Day. [insert generic come back title here] - The return.

Hello 2011. Hello blog. 

I've been off plan for the last few weeks due to massive busy festive blah blah bollocks. Excuses. I ate lots of lovely stuff and it was most definitely worth it. I've put on about 5lbs but I'm really not that phased, I don't feel like I've failed. I'm somewhat proud that it wasn't more despite all the rubbish I've been eating over Christmas. The major positive is that throughout the holidays I was actually looking forward to restarting the diet. Anyway, moaning will get me nowhere so it's all smiles and happy thoughts from here on!

I've been bought some life lines, in the form of Christmas presents, that I think will really help me make this year 'the year' I shift the chub. The three things are as follows:

1. A Nintendo Wii Fit Plus.

2. A make-your-own Scrapbook kit.
3. An amazing dress that's a size too small.

The Wii Fit was the biggest suprise this Christmas, I had no idea whatsoever that I was getting it so it was a really lovely gesture from Liam. I'm a very lucky girl! I set up my profile last night and watched my BMI go swiftly into the big red 'OBESE' zone. I then got told by a cartoon I'm super fat. Good times. Although, for some reason by fitness age is 23?? Madness. Especially when Liam (who has an envious BMI of 19.3 and cycles 10 miles a day) got age 52! Shocker. Anywho, it's all good. I've done 20 minutes so far today and I'm looking forward to another round tonight.

Now, with the scrapbooking kit I shall create a week by week food plan for myself and have a hands on flick book to keep me motivated for the year. I'm planning all my meals again, now too strictly. I'll also write down some thoughts etc, random ideas for things. I might have a page for things I'd like to do when I hit target. Every little helps!

The dress, as you can imagine, is just a nice little goal for the short term. Short term goals are majorly important. Don't push yourself too hard to do too much - you'll give up so much easier. The feeling of completing a smaller challenge is just as rewarding. Baby steps!

I've also got about a million recipes I need to get on and post - watch this space.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

E x

Day. 22 - I would kick myself in the face...

...but it is not physically possible, which to be honest, I'm quite glad about.

I went off to chubclub this morning feeling positive. I got onto the scales and my heart just sank. I really thought I'd tried hard last week and I'd lost 1lb. It's only my third week! I should be losing more than that. I was so ashamed I didn't even stay for image therapy. I just ran off like a little baby with a lame excuse! So now, I'm twice as ashamed. To make matters even worse, on the way home I got a chocolate bar and it was so tasty and worth the 8.5 syns I used on it. Then it dawned on me, I really didn't even try that hard last week.

By this point, I am three times as ashamed as I could have been. THRICE.

Anyway, onwards and downwards. I can't bitch about it like a small child when I know it's all my own fault! And it's still a loss, so I'm going to man up (metaphorically speaking) and step up my game this week. I am enforcing on myself a strict list of rules for the next 7 days.

Behold - Emily's 7 day mircale boost! OOOH. AHHH. Yeah that's right.

The following rules shall be stuck to or I shall live a life time of shame and regret (or something less dramatic).

RULE 1 - Always have a breakfast.

RULE 2 - Never eat past 6pm unless it is fruit or yogurt.

RULE 3 - Do at least 20 minutes of exercise a day.

RULE 4 - Try at least one red day and one green day.

RULE 5 - Only have one portion of food at meal times!

RULE 6 - Weigh and count everything that needs to be. No more guessing.

RULE 7 - Put more effort into this blog.

So, with the power of the miracle boost behind me, I am aiming to lose 4lbs through the course of next week. How exciting!

I am now off to make some wonderful pasta and scoff the lost before 6pm. Yum.

E

Syn free! Chicken liver pate.

Now, this a syn free pate however the melba toast in the photo are not free! 0.5 syns each. Well worth it.

Chicken Liver Pate.

1 Tub of Asda Frozen Chicken Livers
3 Cloves of Garlic
1 Large Onion
Mushrooms (optional)
Any herbs, seasoning or spices you want to add!
Fry light.
Low Fat Fromage Frais

1. Defrost the chicken livers over night. Once defrosted, cut off any red of miscoloured parts (they give it a bitter taste) and put to one side.
2. Slice up the onions, garlic and mushrooms (if using) and using a non-stick pan and brown with Fry Light. Add any herbs or flavouring!
3. Add the chicken livers and cook for 5-10 minutes until everything is cooked. This looks pretty gross but I assure you, tasty times are on their way. Once cooked, leave to one side to chill slightly. Add some salt and pepper!
4. Using a blender or food processor, blitz the mix with a few tablespoons of fromage frais. Add more herbs if necessary - keep tasting until you're happy with it!
5. Pour the mixture into ramekins, cover and place in the fridge to set. Leave for 4 hours +.

And there you have it! Yum Pate.

This recipe can be changed to suit your own personal taste so have fun experimenting!

E

Day 7. End of week one!

Alas, I have finished my seventh day! I'm quite proud of myself for getting this far. I'm also crapping myself (putting it nicely) about my first weigh in tomorrow. I don't tend to do things on my own, let alone things that involve me standing up and staring my weight problems (metahporically) in the face. Nerves, nerves, nerves!

Today has been a bit of a let down, to a degree. I just think I ate too much. I felt a bit gross because of it. I think I'm starting to struggle a tad, not so much with the diet just the portion control and fitting in my superfrees. I'm going food shopping on Thursday and can't wait to get in the veg department! I'm going to try experiment with some snazzy vegetable dishes next week so watch this space for some recipes.

Tonight I had a Pork fillet Madras with Rice, and it was awfully good. Not sure how many syns it was due to the fact I used a table spoon or so of oil (virgin oil) but I think it was worth it! Shall post the recipe in the near future for that!

On a side note - I've stumbled across www.boohoo.com and previously wouldn't have bothered shopping there. Upon inspection, I'm loving some of their dresses, and more importantly their prices!

Will post results of the weigh in tomorrow after my first class. Wish me luck!

E

Day 5 & 6. Thinspiration.

First offs, apologies for my lack of blog yesterday! As I'm sure you're aware it is the weekend (or should I say was) and I felt a bit of attention elsewhere than the net was necessary. I'll post some recipes too. Yum.

I'm getting a strange addiction to toast. I just want it, all the time. I don't have it, but I want it! This is where my personal food diary is really coming in handy. When I write down what I've had I look at it and think 'is this too much or not enough?' and so far, more often than not I've had room left to sneak in a piece of toast. Now, however, I look back and think 'did I really need that?' and the realistic answer is no. I don't. It's all cool, lesson learnt, thou shall not be greedy.

Another reason this food diary is lifting my spirits is that at the bottom of each page, I write how I feel and find something on the internet (that I'd love to wear if I was tiny) and I copy a image of it. Be it a dress, nice pair of boots or cute jumper - it's motivating to browse through websites and know that this time next year I could be struting my stuff in a size 10 french connection dress. Here's to hoping!

Time to watch Southpark and not indulge in carby badness.

Night!

E

Day 4. Thank god it's Friday...

Only time for a short post tonight, feeling a little tiredddd with extra consonants for emphasis. Had a relatively good day, slept through breakfast! Made a nice-ish lunch and a super nice dinner. Only had 1 mullerlight today and no fruit. Starting to feel a bit hungry though, probably the first time in ages I have.

I think this is a good thing. Feeling hungry every now and again makes me feel like my body is responding to the diet. 3 days left til my first weigh in... need to get my body busting some pounds off!

Anyway, sleep time. Night!

E