FOOD | The week in which I totally failed #WeighInWednesday

Start Weight: 13st 10lbs

Week 1 Weight: 13st 8lbs
Total Lost: -2lbs

I am really disappointed in myself this week and am ashamed to say I have put on 2lbs. I reverted back to my old habits of comfort eating, it's not an excuse but an easier option which is me being lazy.

After a good first week, I started getting really bad toothache which resulted in a lot of pain, a Saturday emergency dentist appointment and a swollen right cheek. I found it really difficult to eat and basically binged on bread as it was thin (because opening my mouth was agony) and soft (because chewing = more pain).

Looking back I should have either found Syn free ready made soup or made a batch of chicken vegetable soup that I could have heated up when needed. Although, in this weather soup isn't exactly ideal (am I making more excuses?).

While I am not going to beat myself up about it, I do need to get back on the waggon and be more dedicated. Otherwise one bad week turns into 2 and then before you know it the diet is forgotten. 

As much as I don't want to complain about the glorious weather we have had recently, I'm finding it very difficult to decide what to wear and this is mainly due to my size and insecurities(and wardrobe restrictions - I don't have many summer clothes). I don't like to expose my arms and the clothes I have are not  very flattering around my mid section. So one thing that I am using to push me forward is  thinking about being able to buy smaller summer clothes that I feel confident in next year.

What keeps you motivated each week?

Like what you see? You can follow me here:

twitter // bloglovin // facebook

LIFESTYLE | Slimming World #WeighInWednesday #1

Start Weight: 13st 10lbs
Week 1 Weight: 13st 6lbs
Total Lost: -4lbs

I have completed my first week of Slimming World! Woop woop! It's been easy, I was NEVER hungry and I've actually really enjoyed what I am eating. What's more is that Hubs has not been complaining about the food either, like he has done when I have been on other diets.

I have to admit I was a bit naughty on Friday when I got invited to the Brighton Big Screen for a blogger event and ate Nachos, a Burritto and a cupcake, which took me way over my Syns allowance! But by some sort of miracle I have still managed to lose 4lbs!!! I am so happy.

Since starting the diet I have noticed a few changes in how I am feeling in myself. For starters, I haven't been feeling bloated, I've been more regular, I've had more energy and my skin has been clearer.

I haven't been exercising a lot recently, but a couple of weeks ago I started walk to and from work which is about 7km, which helps combat sitting on my bum at work all day. I do intend to start running again, especially now the weather is so nice.

Although the diet is easy to stick to, preparation and planning is key to success (at least for me during work). I've been making dinners big enough for me to take left overs to work the following day (like spag bol and chilli) as well as fruit to snack on. I've also got a collection of Mugshots in my drawer as they are a freefood!

Also I have found the Minimins Slimming World forum really helpful for syns in foods and free food snack/meal ideas.

Are you dieting? How have you done this week?

Like what you see? You can follow me here:

twitter // bloglovin // facebook

FOOD | Starting Slimming World #WeighInWednesday

I can almost hear some of my regular readers groaning and thinking to themselves, NOT ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT DIETING. After successfully losing a large chunk of weight a few years ago on Weight Watcher, I managed to maintain my weightt for close to two years. Unfortunately this year I have really struggled to lose or even maintain my weight and had turned to various extreme diets without any long term success.

After getting on the scales and seeing that I had ballooned to a massive 13st 10lbs (the biggest I have been for 2/3 years) I reasoned with myself that I had to do something and do it quickly before I went up into the 14 stone range. I know that there is only 4lbs between my current weight and 14 stone, but I promised myself that I would NEVER go above 13st 13lbs because once I did I would probably keep going like I have so many times before.

I've recently seen a few of my friends lose substantial amounts of weight on Slimming World*, I thought it was time that I tried it. Surprisingly, I have never actually been on Slimming World before, despite,  having tried actually every other diet in the world (I even did the cabbage soup diet at uni!).

I received my starter pack (pictured above) and read over the basics of the diet and was actually surprised at how easy it seems. I decided to do the Extra Easy plan - because let's face it I've been trying to shift this weight for close to a decade so need all the help I can get!

On the Extra Easy plan I can eat as much lean meat, fish, veg, fruit and pasta as I want, a portion of milk or cheese and a portion of grain/cereal/bread without having to track or count anything. I then get between 5-15 syns a day to use on items that fall outside of the above such as butter, chocolate, additional milk etc

My hope is to start Slimming World, really get in to it and reach 10st 7lbs. I never usually set myself weight target because it's been so long since I was a healthy weight that I don't actually know what will look good or what I will feel happy with, so I might reach this goal and feel like I want to lose more. However I haven't plucked this figure out of the air, at my weight a health BMI (I loathe the BMI scale, but it's the only guide I have) is under 11stone 3lbs. I chose 10 stone 7lbs because it gives me a bit of room for fluctuation.

To keep me motivated I will be writing a weekly diary/diet summary on Wednesdays to document things I've found helpful, any struggles I have and hopefully some pictures so you guys can see me disappear in front of you.

Have any of you been on Slimming World? Got any tips for me?

Like what you see? You can follow me here:

twitter // bloglovin // facebook

|*Slimming World have provided me with a months free online trial|