Search results

  1. R

    bank holiday

    It will depend on whether your consultant can use his or her venue on a bank holiday. It could be a place that doesn't open, or is in use for something else. The only way you can know for certain is to ring the consultant and ask.
  2. R

    Gastric Bypass Surgery - Is it the easy way out?

    Let's just clarify this - I did not say anything about being a "bad friend". Never said that at all. And I didn't say that you were talking behind her back. I asked whether you spoke to her the way you spoke about her. Asked. Not said. I do apologise because what I was trying to do...
  3. R

    Gastric Bypass Surgery - Is it the easy way out?

    Hmm, you probably won't like my saying this, but do you talk to your friend the way you talk about her? Because to me you sound very judgmental. Perhaps you are right about her character, but you really don't sound as if you like her very much - that may not be true, but it's how it sounds...
  4. R

    0% fat nom de-light

    Inflation!! :D
  5. R

    Trying new foods on holiday/abroad.

    We found that portions were huge, but that you could always ask to share and of course America invented the "doggy bag" idea! We went to several places in Florida and they all had great salads. Also, they will always serve dressings "on the side", if you ask. In fact, they will do anything...
  6. R

    how can i stop binge eating?

    If I have the wrong kinds of food around then I will eat them - no such thing as half a packet of biscuits in this house!! So my solution is not to buy them. I find that will-power is easier in the shop than it is in the kitchen.
  7. R

    this is a tricky one hope some1 can help, advise bout my children and wills

    The Citizens Advice Bureau is a free service and they will tell you whether a will is sufficient, or whether you need to make other arrangements.
  8. R

    please can someone work out syns x

    That seems like a lot of fat - how do they cook the chicken? And is there a dressing?
  9. R

    Sainsbury's Pomodorino Tomato Salad

    The dressing contains olive and rapeseed oils, so why not measure it out and if it is a tablespoon then count the syns as a tablespoon of oil - 6 syns. You could use the Parmesan as a HEXA.
  10. R

    this is a tricky one hope some1 can help, advise bout my children and wills

    Every adult should make a will. It can cause endless problems if you don't. Your money and property may not go to the people that you want to receive them. And if you have a complex family situation like yours, then all the more reason to get your wishes down in writing. Why not start with...
  11. R

    Two weeks

    There is no real significance in two weeks, or three, or even one. They are totally artificial measurements of time. You seem to have set your mind to see a barrier at two weeks. Try to forget all about thinking about weeks. Take a day at a time, get that right, then do the next day.
  12. R

    Just hung up on my mother...

    Tiptoeing around people, pandering to their tempers, only makes them worse. They believe that they can get away with anything and we prove them right! I have a friend who has put up with her mother's temper tantrums and sulking for years and years. Whatever happened, her mother would win...
  13. R

    Slimming world help???

    Have another look at the long list of vegetables in your book - is there really nothing else that you like? Have you tried them all? Eating fruit and vegetables is not just an Extra Easy rule - it is something we should all be doing for the good of our health. If you like broccoli, what...
  14. R

    SW Books..

    If by "more oomph" you mean that you would have liked it to be spicier, then it will probably be fine for me because I don't really like things spicy, although I do love ginger. The baked eggs look great. I want to try some of the lentil dishes - I have a thing for lentils at the moment...
  15. R

    What are you doing for the royal wedding?

    I am not particularly interested in it, but will watch the service because the music will be amazing.
  16. R

    SW Books..

    Just got my copy of Extra Easy Meals in Minutes and can't wait to start cooking! A friend of mine cooked the gingered turkey noodles and said it was really good.
  17. R

    DELETE PLEASE

    Yes, we had a discussion about things that people eat at Easter, and our consultant said that she finds that usually her members gain more over Easter than they do at Christmas!
  18. R

    SW Books..

    I wonder why? I have only been able to glance through it, but there were some really great recipes in it, and I have it on order.
  19. R

    Oriental Pears

    They are crisper than European pears. I don't like the skin much, so I peel them and slice them thinly and have them with cheese, especially blue cheese, or just on their own.
  20. R

    Original Limited on things you like ....

    The cholesterol in food does not cause extra cholesterol in the blood (except in rare cases, and you would know if you were one of those). It is saturated fat which does that.
  21. R

    Goldfish chinese curry sauce?

    According to the mysupermarket website the ingredients are: Wheat Flour, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Palm Oil, Curry Powder (Contains Mustard Seed), Salt, Water, Monosodium Glutamate E621, Coconut Cream, Spices, Onion Powder. But no indication of calories, fat, etc., although with those...
  22. R

    buying yogurts

    The problem with low-fat things is that they will separate when thawed out. This is because they don't have the fat molecules to hold them together. But a good stir should resolve that problem. Sometimes they separate a bit even if they haven't been frozen. I don't usually eat Muller...
  23. R

    Sick of people opinions!

    Something similar happened to me just yesterday. I was so surprised that I just laughed out loud. So I was asked why I was laughing, which only made me laugh more. So she walked away. With any luck she now thinks I am deranged, and won't mention it again!
  24. R

    Mozzarella

    Yes, 42g of mozzarella is a HEXA. As you can have the same amount of it as you can have of reduced-fat cheddar, I would guess that it is fairly low-fat anyway. I think I have seen mozzarella "light" in the supermarket but I wouldn't think of buying it.
  25. R

    How bad is not eating??

    Two days won't do you any harm. And it was something you had to do, you had no choice.
  26. R

    Keeping motivated when everyone else is 'cheating and getting away with it'?

    You are you. They are them. That may not be grammatical, sorry! You can't compare yourself to anyone else. Every single last one of us is different.
  27. R

    Fresh coconut

    You will find the syn values for fresh coconut and coconut milk on page 53 of your food optimising book. No such thing as free nuts, I'm afraid!!
  28. R

    Cheese when its grated

    If you took your pile of grated cheese and squashed it, you would end up with the shape you started with!
  29. R

    Cheese when its grated

    There's no difference. It only looks more because their is air between the pieces of cheese - and air is free!
  30. R

    Late Night Cravings :-(

    If you are lying in bed reading about food then of course you are thinking about food! Are you in bed with your computer? It's really not a good idea - it won't let your brain relax enough to get to sleep. Try a good novel instead!
  31. R

    Fromage Frais

    I get mine from Waitrose.
  32. R

    Stop me being hungry tips please!!!

    There has been some good suggestions here, but you might like to think about why it is you need to feel full all the time? There is actually nothing wrong with feeling hungry. Not all the time, obviously, but feeling hungry as you get towards meal times is normal.
  33. R

    husbands and diets!

    That's just what they want you to think. Can't work the washing machine, can't boil an egg, need their shirts ironing for them. It's all just a big con!
  34. R

    Pizza express Pollo Vedure Salad

    Sounds as if you have that all worked out OK. Pizza Express are very good about serving dressings separately, so you can have just as much or as little as you want. It sounds lovely.
  35. R

    What time do you have dinner?

    My Mum was from London and anything north of Oxfordshire was the north for her. My Dad was from Tyneside and he regarded Sheffield as being in the south. It's all a matter of perspective!!!
  36. R

    Who loves shopping TV QVC etc...

    Oh I know - it is addictive!! I started out watching one of the Kipling programmes as I wanted to get some things for presents for my relatives and wanted an idea of the prices before heading over to eBay to get them cheaper! During the programme someone rang up to say she was a real fan of...
  37. R

    When to get new clothes?

    I donate to charity shops and buy from them too. And I buy and sell on eBay. Can't remember the last time I bought an item of clothing full price from a shop!
  38. R

    What time do you have dinner?

    Lincolnshire is not my definition of The North!! And yes, I do know that I am in danger of starting a whole new argument here!! ;)
  39. R

    Portion size on free foods!!..

    You are doing fine, Helen. Even if you only lost one pound a week, you could lose the 61 pounds you want to lose in just over a year. And some weeks you will more than likely lose more than a pound. Other people - whoever they are - can safely be ignored unless they understand the SW plan.
  40. R

    Really depressed

    Here's a suggestion. Do you have a printer? Then print out your original post and give them each a copy. Maybe print out some or all of the replies as well. Because the way you have described how you feel in your first post is so powerful and so moving, that perhaps it would make them realise...
  41. R

    husbands and diets!

    Despite all indications to the contrary, these people are grownups and are responsible for themselves. You can advise, guide, help, encourage - but you can't force them to eat sensibly. Surely everyone knows by now that a diet of chicken nuggets, cheesecake and crisps is a fast track to a...
  42. R

    Superfree, how many have you tried?

    Feel free to wander off my topic - I am always wandering off other people's, so I can't complain!! Fiddleheads are strange, aren't they? (See picture below for those, like me, who hadn't heard of them before.) I don't think I have had millet - can't remember. Quinoa is one grain I have...
  43. R

    Superfree, how many have you tried?

    It's odd - I absolutely love butternut squash - roasted, or in a risotto, or with other vegetables. But in a soup - oh no. I hate it.
  44. R

    Anyone else find it weird?!?

    And your family will be eating more healthily too, possibly without even noticing it.
  45. R

    Superfree, how many have you tried?

    We will have to email SW HQ and ask!! :D
  46. R

    Superfree, how many have you tried?

    If you are ever lucky enough to see Alfonso (Alphonso) mangos, then do try one. They are just so gorgeous. They are also expensive!
  47. R

    Superfree, how many have you tried?

    Those of us "of a certain age" may look back and remember what shops used to stock when we were children, and realise what an extraordinary choice we have now. Even looking back a short while - butternut squash is a fairly new thing and where would SW folk be without it now?!
  48. R

    M&S sarnies and salads...

    I can't stand any kind of mayonnaise - so most prepared sandwiches are out for me. If I do have to find something when I am out then I will have a Pret sushi.
  49. R

    Superfree, how many have you tried?

    Aha - some more displacement activity. Much more fun than the washing! Boysenberries are a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry. I have seen them in Waitrose occasionally, but they are rather soft and don't pack or travel very well, so you don't see them often. Tayberries are similar...
  50. R

    Anyone know any good psychic readers

    Planning for an eventuality is not the same as knowing what it will be. And it still worries me that someone would want to try to find out whether someone who has died is happy or not, because if the answer comes back that they are not there is nothing one can do about it. However, maybe I...
  51. R

    Superfree, how many have you tried?

    Vegetables: Balor Beans, Chioca, Choko, Cluster Beans, Curly Kale, Keirela, Kohlrabi, Okra, Papri Beans, Seakale. Fruit: Amla, Babaco, Cashew Fruit, Feijoa, Jambu Fruit, Jujube, Mammie Apple. Obviously, some of these are going to be available only at specialist shops, but I am determined to...
  52. R

    Superfree, how many have you tried?

    You know how you get those times when you really should be doing something, but you do all sorts of other things to put off the moment. Displacement Activity is the proper name for it! Well, this afternoon when I should have been doing something else, I decided to look in my SW book at the...
  53. R

    Anyone know any good psychic readers

    But then what? If you are told that the IVF will be successful and that your gran is fine, then I can see that it will make you happier. But what if you are told the opposite? What would you do? Give up on the IVF? And there would be nothing at all that you could do about your gran...
  54. R

    What time do you have dinner?

    So did I when I lived in the north. Now I live in the south I have my LUNCH at 1 p.m. and my DINNER at 8 p.m. It's a north-south thing.
  55. R

    Anyone know any good psychic readers

    What advantage would it be to you to know things about your future? Even if it were possible (which I personally doubt) surely the whole point of the future is that it is unknown?
  56. R

    Ecology or Ecoli??

    It might not do you any harm - depends on your constitution! - but I doubt if it is doing your steamer any good. The steam rises through whatever is being cooked and falls back again as water when it has condensed. I don't see how it can do this without absorbing something from the...
  57. R

    Unsupportive other half

    He couldn't eat things in front of you if you aren't there. Just walk away!
  58. R

    Slimming World for the meetings and a VLCD Diet

    I am sorry, as a general rule I try not to be judgmental, but if you are serious about this then I think it is appalling. It sounds to me as if you will be sneering at and gloating over a class full of people who are working hard, following a sensible diet, and losing weight gradually. I am...
  59. R

    Buffet food

    The thing is about buffets is that you can eat as much - OR AS LITTLE!! - as you like. Have some nice goodies but just one very small amount. My cousin's approach to these things (she used to have to go to a lot of posh receptions, poor girl!) was to talk a lot, and therefore not have much...
  60. R

    Soap Plots.

    And the intention was for it to go on much longer than this, but people complained, so count yourselves lucky!!
  61. R

    How much???

    But how many sandwiches will you be able to make for your fiver?
  62. R

    How much???

    Supermarkets don't have to justify what they charge for anything. They put a price on something, we choose whether to buy it or not. There is no point trying to ascribe moral values to big business. Or small business, either!
  63. R

    Worried!

    That's what syns are for.
  64. R

    Slimming World official website

    You need a PIN number. It should be written in your book on the page towards the back where your consultant's details are. If not, you need to contact him/her to ask for one.
  65. R

    Jacket potato skin?

    Just curious - why did you think it had syns?
  66. R

    Extra Easy Shopping in Asda?

    Just curious - how much does a six-hour round trip cost you? Is it really worth it for the savings?
  67. R

    x's wanting to get into y's - thread clutter

    Brilliant - it has been bugging me for weeks. I can read it now!! :D
  68. R

    Work Advice

    Looking back at my previous posting, I think maybe I was a bit hard on you - sorry! I hope it works out for you and that things are not going to be as bad as you fear.
  69. R

    Rant please re: tax credits/benefits etc

    Not sure if this will be any help, but maybe worth a look: Benefits Check Up: 5 mins to get what you're entitled to...
  70. R

    Work Advice

    Why is she leaving the other company? Maybe she didn't like it there either. Maybe she would like a different way of working. Maybe she has fallen out with your old boss. Maybe, maybe . . . the thing is, you don't know. And you are getting yourself into a state and saying that everything...
  71. R

    Disgusted and annoyed

    I know a consultant who had to close a group down because after all her expenses (like those already listed above) and all her hard work, she was getting around £10 for herself. She simply could not continue. And there was no-one else willing to take it on.
  72. R

    Paris recommendations?

    I haven't been to Paris in years! I hope you have a lovely time. Recently I was reading about a walk along an old railway line which has been planted with trees and flowers - part of it is on a viaduct which gives you lovely views. You can find out details here: Paris France Promenade...
  73. R

    M&S sarnies and salads...

    If someone is going to M&S to buy the sandwiches, could you not ask them to get you a couple of wholemeal rolls or bread, some sliced chicken, and some tomatoes or lettuce? Then make your own sandwich which you know will have no butter or mayonnaise. Or maybe get a pack of salad leaves and...
  74. R

    A few questions...!

    Must have been a while back when it was only free on green, because it was free on red when I joined in 2008. Just checked my old book.
  75. R

    Sketchers Shape Ups

    There have been other threads on these shoes, not just on the SW forum but on other minimins forum as well. But if you want to do a search, remember to spell it Skechers, not Sketchers.
  76. R

    Meetings

    Actually, the part of the class I enjoy best is the bit between weighing in and the class actually starting. Chatting to people, buying raffle tickets and magazines, etc., reading through the recipe books, seeing who is new.
  77. R

    asda gfy low fat vanilla dessert

    It sounds like the sort of thing that wouldn't have any free food allowance in it. So it would be 1 syn per 20 calories.
  78. R

    Meetings

    I was going to say something but then found that Lonestitcher and Circes had got there first - so - what they said!!!
  79. R

    A few questions...!

    Watermelon is superfree. It is also a speed food (but not a superspeed food like other melons). You are right about the yogurt and your friend is wrong.
  80. R

    Red Days what do you have with yours?

    The other day I put the following in a dish in the oven - red onion wedges, fennel slices, butternut squash, courgettes, aubergines, chestnut mushrooms, spray of frylight, splash of soy sauce, squeeze of lemon juice, seasoning. Cooked it all until things started to go brown around the edges...
  81. R

    Pro`s and Con`s of being a consultant???

    Pros - it is very rewarding, you feel as if you are helping people, timings are flexible. Cons - you don't make as much money as you might think, it is hard work (hard physical work, too - carrying around boxes, etc.), not all your members will be as delightful as the people on this forum...
  82. R

    Does Anyone ....

    I go on my own and I think most people do. But I am not on my own once I get there! Getting to know new people takes a bit of effort - but then anything worth while takes effort, doesn't it? There is always someone to talk to - if the people I know are busy chatting among themselves then I...
  83. R

    gnocci

    I think you are going to have to be a bit more specific. There are so many different kinds of Gnocchi.
  84. R

    Kitchen Essentials

    Remember that spices don't keep for ever and don't buy more than you are going to use. It is easy to get carried away when you are standing in front of all those jars on the supermarket shelf! Same with herbs. In fact, I never buy dried herbs as I think they always taste dusty. I only buy...
  85. R

    Extra Easy 1/3 superfree food??? HOW??

    The best advice I was given - from a really successful SW member - was to think about the superfree first, rather than as an afterthought. So not "what superfree can I have with this?" but "what can I have with this superfree?" What I try to do (OK, I'm not always an angel!!) is to plan...
  86. R

    Syns

    SW is different from everything else - that's what is so good about it! Good to see you are using your book - that's the way to get things right and not make mistakes. I have just started again - haven't been able to go to class for about six weeks. So I am looking again at the book just as...
  87. R

    Why are all dresses so short :-@

    What about trousers? A nice floaty pair of trousers is very summery. Or smart black trousers with a flowery top.
  88. R

    crazy dog!

    You could ask your local branch of the RSPCA for their advice. They can investigate and find out what is wrong, and take whatever action is necessary.
  89. R

    Wedding table names?

    "Lilac Wine"
  90. R

    Started work and lunches

    It was probably their traditional way of preparing the noodles. They might think our way of preparing food is "gross"! If you have a M&S near you then there are loads of choices of salads and prepared vegetables. When I worked in London I used to pick up my lunch from the M&S in Paddington...
  91. R

    Anyone bought a Sofa from Argos???? Help Please!!

    Some charity shops sell furniture. Last year I saw a fantastic leather sofa in a charity shop in the Midlands which was less than £100 - slightly worn but very good quality. I wouldn't buy a sofa from anywhere (like most Argos branches) where you can't sit in it first. Do you have to buy a...
  92. R

    Fruit syn value

    Mango is not just free, it is superfree, so long as it is not sweetened, tinned, pureed or cooked. Where exactly did you read about it being 8 syns?
  93. R

    Kitchen Essentials

    In addition to wenchie's list, some really good quality sharp knives and something with which to keep them sharp.
  94. R

    Easter Eggs - To Treat Or Not To Treat???

    I might have some chocolate, but definitely not an Easter Egg - more money for less chocolate? No thanks.
  95. R

    sad salads!!

    What are you putting in your salads that is so different?
  96. R

    Help please

    Well done you - a great start.
  97. R

    Wedding table names?

    OK - thanks for the explanation - I see what you mean. Wedding arrangements are just another one of those things which I just don't understand these days!
  98. R

    Change of routine ruining my sw!

    Do they only provide one thing? No provision for vegetarians or people with other special requirements? Could you ask if there are alternatives, like a salad? If not, then you could have rice or pasta salad, cold meat, eggs, couscous.
  99. R

    Slimming world cookbooks....

    The new one - can't remember the name, sorry - looks very good. It has quick meals in it.
  100. R

    Are there any 100% potato chips to buy?

    Yes. They are called potatoes! Sorry. Seriously, I have never seen the point of frozen oven chips. It takes no more time to cut up a potato and put it into a dish with a squirt of frylight, than it does to go to the freezer and cut open a packet. And it is soooooo much cheaper.
  101. R

    Hobbies and interests

    You might get some ideas from a previous thread on this subject: http://www.minimins.com/slimming-world-off-topic/203067-hobbies.html
  102. R

    Wedding table names?

    Not sure whether I am being stupid, or just showing my age (or maybe both) but what is the point of giving names to tables? I don't get it.
  103. R

    what winds you up???

    I agree! I am on an emailing list, which I can't seem to get removed from, which sends me messages with hysterical titles: "Pinky and Perky split! Ethel is pregnant! Scoobydoo isn't going to US!" and I find myself yelling at the monitor "SO WHAT!!!" Just received another one: "Why Angelina's...
  104. R

    Why is it?. . .

    I was once told that if you can not do something 13 times, then you will have broken the habit. I doubt if there is any magical significance in the number 13, but the principle is an interesting one.
  105. R

    Slimming World advertising???

    Yes, indeed - the point I was trying to make, possibly not that clearly, was that the leaflet/poster type of advertising doesn't cost SW anything. Every leaflet, poster, publicity signage, display advert, local newspaper advert, is all paid for by the consultant.
  106. R

    what winds you up???

    Drivers who do not indicate at roundabouts. People who hijack perfectly good words and make them mean something else.
  107. R

    Slimming World advertising???

    It is the consultant who does the leaflet drops. SW does not pay someone to do them - it is part of the consultant's job (and the consultant's family, friends and anyone else they can coerce into doing it!). It is the most tedious of tasks. And the consultant has to pay for the leaflets...
  108. R

    Fat free fromage frias?

    I get them from Waitrose.
  109. R

    SW own meal range????!!!!

    But you do have that choice. The magazine has a regular section which gives details of prepared meals which are low-syn, and the directory has loads of them listed. With SW you can choose whether to have convenience meals or home-cooked meals. With WW you have the same choice. It isn't...
  110. R

    SW own meal range????!!!!

    A friend of mine used to peer at a packet which said "serves two" and say "I'd better eat it quick, before the other guy gets here and wants his share!"
  111. R

    GRR-Daily Mail comments...

    Daily Mail readers - what can you expect!!
  112. R

    struggling to eat Healthy Extras

    Gosh, yes, how boring if we were all the same!
  113. R

    Extra Easy Help Needed

    You don't have to eat fruit if you don't like it (although there are so many lovely fruits it seems a pity) - it's not compulsory. Superfree is fruit and vegetables - take your pick.
  114. R

    Simmer of the Week?

    Like that tin of Tesco Value tomatoes that was brought back and put in the basket so many times I reckon it could have found its own way back like a homing pigeon!! For me personally, SOTW is a waste of time and I wish they wouldn't bother. On the odd occasions I was SOTW I was mildly pleased...
  115. R

    How many times can you join?

    Lots of people join again and again and your consultant will be delighted to see you.
  116. R

    SYMINGTON'S PORRIDGE

    Have a look at the ingredients list. I can't find it online, but I have found the nutritional information and there appears to be 16.4g of sugars in the plain version, 13.8g in the syrup version and 30.4 in the apple version. Quite what they mean by "sugars" rather than just sugar, I don't...
  117. R

    Hobbies

    What about photography? You don't have to have an expensive camera. And most towns have camera clubs that you can join to meet people. Just getting out and about and looking at things from the point of view of taking an interesting photograph can take you out of yourself and get you looking...
  118. R

    Stop credit crunching my blueberries!!!!

    There was an article in Which? magazine about this recently - large packages being worse value than smaller ones, packages marked "value" or "special value" actually being worse value, tins of tuna banded together costing more than if you bought the tins individually. I have found one of the...
  119. R

    Mixing Things Up a Bit

    The one-third superfree is not simply a requirement of Extra Easy, but a good principle on which to base any healthy eating plan. So yes, whichever plan you choose, keep on with the fruit and veg!!
  120. R

    Swapping Between Diets

    Unless you are eating exactly the same thing every single day, then you are not "staying on the same diet". SW encourages us to vary the food we eat and to try new things. Personally, I have never been convinced by the "gets used to it" argument anyway. It's like when they tell you to...
  121. R

    soooo disapointed :( feel like giving up all because of yoo yogurts :(

    SW would make a fortune if they marketed a small magnifying glass on a keyring, so we could all peer at the small print on the back of the packages!
  122. R

    Tesco rice

    Sorry - misunderstood. I thought it was cooked rice. Which I wouldn't have thought if I had read the original post properly!!!
  123. R

    struggling to eat Healthy Extras

    Sorry about that!! I love it, but we are all different. I find that milk makes cereal far too soggy and if I pop it on top of yogurt it stays nice and crunchy.
  124. R

    Stop credit crunching my blueberries!!!!

    Standard supermarket practice. Most people don't read labels properly and won't notice that the packages are shrinking - they just see 2 for £4 and think it is the same as last week.
  125. R

    Not really off topic but...

    :8855::8855:
  126. R

    struggling to eat Healthy Extras

    It doesn't "rule out" cereals - you can eat them with yogurt. HEXAs are there for calcium and fat; HEXBs are there for fibre. If you are getting enough from other sources it probably won't matter that much.
  127. R

    Tesco rice

    Check the ingredients list. Does it have oil in it? Some prepared rice does. If so, it may have some syns.
  128. R

    Youngs Basa Fillets (Frozen)

    If it is just fish, then it is free. Check the ingredients list for any extras like oil or flour, for instance. If there isn't anything extra, you are fine.
  129. R

    everyone done their census?

    I did tactfully try to explain to an elderly relative of mine that sending in her form two weeks in advance was, at the age of 96, perhaps just a little optimistic! But obviously I was too tactful, because she didn't understand me (or pretended not to!).
  130. R

    Not really off topic but...

    With melons (and pineapples), pick them up and smell them! Don't worry if people look at you sideways - it is really a good way to tell. You are looking for a good strong melon smell, but not over-ripe or metallic. If it smells like you want to eat it then and there - then buy it!
  131. R

    Not really off topic but...

    Tesco sells walnut oil. Look for smaller sized bottles near the olive oil. Keep it in a cupboard and don't let it stand in sunlight and keep an eye on the use-by date. When you are buying an avocado, press gently with your thumb at the top where the stalk used to be. It should give a...
  132. R

    everyone done their census?

    Filled it in last night and will post it tomorrow. A bit puzzled by people saying they filled it in ages ago - I thought it was supposed to be done on the 27th about the situation on that day. Unless everyone can see into the future, of course!
  133. R

    struggling to eat Healthy Extras

    There are three pages of HEXBs in the book - cereals, crispbreads, cereal bars, bread, olive oil, dried cooked or canned fruit, soups - and you don't fancy ANY of them?
  134. R

    Not really off topic but...

    Oh my goodness, you are missing a treat! Yes, they are a bit high in syns, but so delicious. I always buy the Haas ones (dark, very rough skin) and have half one day and half the next. Sometimes I just eat them with a spoon, but a favourite is in a wholemeal sandwich with tomato and basil.
  135. R

    Wedding dresses!

    You could try ringing round charity shops, or looking at their websites, because there are a number of them who specialise in wedding dresses. A young friend of mine bought a beautiful designer dress for about £50 - I think it was in Stratford.
  136. R

    Ideas for tea with Shake to bake in a bag...

    Sorry, but what is Shake to Bake?
  137. R

    parsnips??????? are frozen ones free

    Really important, this. Flip the packet over and read the ingredients list. It may not be obvious from the front of the packet but the detailed list will show you if there is oil or anything else "synful" in there!
  138. R

    Extra Easy Help for a first weeker

    ..............
  139. R

    SW chips compared to oven chips

    McCain Original Homefries: Potatoes, Sunflower Oil, Batter (Wheat Flour, Modified Starch (Maize, Tapioca), Rice Flour, Salt, Corn Starch, Natural Colours (Turmeric Extract, Paprika Extract)). McCain Oven Chips (straight cut and rustic) are just potatoes and sunflower oil. The rustic ones...
  140. R

    only today

    I agree that you should contact your consultant and explain what has happened. Then whatever happens at weigh-in, she will understand.
  141. R

    Parking across your drive!

    There are lots of conditions which "did not exist" back in the good old days. That's because people didn't know about them and sufferers were not recognised.
  142. R

    Sketcher's shape ups

    You might want to search again, as they are Skechers, not Sketchers. Unfortunately, Minimins doesn't have a friendly spelling corrector like Google does!
  143. R

    Yoo Light Thing

    If they are the same ones mentioned in the two other threads about Yoo yogurts they are not free because they are high in sugar. Read the ingredients. If it says "sugar" (in any of its forms) then it won't be free.
  144. R

    Parking across your drive!

    You can report suspected benefit fraud anonymously: Reporting benefit fraud : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits
  145. R

    YOO yogurts

    Sometimes the label will say fat-free, and that's fine as far as it goes. But you need to check for sugar as well. Fat-free doesn't necessarily mean low-calorie or low-syn.
  146. R

    Help! No Kitchen!

    Maybe a little late for you now, but I have just visited a friend of mine who is doing up a house and has no kitchen facilities. She bought a small portable gas ring from Lakeland for £17.99 (the gas cartridge costs £1.95). It is meant for use outdoors but can be used indoors with good...
  147. R

    im not hungry!

    A chest infection is serious, and it takes some time to fully recover and if you had antibiotics they will take a while to leave your system. I had a chest infection last year and it took ages for me to feel quite right again. You should concentrate on getting well again, and not worry too...
  148. R

    Coming and goings

    I know two people who were on here for some time and then left. One just didn't have time to continue, and the other - my cousin - felt that something she felt strongly about had been ridiculed and her credibility on the forum was gone. I think some people join forums in a fit of...
  149. R

    YOO yogurts

    Have a look at this thread. Doesn't give a definitive answer, but they do seem to be very high in sugar so they won't be free. http://www.minimins.com/syn-values/200394-yoo-light-thing-strawberry-yogurt.html
  150. R

    Search function

    Try searching using Google - type in your search then leave a space, then type site:www. minimins.com / slimming-world So, for instance "breakfast biscuits" site:www. minimins.com / slimming-world will bring up all the posts about breakfast biscuits. If you want recent posts, go to...
  151. R

    Innocent Orange

    OK, must have got that wrong, then. Sorry.
  152. R

    Cous cous

    Cous cous is free on EE and green. That is, if you are referring to plain cous cous. If you mean the flavoured ones, then I don't know.
  153. R

    Uncles Ben's long grain rice - boil in a bag!

    Some packs of rice have oil in them to keep the rice separate. Check the ingredients list. If it just says rice, then fine - if there is oil listed, then there will be syns.
  154. R

    Why? Why? Why

    I sat next to a rather scruffy young man on the train the other day, on the way to Oxford. Out came the Ipod and the earpieces and I thought - oh no, it's going to be boom, scratch, boom, all the way there. Just as I realised that I couldn't actually hear anything, and was thinking that they...
  155. R

    Innocent Orange

    Not sure how true this is, but I was told that Innocent products are not listed by SW because the manufacturers objected to the high syn value they were given.
  156. R

    Why? Why? Why

    If someone is sitting near you speaking loudly on the phone, get out a pad and pencil and very ostentatiously make notes. It makes them shut up very quickly! I don't understand why people think that calls they make in a public place are not overheard by other people. I once sat on a train...
  157. R

    Brevita Breakfast Biscuits!!??

    But you won't find them if you search for Brevita - they are called Belvita.
  158. R

    how can i spice up potatoes plz

    I think that potatoes are so delicious anyway that they don't need anything to spice them up, just a little bit of Maldon salt and Wynad black pepper.
  159. R

    what i would love....

    I have a Peter Andre/Jordan free week every week. Because I don't read magazines or tabloid newspapers! In fact, I doubt if I would recognise either of them, and have only really vaguely heard of them.
  160. R

    Weekend away all sugestions wanted!

    Eurostar is not so expensive if you can book ahead, but like most rail journeys it gets very pricey if you are arranging it last-minute. I agree with fillymum - websites like lasminute.com are very good for spur of the moment holidays.
  161. R

    King prawns HEXB?

    A prawn is a prawn. It's just a question of size. I love king prawns - M&S do the best ones I have found. (Unless of course they are in batter, which is a whole other question!)
  162. R

    Green Days Why am I gaining weight?

    You don't know if you have gained! You can't compare one set of scales with another. The only way you will know is when you go back to your class and get on the SW scales.
  163. R

    Being rubbish at the SW 'rules'- e.g. My Mum

    Yes - that's the plan for me!! :bliss::bliss::bliss:
  164. R

    Extra Easy Veg problem :-/ Advice Pls x

    I think that is a brilliant idea. So many children these days do not seem to know what a vegetable looks like! Good for you.
  165. R

    Can you believe what my DH did today ?

    I have to count the cutlery before I take the bin bags out - otherwise there I am, two minutes before the bin men arrive, rummaging around trying to find a very expensive knife! And I just can't tell you how many teaspoons disappear!!
  166. R

    Parking across your drive!

    You could always write a message on the windscreen with an old lipstick. It does no lasting damage, but is a real pig to clean off!
  167. R

    feel silly re-joining

    Well, in my experience they do. I have seen people on this forum say things to the effect that "they are only in it for the money" but to be honest I don't think that is always true. One of my consultant friends says that she could probably make more part-time on the tills at Tesco...
  168. R

    Can I vent a little about well meaning parents?

    I read an article recently which said that much of the problem of overeating in this country can be traced back to the rationing during the war, and the reaction to food becoming available afterwards. Even if you are too young to remember that, your parents and/or grandparents aren't, and the...
  169. R

    Can you believe what my DH did today ?

    If I have something to go in the bin, and something to go elsewhere, I will always get them the wrong way round. The cardboard tube from the loo roll is still in my hand, but the metal holder for the new roll is in the bin. The vegetable peelings are in the sink - where is the knife? In...
  170. R

    feel silly re-joining

    No-one will be looking at you or thinking you are a failure. They are there to think about themselves, not you. And if anyone does notice you I bet they will be pleased to see you. The consultant will certainly be pleased to have you back. Consultants that I know are delighted when people...
  171. R

    NOISY NEIGHBOURS

    If they are running a business, then are they allowed to do that from their flat? I am not sure what the rules are where you live, but I do know that my neighbour across the road from me has to have some kind of licence for running his business from his house. Either the local council or your...
  172. R

    Birds eye steam fresh veg

    Check the ingredients. If it is just vegetables, then it will be free. If there are any other ingredients, like oil, or thickeners, then it probably won't be.
  173. R

    Yoo Light Thing Strawberry Yogurt

    Oats So Simple and Paw Ridge are two other silly names. Don't buy them anyway as they are such a ripoff, but the names are really offputting. Sorry, wandering way off the original topic here! :)
  174. R

    Yoo Light Thing Strawberry Yogurt

    They may be fat-free but it is clear from the list in the first post that they have loads of sugar in them! Also, they have a very silly name, so that's another reason not to buy them.
  175. R

    Confused about calculating syns

    ALL foods have calories. No such thing as calorie-free foods (I wish!) But foods have syns when they contain things which don't have any goodness in them (oversimplified way of explaining it, but I hope you see what I mean). So lean meat doesn't have syns, but a meat product with fat, or...
  176. R

    Pulses..

    The Waitrose website has some lovely lentil recipes (obviously you will have to adjust the amount of oil they use!) Roasted Squash with Lentils and Goat's Cheese Roast Fennel and Courgette with Lentils and Green Sauce Lentils with Pasta and Caramelised Onions and you can put any other...
  177. R

    fizzy /soda water okay instead of 2lt of water a day?

    What is it in fizzy water that affects teeth?
  178. R

    Yay! Sorted my sweetener issue :)

    Oh I see - complete misunderstanding on my part. Sorry. I never realised that different countries gave different calorie values to things - how odd!
  179. R

    Idiot alert :)

    When I started taking medication, the instructions for which said I shouldn't have Lemsip, I asked my doctor about it and he said that he thought things like Lemsip were a waste of money anyway. He said to take paracetamol and a hot drink with lemon and honey and whisky!! (I loved my doctor, I...
  180. R

    would you submit your story?

    Definitely not! I am not that interesting, I don't have a "sob story" to tell, and at some point someone would be bound to use the word "journey" and I would have to restrain myself from thumping them. Best not, I think!!!
  181. R

    Yay! Sorted my sweetener issue :)

    I don't think that "the calories are negotiable" is quite what you meant to say, but I can't for the life of me work out what you did mean.
  182. R

    vitamin C ?

    Have a look at the ingredients. Do they have sugar in them? Do they give a calorie content? If they do have sugar in them then you can apply the 20 calories = 1 syn rule.
  183. R

    Monosodium Glutamate

    Fascinating article - thank you.
  184. R

    I got 'told off' for talking at work today!!!!!

    She is stressed, she is busy, she is very young, she has taken on some extra work. And maybe she opened her mouth to say something and it came out all wrong. We've all done it.
  185. R

    Veg/chicken stock

    All stock cubes and liquid stock concentrates are free. My preferred brand is Knorr Touch of Taste - the liquid in bottles. I think the flavour is better and you can use just as much or as little as you like.
  186. R

    slight panic, can anyone advise please

    This should not happen - she should not comment (even non-verbally) about members' weights.
  187. R

    Bl**dy grey hair!!

    I have grey hair and I am quite happy with it. I haven't the time or the inclination to fiddle about with hair dyes and worry about when it will be time to do it again.
  188. R

    Anyone from Staffordshire know the company Baby Direct?

    Do you mean that it was a Paypal account, or something similar to Paypal? Because you could contact Paypal direct and ask them if they are aware of any problems.
  189. R

    I need oats!

    Best (and cheapest) way to get oats into your diet is to buy rolled oats and make porridge.
  190. R

    HEBs?? To eat or not to eat??

    The Healthy Extras are there to make sure we get appropriate amounts of calcium, fat and fibre. Missing them out occasionally won't do much harm, especially if you are getting those nutrients from other foods. But you will regret it in later life if you don't get enough calcium!
  191. R

    Foods that slow down weight loss

    I agree with much of what you say, but take issue with this particular part. Refined sugars in white rice and pasta? How?
  192. R

    Tesco's Price checker

    The supermarket I use is half a mile away - walking distance if I am not carrying too much. It is a bit more expensive than some of the others - but one is at least three miles away, some even further, which involves getting the car out. To get to the nearest Asda would be a 40 minute round...
  193. R

    I had a horrid horrid weigh in tonight class issue not weight

    Personally I think you need to sleep on this and see how you feel in the morning. Do you really want to get this consultant into trouble with her bosses just because she mishandled one incident? It wasn't her fault the woman was rude to you - if you ask any consultant you will probably find...
  194. R

    SQUASH

    Looks a bit like an Kabocha (not sure of the spelling!) squash. They can be quite hard to cut through, so use a good heavy knife if you are cutting it up. Alternatively, you can bake it whole if it is not too big. Hope you enjoy it!! Thanks for that link, Lexie dog - very useful reference.
  195. R

    Extra Easy Feeling Uninspired

    There are over 60 different types of fruit and about the same number of vegetables listed on the superfree pages. Basically - all fruit and vegetables except avocado, peas, parsnips, broad beans and potatoes and sweetcorn. Why not try something you have never had before - the shops are full...
  196. R

    Do you feel guilty?

    Guilt is such a colossal waste of time; in achieves nothing. It just makes you miserable. I used to feel guilty about things but it was just a bad habit and like other habits, it can be broken.
  197. R

    is it ok??

    But that meal was not all superfree. Cottage Cheese is not superfree.
  198. R

    hunger pangs!

    Go to sleep??
  199. R

    Extra Easy Easter eggs!!!

    It's a very expensive way to buy chocolate.
  200. R

    30 day shred? anyone doing this? it just nearly killed me!!! lol

    By putting it through the shredder? Well, that's one way of doing it I suppose!! :D
  201. R

    SO UPSET!

    Try looking at the bigger picture - twelve pounds in six weeks IS two pounds a week.
  202. R

    30 day shred? anyone doing this? it just nearly killed me!!! lol

    I looked this up, because I couldn't imagine what the "30 day shred" could possibly mean. I just can't see what "shred" means in the context of exercise. Shred to me means to cut up into little pieces!
  203. R

    Info Please

    Love it!!
  204. R

    so please that I scared everyone...

    I heard you!! And I live 20 miles away! Good for you.
  205. R

    More esteem but horrid workmate!!

    My dear late mother used to say "there's always one". Meaning that wherever you live, or work, or go, there is always one (sometimes more than one) person who is going to make your life difficult. I am retired now, but I do voluntary work. I work very hard and am happy to do so without any...
  206. R

    Extra Easy Have you been a super 'free' hero today?

    Briliant to see all this superfree! I have had: oranges, bananas, grapes, lettuce, leeks, onions, aubergines, fennel, tomatoes, cucumber, courgettes, white wine (oh, sorry, that's only superfree in my fantasies!!).
  207. R

    can someone tell me about the meetings please

    It all depends on the consultant. There are good ones, excellent ones, not so good ones. You will just have to wait and see. I know two consultants very well - one is a close friend and the other is the consultant who runs my group. They are totally different, and I think that each of...
  208. R

    HELP! I'm worrying about my food intake!!

    Unless I have missed it, there isn't a Healthy Extra A choice in there. Apart from that, it looks great.
  209. R

    RANT!!!

    I don't understand why you say "I can't stand him"? He is fortunate to have a supportive mother, and maybe we would all like someone to cook our meals. But I can't see a reason not to like him - unless there is something else of course. It has been interesting reading this thread. I agree...
  210. R

    Food on the go...

    Spicy chicken, spicy onions, tuna, chilli???? Please, no!! Please have some consideration for the other people on the train, sitting by you for up to three hours. Someone sat next to me the other day eating a curried cornish pasty - I had to move, not just to another seat but to another...
  211. R

    quark~ makes me wanna gip. ...am i alone??

    Not all Quark is the same. There are a few different manufacturers. I get mine from Waitrose, and it has no taste at all, but is brilliant for flavouring with sweet or savoury things.
  212. R

    Actimel

    The ingredients are: Yogurt (Skimmed Milk, Skimmed Milk Concentrate, Yogurt Cultures), Water, Skimmed Milk, Dextrose, Stabiliser (Pectin), Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), L.Casei Danone Culture (Lactobacillus Casei DN 114001), Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, Flavouring, Contains a source of...
  213. R

    How silly am I....

    There is no shame. You have spoken to your consultant, which is the sensible thing to do. If you don't want your results mentioned or discussed then tell her, and she can miss you out when she goes round the room.
  214. R

    music to smile by... ?

    I have a cheer-up piece of music - Bernstein's Candide Overture. It just gets faster and faster and is great fun.
  215. R

    Wetherspoons

    It nearly always does! But the rational and logical among us keep on trying! :banghead:
  216. R

    Alcohol deterrance - Whats the key

    The best point at which to reduce your alcohol intake at home, is at the shop. If you don't have it at home, then you can't drink it. Sorry, I don't mean to sound flippant, but I do find that this works for me. I will eat or drink something if it is in the house, but if it isn't I won't...
  217. R

    Hungry Days!

    Lettuce! Little Gem lettuces are sweet and crunchy and keep the mouth occupied with zero syns.
  218. R

    Lists of ingredients

    I was trying to find the list of ingredients for a product and the manufacturer's website wasn't very forthcoming, so I had to find another source. I found that Sainsburys website gives complete ingredients lists for the products it sells, and it is easy to find - just put the product name in...
  219. R

    Findus Fresher Taste roasted Chicken Breast

    You are right - hadn't noticed that!
  220. R

    Findus Fresher Taste roasted Chicken Breast

    I have found the ingredients list online (from Sainsburys website, they are very good at giving the complete ingredients list) Potatoes (32%), Cooked Chicken Breast (22%), Sun Dried Tomato Dressing, Red Pepper (8%), Courgettes (8%), Yellow Pepper (5%), Red Onion, Potatoes contain: Potatoes...
  221. R

    Help! going to pizza express

    Well, I don't think that Pizza Express salads are depressing at all, I always have one when I go there - I think they are delicious! But each to their own.
  222. R

    funny, funny misused words.

    My friend's husband has an odd way with words sometimes. Two of his classics are "hodgeheg" instead of hedgehog, and "holiceptor" instead of helicopter.
  223. R

    Where will you be and what will you be doing in 5 years?

    I haven't the faintest idea, and I am quite happy about that.
  224. R

    Maggi "So Juicy" for Chicken

    Saw these advertised - how much are they? OK - answered my own question, looked on mysupermarket, and they are 65p in Tesco and 99p in Sainsburys. Ingredients for the paprika one are: Salt, Paprika (16%), Starch, Maltodextrin, Tomato Powder, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Onion, Beetroot...
  225. R

    Findus Fresher Taste roasted Chicken Breast

    What's in the tomato dressing? Oil, perhaps? For this sort of thing you really need to check out the ingredient list.
  226. R

    Totaly off topic! - dementia

    The power of music is a wonderful thing!
  227. R

    Very Low Syn Alternative to Quark?

    Where are you getting your Quark? The one I get from Waitrose doesn't seem to have any taste at all.
  228. R

    fruit vs. veg

    No-one is going to force you to eat anything. But vegetables can be inspiring if you make them so! Have you tried roasting vegetables in the oven, with Frylight and bit of balsamic vinegar? Delicious. They go all caramelised around the edges. You can have butternut squash, little...
  229. R

    Starbucks

    A friend of mine cured her Starbucks addiction instantly by sitting down with a calculator and working out just how much money she spent in a year on coffee!! :D
  230. R

    Help! going to pizza express

    A salad without the dressing and without any extras like bread and olives, etc.
  231. R

    Boredom...

    I try not to sit down in front of the television without something else to do as well. Most TV programmes don't require 100% of my attention, so I can be sorting papers, glancing through a magazine, sewing, doing a crossword. Keeps the hands busy and out of the biscuit barrel!!
  232. R

    Is the end of the world nigh?

    No, you didn't! You started off an interesting debate, even though it has taken a bit of a sideways turn along the way! Thank you.
  233. R

    Is the end of the world nigh?

    No, I don't think it is a bad thing, just different. I am a huge fan of modern communications (although very wary about its intrusions into people's privacy). But the way in which disasters, weather, any large news stories, get such intense coverage these days can have a distorting effect...
  234. R

    Posture

    Is your chair comfortable? Is the lighting right? Are you getting the legally required breaks? Has your company complied with the relevant EU legislation? Directive 90/270/EEC - display screen equipment — OSHA — Can you type? Sorry - I am not being rude here, but loads of...
  235. R

    Totaly off topic! - dementia

    I have been hearing about amazing work being done with dementia patients by getting them to sing. Apparently singing works in a different part of the brain, and people who can't remember anything else may be able to remember all the songs of their younger days, and might enjoy singing them. I...
  236. R

    Supportive partners,family etc...

    Yes, should have put a smiley in there to show that I wasn't entirely serious. But when people here are so frank about their relationships it sometimes makes me very thankful that I don't have one!
  237. R

    Is the end of the world nigh?

    The dramatic weather events are caused by La Nina (sorry, don't know how to get a "tilde" over the second n in Nina, you will just have to imagine the squiggle!) For reasons not entirely understood, temperature fluctuations in the Pacific called El Nino and La Nina affect the climate all over...
  238. R

    Consumer Pride Lemon Juice

    If it is just lemon juice then it is free.
  239. R

    Gammon Steak!!!!

    Some of that fat will cook out anyway, and you can cut the rest off while you are eating it - it will come apart quite easily when cooked.
  240. R

    Snack ideas?

    In this particular situation, when you are going out for dinner in the evening, I would simply be hungry! It wouldn't do me any harm. Think about the lovely dinner you are going to have, and save yourself for that - think of the hunger as simply looking forward to the meal.
  241. R

    To exercise or not

    Whether or not it helps with weight loss, exercise will make you fitter and feel better. It's always worth doing, whether you are dieting or not.
  242. R

    Supportive partners,family etc...

    And you are still with him because . . . .??
  243. R

    Extra Easy what would you spend you 15 syns on if...

    I would have a salad with half an avocado, sliced, and some grated cheese and really nice olive oil as a dressing.
  244. R

    Anyone got Ikea trim yourself blinds

    That's useful! Thank you.
  245. R

    mackerel in sunflower oil

    The problem with this is that the fish will soak up a lot of the oil, so however much you drain it you won't get rid of it all. With something like this I always take the full syn value, to be on the safe side.
  246. R

    Public Transport Costs :(

    I know that it is probably too late now, but for future reference - if you book online well in advance there are some amazing bargains to be had. I use the First Great Western or Cross Country Trains website, but you can also use the National Rail one, or thetrainline.com (although I think...
  247. R

    Vitamins

    You get calcium from Healthy Extras, vitamin C from fruit and vegetables (your superfree!) and Vitamin B12 from all sorts of foods. If you are following the plan, and eating lots of different foods, you should be getting enough vitamins and minerals. I agree with Jennyonaplate - I think it...
  248. R

    What excercise is everyone doing (if any) & is it affecting ur losses??

    I do a one-to-one session at a gym which is specially tailored to my age and health issues, with exercises which I can carry on doing at home during the rest of the week. And I walk as much as I can. I don't know whether this is good or bad as far as weight loss is concerned - I suspect that...
  249. R

    Ideas for using up syns!!

    Oops! You could have turned it into cheese!! :D
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