Be on Plan, When You can

Yes! 4.5 lbs lost this week and on weigh in day felt on top of the world and very pleased with myself.

Got home and made the mistake of thinking about the next 7 days. It's going to be hard as we have my Nan's funeral on Tuesday. I want so much to be in control of my eating, however I need to be a bit kinder to myself and chill out about it. It's going to be emotional and I need to roll with that.

'Be on plan,  when you can'

Rachel Davies (SW Consultant)

Because I am away for 2 nights and 3 days, I have planned up to Wednesday and will hit the supermarket again when we are back. Not so detailed planner either, as I am on holiday so don't need to work out lunches in advance.

Saturday
Meatza and coleslaw (Cheese as HEA and 1 syn for the coleslaw

Sunday
Full English SW style
Paprika Pork

Monday
Scrambled Eggs and Bacon
Gammon, egg and chips for lunch before we travel up

Tuesday and Wednesday we are away but will try and choose wisely! 

Not much of plan there really now I have seen it written down! But onwards and upwards

Will leave you with some of the meals I cooked this week.

Confessionals and Quotes

'You never fail, unless you stop trying'

Albert Einstein

Well old friend, old blog of mine, I'm back. I'm back on the weight loss thing which has been something I've fought with for a very long time. This feels a little bit like a confessional. 'Please forgive me for I have synned (pun intended) It has been 18 months since my last post and proper week at Slimming World'

Eeek, it's out there now. I thought I could go it alone, but I don't like it. I like having people around to bounce ideas of. I like learning new things, trying things out, making new friends.

I've rejoined, new group, new consultant, new weigh in day. New me? Probably not. I know my weaknesses, just got to learn to embrace my strengths and carry on.

So onto one of my strengths, I love a good meal planner! Although weighins are now a Wednesday (at my place of work so no excuse for not attending) meal planning will run Saturday to Friday to help with 'big shop day.' I've gone the whole hog this week and planned every meal. My first weigh is this week and I know if I can get through the first couple of weeks, I will be on fire. I need some losses to keep me motivated.

The Plan
I like to keep the food bill as low as possible. At the moment I aim for the whole week to be about £40 for two of us. I am still however cooking huge portions, I can't get out of Mum mode even though the kids have left home. So, I will either repurpose a meal (bolognaise sauce one night, the next with extra veggies will make a cottage pie), dish up 4 plates and have the same meal the next evening, warmed up in the microwave or freeze to use again the following week. Saves time and money.

Saturday
Breakfast - Loaded Bacon Sandwich
Lunch - Ham, tomatoes and cucumber
Dinner - Homemade burgers with SW coleslaw and salad

Sunday
Breakfast - Omelette with beans and spinach
Lunch - cold meat and pickled onions
Dinner - Roasted chicken, with roasted potatoes, carrots, cabbage, brussels and green beans

Monday
Breakfast - Beans on toast
Lunch - Chicken salad
Dinner - Roast chicken dinner as above

Tuesday
Breakfast - SW Fry up
Lunch - Loaded chicken sandwich
Dinner - Vegetable bolognaise, with pasta

Wednesday
Breakfast - Egg on toast
Lunch - Egg salad
Dinner - Spicy vegetable chili and rice and spinach

Thursday
Breakfast - SW Fry up
Lunch - left over chili and rice
Dinner - Baked potato, beans, ham and spinach

Friday
Breakfast - bacon sandwich
Lunch - leftover baked potato and beans
Dinner - Fish risotto, with any vegetables left in the fridge

Here's to the week and a loss!

Meal Planning Monday w/c 9th of February

This was posted in February 2015

Posting early, getting organised, that's the name of the game this week. Can't quite believe I am up at 9am on a Sunday, let alone meal planning,  internet grocery shopping and now posting on here. The joy's of having a puppy who doesn't sleep in! 

After a 3lb loss this week (Yay, go me!) I am determined to keep the good work up with a healthy variety of meals. I've planned

• Vegetable Lasagna
• Homemade burger and SW Chips
• Baked eggs with peppers, spinach and tomatoes (page 34 in this months SW magazine)
• Cod Mediterranean Tray Bake (page 68)
• Cottage Pie with carrot and swede mash (page 69)
• Tagliatelle Puttanesca (page 73)
• Fish rissotto and vegetables
• Pizza and chips

If you hadn't already worked it out, I took inspiration from this months Slimming World magazine. It's good to flick through and get some ideas. Although old favourites are good, variety does spice things up and keeps your taste-buds happy too. 

And yes, I know there are more than 7 meals on there, but I go with what I fancy that day and what I am doing and is most convenient to cook. Am beginning to realise I don't follow the planner that much, but for me knowing I have got healthy meals in, means I have no excuse for not eating well.

Got green eggs and ham planned for one breakfast, porridge and banana and good old favourite of beans on toast for others. Lunch will be leftovers and am thinking of investing in a desktop crockpot, what do you think? Cool aren't they and no need to use the communal work microwave! 

For more inspiration of what to eat this week, get yourself over to At Home with Mrs M

Meal Planning 2nd Feb

Looking back at last week's menu, I managed to cook just three off the list, pizza, macaroni cheese and zesty chicken. This might explain why I only maintained at Slimming World when I weighed in on Saturday. Am determined to get a loss, so my percentage of following my meal plan needs to increase. Don't get me wrong, I didn't have any non slimming world meals, it's just they weren't as high in speed foods as they could have been,

Onto this week as I try not to dwell:-

• Slow cooker Santa Fe Chicken with boiled potato and veggies (3 syns per portion)
• Creamy pasta with cabbage and leek
• Bolognaise and spaghetti
• Baked potato hot dogs, with onions and beans
• Butternut squash and sweet potato risotto
• Beef Stew and dumplings (6 syns per portion)
• Egg and chips

I'm planning on leftovers for lunches at work, and porridge with banana and blueberries for breakfasts. Wish me luck!!

For more menu inspiration, get yourself over to At Home with Mrs M

Meal Planning Monday but a bit late

My daughter talked me into post again. Flattery gets you everywhere as she said ' I'm going to use your blog for meal inspirations as they always look so good'

So you can blame this post on her.

I've rejoined Slimming World; 3 weigh-ins and I've managed to lose 10 lbs. I've a mother of the bride picture to look good in, amazing how having something to aim for can motivate you, so thank you to my daughter again.

So, onto this week's meals. I've planned a few more than seven, store cupboard or stuff from the freezer meals, so I'm not tied to what we fancy.

• Zesty Lime Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole
• Macaroni and Cauliflower Cheese 
• Sausage casserole with mash
• Scotch eggs with chips
• Meatballs and spaghetti
• Burgers and wedges
• Hot dog baked potatoes (1 syn per hot dog)
• SW Pizza 
• Garlic roasted veggies and pasta

Been trying to mix my breakfasts up, porridge one day, bacon sandwich another, scrambled eggs, omelette's.And lunches are left overs or couscous, salad and tinned mackerel. 

Looking forward to this week! 

To join in, leave a comment with your meal planner and get yourself over to MrsM herself for more inspiration.