Slimming world update #2

This was my second week of Slimming World and it's gone quite well. I've not really struggled and managed to stay on plan all week, even when my husband and daughter made the nicest looking millionaires shortbread. Well ok, I had the tiniest corner you can imagine and kept the rest for after my weigh in later that week. It's the only day I have a treat without counting syns really.
We've had some super tasty meals and I'm really trying to stretch myself when it comes to recipes we've not had before. I'm not a picky eater by any means, but do find I cook the same meals quite regularly, probably out of convenience, so it's been nice to think outside the box.
One of my favourite recipes this week was the Surf & Turf stir fry.

Seriously, this was soooo good and I'll definitely be making it again. It was very filling, full of speedy veggies and best of all completely syn free!
Talking about syns, I had a few more than in my first week. I usually end my days at around 10 syns, which is not bad considering I'm allowed 15 a day, but this week I had a few days where I maxed out. It's the snacking at night that got to me a bit, and I definitely have to look around for a few healthier alternatives. There's only so much fruit I can eat without wanting a biscuit or chocolate after all!
Breakfast wise I've switched it up a bit as well this week and my favourite was Chocolate and Orange overnight oats. OMG where has this been all my life!

This was super easy to make and seriously tasty. I made enough to last me two days and I found that one those days I was full a lot longer in the mornings. Having such a filling breakfast stopped me grabbing for my 10 o'clock snack. I'm planning on making more overnight oats this coming week  I've found so many amazing recipes and can't wait to try them all. While browsing for breakfast ideas I came across some waffles and pancake recipes...who knew you could have all this on Slimming World right! Watch this space for what will probably be an overload in pancakes and waffles pictures and recipes.

I've stuck to drinking water and have even been taking my HydrateM8 to work, just need to remember to take more sips. I've flavoured my water with lemon and lime slices for that touch of flavour.

So, how much did I lose this week?

Not as much as I'd hoped but still, a loss is a loss and this means I'm now a whole two pounds lighter than I was two weeks ago.

In the end it all adds up.

Hoping for another loss at my next weigh in.

Slimming World update #1

It's been a week since I've rejoined Slimming World and yesterday was my first weigh in. 

I always meet up with my colleague and I can't tell you how nice it is to have someone at work who is doing the same. You see, before Slimming World, when work got a bit boring, or the days were dragging it was so easy to nip to the corner shop and get a bar of chocolate or a bag of crisps, and it became quite a normal thing.  Now we eat fruit, talk about various mug shot flavours, get excited about new HiFi bars and yoghurt flavours and when we do want to stray to an ever so nice looking biscuit we have each other for support.

I've never stayed to group before, not even when I did Slimming World before. I usually arrive a bit early, chat to some of the ladies, gossip with my colleague, stock up on some Hifi bars (and sometimes recipe books) and line up to get weighed. I would like to stay and see what happens in group though, maybe in the next few weeks.

When it was my turn to stand on that scale I got quite excited. I was hoping for a good loss and the result wasn't disappointing at all. My colleague and I actually had the same loss. What a coincidence!

That is 1.5 pounds closer to my target! I couldn't be happier.

I haven't found this first week back hard at all. I've really enjoyed coming up with exciting recipes, eating healthier, choosing better options for snacks and I've most definitely had my five a day in fruit and veg.

We've had some really nice dinners actually. There's been pasta, stir fry, curry, bacon, chips and guess what? All of them were completely syn free!

I've made up a meal plan for this following week so do keep an eye on my Instagram page @daisyspratley should you be interested, I'll share it over the weekend.

I found that going back to basics and writing down everything I eat has really helped me stay on track this week.

Ive been using the food diary sheets that came in my welcome pack and knowing exactly what I've been eating, wether it was naughty or nice, has meant I've never gone over my daily syn allowance. Last time I did Slimming World I didn't do this and it's surprising how much you'll forget. Syns quickly add up and not keeping an eye on them can really hinder your weightloss.

I have had treats ofcourse. Anyone who knows me, knows I've got a huge sweet tooth.

This week my favourites have been the Rocky Road Hifi bars, some banana fritters I made and Options Strawberry hot chocolate. The hot chocolate has been an evening thing, it really satisfied my chocolate craving and at only two syns there really wasn't much to complain about! 

This comingweek I want to focus on my water intake and make my work lunches a bit more interesting. I tend to have the good old mugshot for lunch and while they are ok I'm afraid I'll end up in a mug shot rut. So switch it up I will! Variety is definitely the key. Here's hoping for another good loss next Thursday. Wish me luck! .

What's in their lunch box today?

Every day I pack my kids a lunchbox ready for them to take to school. Luckily they seem happy with what I prepare for them most of the time, sometimes however the lunchbox comes home with items not eaten. I try to keep it as interesting as I can for them so they don't get tired of eating the same thing everyday. I try and swap different types of breads, sandwich fillings, snacks and yoghurt's and if I know I have a couple of spare minutes in the morning I even get out the sandwich cutters, it's amazing what a difference it makes when their sandwiches are shaped like hearts, flowers or animals! Today the kiddies will find this in their lunchbox  

  Looking at it now I realise I might have gone a bit overboard today with the snacks. Crackers, jelly, penguin roll AND milky bar yogurt...whoops! Not that I think the kids will complain, at all. I actually bought the jelly by mistake thinking they were yogurt tubes, that's what happens when you are rushing around the supermarket and not reading the labels properly. I add little cheese crackers to their lunchbox every day and I also try to add some mini scotch eggs or cocktail sausages, my kids love finger foods like that. Sandwiches usually have cheese and cucumber, ham or egg fillings, occasionally they will have peanut butter or jam and Emily really loves Bovril sandwiches. Fruit wise I always add two varieties, cucumber or carrot sticks being one of them along with grapes, berries, satsumas, apples or dried fruits. Dried mango is a big favourite in our house. They always have a biscuit, this week I bought penguin rolls but again there is so much variety, more often than not I let them choose what they would like when we go shopping or if I have the time I bake something myself.  I'm sure there are a million more things I could do to keep their lunch interesting so if you know of anything please do let me know. For now I am off to have my own lunch...

Did you stick to them?

  A few weeks back I was thinking about my long forgotten new years resolution. The one about losing weight. You can read it here if you want. New months resolution? What was I thinking!! Anyway... It all started out really well back in January, and even February wasn't so bad...for a few days. Now it's mid August and I can definitely tell you I did not stick to it at all. nope. I gained two pounds instead since then! Time for a change I think.   Luckily there are these two great girls who've decided to do a weekly link up, to motivate, inspire and get fit. Raven and Kristen, I can't thank you enough!  

  So I am ready to lose those two pounds, Oh yessss, followed by a whole lot more!   My starting weight is: 78.5 kg = 173 pounds EEEEEEKKK!   So this week I am planning to get a whole lot more active. Hello treadmill, remember me? I'll also we watching what I eat and track my food intake / calories and I'll definitely be eating a lot of these  

  I made this salad earlier this week and was surprised with how well the fruit and veg go together. This salad had lettuce, one tomato, cucumber, tinned mandarins, blueberries and black berries. It was so YUMMY I made another the next day.  

  This salad contains lettuce, red pepper, avocado, mandarins, black berries, blueberries, croutons and king prawns. Soooooo good!   So here we go (again) I'm hoping I will feel as optimistic as I do now this time next week. (And a few pound lighter!)