new 24 hr supermarket opening, and it's literally just across the road. I'm really hoping this will make a positive difference, and not distract me even more!

Well that was a waffle!!

Had a good day food wise - green day again. Starting to enjoy these, and they're really cheap too! Breakfast was two slices of toast from a small wholemeal loaf, with mushrooms and egg dry fried. Lunch was smash pizza; really enjoyed this, though found it a bit of a faff to start with, and it seemed to take ages to go crispy. That's probably down to my oven, which cooks everything from underneath. Went out this evening for a meet up with old work colleagues. Had stated I wouldn't be staying late and not drinking alchy hol, and I managed to stick to it. Two diet cokes (I hope they were diet!), and home to dinner that I'd cooked before going out, so just had to microwave it. This was a big bowl of sw chips, three quorn sausages and a good wallop of mushy pea curry. Forgot to take a photo, but tbf was famished when I got in.

This afternoon I also made a cake that I found the recipe for on here. It was pretty good, and no scan bran in sight! Only 5 syns for the whole cake, and I've probably eaten most of it. Still, done well on my syns today.



these both tasted much nicer than my pictures make them look! Will be cooking both of them again soon.

I spent yesterday with my family, visiting my elder daughter and grandson. It was yet another fab day out - it's been such a good week - and although I'd intended to stay on plan, it didn't pan out like that. We went to the Hand Made Burger place, where I could use my student discount (reduced the bill by nearly £8!) and with no idea of what might be the best option, and no inclination to go for a salad, I had a cheese burger. However many squillions of syns it was, it was well worth it! Only had a few chips, because they were so expensive, just got a bowl to share between four of us. We had a wander around the town, then went for a cuppa before getting the train back. We always go for afternoon tea, and usually I get us all a cake too, but yesterday I got us two kit kats to share between us, because we were all still pretty stuffed from the huge burgers. The weather was awful, so when we got back to Brum I popped into Waitrose and picked up some reduced pastries and microwave curries. Again, very naughty but nice.

Today it was tempting to go off plan again - the weather made me feel like a good roast dinner with a stodgy apple pie and custard. But I've been good - still only me and the veggie daughter at home, so I cooked the cheese and onion comfort pie that's on one of the threads here. Wow, that was good! I made double the quantity, and just had another thick slice for tea with some salad. My daughter really enjoyed it too, and will definitely be making that again - a real rib sticker. When it had gone down a bit I had a cup of good coffee and a slice of the Smash and carrot cake (again off a thread on here). All in all a very good dinner!

Not great pictures again - make it all look like a bit of a dogs dinner, but think they show how good and stodgy these recipes are:



Our new Asda opens over the road tomorrow - shopping for plan is going to become a whole lot easier!!

Wooo I have an asda down the road from me its a blessing

Getting 8 pound off is great... oh to have student discount
Also really wanna make that pie love finding new veggie recipes
Hope your ok xx

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Here to sub!
Your diary made me smile, I'm a sw hopeless case too, but full of good intentions hampered by a liking for wine
Keep up the good work x

Hiya Mandyboo - sorry, been really hopeless with the diary too! Love your picture too, relaxed, smiling and with a glass of vino - it's fairly representative of the life I was expecting to be living when I gave up work to become a full time student. It's not like that...

Today has been a totally 'lost' day - I've achieved absolutely nothing. To my left there is a pile of academic books which I'd planned to assess today, a mass of papers and empty coffee cups. I did make an instant smash cake, and eat the whole lot (around 5 syns) in one sitting. I dug out all my old Weightwatchers stuff and was almost tempted to return to the point counting. Then I thought about what point counting involves - and it's mostly counting - and had a brainwave, I could sell them on ebay! This is a good idea, and I started the process of lumping them all together in one big motivational parcel for some lucky person who might enjoy point counting. Then decided the postage was going to be a pain, so thought splitting them would be better. But no idea how to cancel what I'd started to start again. Now I have a pile of WW books and mags to my right.

I can't believe it's almost tea time and I've done absolutely nothing of any use to anyone! Been pretty good with my eating though - egg on toast and a 'nana for breakfast, veg soup and a wholemeal roll for lunch and tonight is going to be a green Thai fish curry. Homemade, with reduced fat coconut milk of course. However, I'm using a paste, not reduced anything, and it seems very likely that I'll not count the syns in that