How has your week gone this week? I'm pleased to say, I have finally last the weight that I gained a couple of weeks ago and have lost an extra half lb too. I lost another 2lb this week taking my total up to 5st 9.5lb.

My Husband has lost 5st so between us, we've lost a whole person. I really can't believe how far we've both come on this journey. We're now both lighter than the day we got married and although I enjoyed every second of my Wedding Day, I still wish I could have been much slimmer.

One of our dreams when we finally reach our target goals is for us to renew our Wedding Vows. Yesterday, weigh in was made all the more special as my Husband and I were voted Slimming Couple Of The Year by the group I attend.

We were up against 2 other amazing couples who each deserved to win and to be honest, they are winners in my eyes.

Did you manage to shift any of those unwanted lbs or did you pluck up the courage to join a slimming club after struggling on your own for long enough? Losing weight is one of the hardest things to do. I know how much I've struggled over the years.

A few of my friends have either had gains or have stayed the same this week and are disappointed. Remember, there's no shame in a gain or if you maintain your weight. We all get gains from time to time and with life and all it's stresses, it's easy to lose control.

The main thing, is that you pick yourself up and forget about the bad days. They're in the past and that's where they need to stay.

As my Grandma used to say, "If you fall down six times, pick yourself up as the seventh time you get up, might just be the time you succeed and you'll kick yourself if you missed it!" She also had a saying, "If you want to see the beautiful rainbow, you have to put up with the rain!"

She was so right with both sayings and although I never fully understood them at the time as I was only young, they keep me going now. It really doesn't matter how many times we've fallen, the thing that counts is getting back up and trying again. It's only failure, when we don't get back up and try again.


The Sweet Taste Of Success

One thing people have said they really struggle with, me included, is days when they have cravings for something sweet. I'll be honest, it doesn't happen that often to me as I have more of a savoury tooth myself. It's still a struggle on the days that I really do want something nice so this week I thought I'd have a look for some healthy recipes that won't spoil our weight loss. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Raspberry Eton Mess (serves 4)

Ingredients

227g/8oz fresh raspberries
4 mini meringue nests
227g/8oz fat free natural fromage frais
4 level tsp toasted flaked almonds
1 level tsp dark cocoa powder, for dusting

Method

1. Put half of the raspberries into a bowl. Break the meringue nests into bite-sized pieces and add to the bowl together with the fromage frais. Using a large metal spoon, gently fold all the ingredients together.

2. Spoon the raspberry and meringue mixture into 4 chilled teacups or individual bowls and place each on a saucer with a teaspoon. Top each serving with the reserved raspberries and then scatter with toasted almonds. Lightly dust with the sifted cocoa powder and serve immediately.

You could use Strawberries and use a strawberry Muller Light Yogurt instead of the Fromage Frais.

Chocolate Orange Cheesecake

Ingredients

1 sachet of Options Chocolate Orange

1 tub of Quark

3 tbs Sweetener

2 Alpen Light Bars

Method

1. Mix the Quark, Options and Sweetener together and put to one side

2. Crumble the Alpen Light bars in a serving dish and press down to form a biscuit like base

3. Pour the mix over the top of the base. Chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours then serve.

Use less Quark if you want a stronger chocolate taste. You could also change the chocolate orange for the mint sachet.

If you like ice-cream, you could try putting a Muller Light Yogurt in the freezer. Once you take it out it must be eaten immediately but it tastes like ice-cream and is a much healthier option especially when we do eventually get our summer weather and we're sitting in the sun in our gardens. We can dream can't we?

I hope these healthy ideas help with the craving for sweet things. I know it's not easy, but I promise, the results will be worth all the hard work you've put in. Let's all make that push to get a good weight loss next week. I need 4.5lbs to reach 6st. It might take me a couple of weeks but I'm determined to get there. Once I reach that milestone, I'll add a picture to see if you can notice a difference. If you do fall, pick yourself back up, dust yourself down and hold your head up high. It's the falls that make us stronger.

See you lighter next week,

Love Wendy xxx