How many excuses did you make this week?

I went on to smash through it and have now lost a total of 5st 9lb.Can you believe I'm only 5lb away from 6st.

I've now lost a quarter of the weight I want to lose and that's in 6 months. I'm not saying it's been easy because there have been weeks where I could have easily gone back to my old habits of not eating all day and then being so hungry I would eat anything and everything.

Then I would feel guilty again and not eat all day again the next day. But now I’ve seen it's all about keeping your eye on the bigger picture. I'm getting so many compliments now and one lady who complimented me even started to cry as she said I looked so beautiful. I've never been told that before by someone other than my husband or Mum or grandparents. It's something I will never forget. 
 
A few of my friends at my Slimming World group gained weight at this week’s weigh in. They were devastated as they really felt they'd had a great week. When I talked to them, I reminded them of the bigger picture and how much they'd lost overall.

We all get blips along the way but you haven't got to let it get you down. The easy thing to do would be to give up. Trust me, I've done it a million times! Is a small gain really worth giving up the massive amount you've already lost? We're always told "There's no shame in a gain, it's what we do with it that counts"

Other friends are wanting the weight to come off really quickly. It doesn't always work like that and, to be honest, it wouldn't be healthy either.

It's been proven that those who lose between 1-2lbs a week, are the ones who are most successful at keeping the weight off. I have a lot to lose so it will come off quicker to start off with. The way I see it is, if you can lose 1lb a week, that will be 3st 10lb in a year. That's an incredible amount!

Don't lose heart if it's only a 1lb loss. That 1lb could be part of the double chin you hate, or the wobbly tummy. The lb's soon build up and you can honestly see the difference.
 
My advice to you if you have had a gain is to say to that stubborn 1lb that's gone on: "don't get too comfy pal, you're going to be sent packing next week with a few of your friends too!" Don't dwell on what's happened and turn that negative into a positive. Believe me, you will shift the lbs the next week if you do.

It's all about getting that fire in your belly that will push you on. In the weeks where I have gained, I've not only been determined to take that weight off next week, but I've also gone back to writing everything down that I eat. Dawn, our group consultant says, "Write before you bite!" I find that writing everything down helps me see where I could have gone wrong with my eating plan. It makes it easier to correct the mistakes I've made too.

This week I've stuck to my pledge and I haven't made any excuses. I've walked around the house and even marched on the spot when having to stand still. I've made a record of the amount of steps I've done and my aim this week is to beat that target.

I haven't got the confidence to go walking outside as yet but I'm sure that will come in time. I'm certainly not going to attempt the exercise they are doing on The Biggest Loser programme. I think the contestants are really brave, but I think it would kill me off to be honest! What goals have you set this week? 

Are you one of the people who would give up the walking because it's been too cold outside, or would you use your bottom two stairs in the house to do steps instead? I know who I would have been at one time, but now I'm the latter. Next time you hoover, count how many steps it takes. You'll be amazed at how much exercise you do with any kind of housework. What are you aims and goals this week?

Feeding The Family On A Budget 

Last week I promised you some recipe ideas for feeding a family on a budget. The cost of living seems to be going through the roof with fuel bills, petrol prices and the rising cost of food. It can't be easy, especially for those with a family to feed too. With these recipes, we can still lose the lbs without losing the £'s. Losing weight doesn't have to cost the earth.

Egg, Chip and Pepper Bake (serves 4)

Ingredients 

1kg bag of potatoes
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
4 eggs
Fry Light Spray

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 240ºC/Gas 9.

2. Peel the  potatoes potatoes and cut them into 1cm/½ in thick, long chips. Place in a saucepan of boiling water and cook for 4-5 minutes. Drain carefully and spread out on kitchen paper to dry.

3. Place the chips in a shallow medium-sized ovenproof dish or four individual gratin dishes. Spray with Fry Light and bake for 10 minutes.

4. Mix 1 red pepper and 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced, together and add to the potatoes and continue to bake for another 15 minutes, turning occasionally.

5. Remove the dish or dishes from the oven and make four wells in the chip mixture. Break an egg into each well and return to the oven for 5-6 minutes or until the eggs are cooked to your liking. Serve hot, seasoned with salt and black pepper. You can sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Ingredients

Fry Light, for spraying
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
340g/12oz extra lean minced beef
227g/8oz button mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 x 397g/14oz can chopped tomatoes
284ml/10fl oz beef stock
1 level tbsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and freshly ground black pepper
283g/10oz spaghetti, dried
 
Method

1. Spray a pan with Fry Light and cook the shallots and garlic for 2–3 minutes until just softened.
 
2. Stir in the mince and cook for 2–3 minutes until browned.
 
3. Stir in the mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, stock and Worcestershire sauce. Season lightly and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes until reduced and thickened. Check the seasoning.
 
4. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large pan of salted boiling water, as per the packet instructions, until just tender. Drain and divide between 4 serving plates. Top with the Bolognese sauce and sprinkle with a little grated Parmesan cheese if you fancy. 
 
THESE are just a couple of recipes that I enjoy that don't break the bank. Meals with pasta are also a great way to give yourself slow release energy too. Give them a try and let me know what you think. Why not leave some of your budget saving recipes in the comments box below the blog as it's always great to share new meal ideas and tips. After all, it doesn't matter how much we have to lose, we're all striving to lose those unwanted lbs forever.
 
If you have had a gain this week, don't lose heart. Remember the bigger picture and how far you've come. It's not easy, but try not to dwell on it. Turn that negative into a positive and see those results next week. Together we will overcome it. As I've said before, I'll never have a bikini body, but I'd like to be close. If you haven't plucked up the courage to start your weight loss journey, go for it.

Come and see us on a Wednesday Morning at St Patrick's Church Hall at 9:30 am. We're a friendly bunch who don't bite. It's the best thing I've ever done.

Standing the the scales for the first time can be daunting but just remember, you're doing it because you want to make a difference. I stepped on at 32st 3lb. If I can get on the scales, anyone can.
 
See you all lighter next week,
 
Love Wendy x