The sun has gone :-(

The sun has gone and the rain has come in it's place. So today I have pretty much stayed inside.


When I 1st woke up I had the breakfast cookie I made last night- yuuuuummmy! Will def be a regular thing for me now. Weight watcher wise it is quite pointy (6) but it's filling and very nutritious.




As it's Sunday that means I need to order the weekly shopping- I do it online as it just saves so much time and I can keep tabs of what i'm ordering and keep costs down where I need.

So this weeks meal plan is:

M- Lightened up chicken Parmesan- recipe from Jessica @ How Sweet It Is. Monday is my weigh in night so we have a treat meal when I get back.


T- Chilli ginger glazed cod with pak choi on quinoa


W- Spiced lean lamb steaks with salad and potatoes- had this last week but so yum want it again!


T- Turkey spaghetti bolognese


F- Teriyaki chicken with brown rice and peas

S- Spiced Prawn Quinoa


S- Tuna Fishcakes with salad


The plan can change around for various reason but I pretty much stick to it where I can.

Lunch today I made a healthier version of pad thai as I had some bits I needed to use up. Had a ginger tea with it and apple for after.




To make the pad thai I scrambled 1 egg white and set aside.

Then in a wok and some spray oil I'll cooked some carrots slice thinly and spring onions.

Then added a teaspoon of pad thai sauce, 8 king prawns and a pinch of sugar. After 2 mins I put in some Sharwoods Straight to Wok rice noodles (usually use pad thai noodles but wanted to use these up).

Add 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of fish sauce. Cook for 1 min then add the scrambled egg white and top with a few crushed peanuts. Yummy!



As the day went on and the weather looking a bit gloomy I needed something indulgent! So I decided to make a coconut hot chocolate. Yes not very good for points but a real treat.

120ml reduced fat coconut milk
120ml skim milk
6 small squares of dark chocolate

Put the milk and coconut milk into a pan and bring to boil. Then add the chocolate, turn off heat and continue to stir until the chocolate has melted. Then enjoy :-) Pure heaven.





For dinner another comfort food with a few tweaks. My version of cottage pie. I used quorn today as I had some in the freezer but to also keep the calories down. But you can obviously use beef mince.





200g quorn mince
1 onion finely chopped
1 carrot finely chopped
150ml hot beef stock
Few drops of worcestershire sauce
415g can baked beans
Freshley ground black pepper
400g potatoes
40g low fat mature cheese grated


Preheat the oven to gas mark 5/190c/fan oven 170c.

First I cook the peeled potatoes in water for 20 mins, mash with a little milk if needed and set aside.

Then in pan I put some spray oil and fry off the chopped onion, carrot for a few mins. Then add the quorn mince and cook for 3 mins.

Then add the beef stock, worcestershire sauce and season with pepper. Simmer for 10 mins.

Add the baked beans and cook for 5 mins.

Add quorn mix into a oven proof dish and top with the mash potato and sprinlke with the low fat cheese.

Bake for 25 mins and then enjoy!





The other day I bought a new book (yes I am a total book slut). It's The Food Doctor Ultimate Diet- Changing the way you eat for good by Ian Marber. Not yet read it but it looks fab and is apparently a good collection of a lot of his other books. There is nutrition info in there and recipes and meal plans. So thinking it will be useful. So a little bedtime reading for me.




Exercise wise today I did 30 mins on the cross trainer doing an interval program and then 30 minutes of circuits/weights.

I really need to start running soon as I have the 5k i've signed up for in July but why do I find running so hard? I can really give it some on the cross trainer for well over an hours but running i feel like my lungs are going to burst! Anyone know why? I can prob do 2 mins running at the mo :-( But i'm determined to run the full 5k in July.

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do" Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A nice day but not gone to plan!

Today was a lovely sunny day. Started off with a bowl of oatbran. Delish! Loving it more than porridge at the mo. Think i'll add some sliced banana next time :-)



Then we went into town and met one of my best friends Lydia for a cup of tea and catch up. Then bought some fruit and flowers from the market then off to the supermarket for some bits for the BBQ later.

I've been craving seafood for the past few days so decided on a scallop salad for my lunch. Added a bit of soy sauce whilst they were in the pan. It was sooo yummy.




Phil did some bits in the garden and got the BBQ ready. I decided to make it a bit healthier and not have burgers but fish instead. So put some sea bass with sea salt and pepper on and also some chilli prawn skewers. I also did some minted lamb steaks as they are our absolute favourite! I also had 3 chicken wings though which i shouldn't have really had! Oops.




My sister, her other half Ryan and my nephew Connor popped round for a bit. Connor loves playing in the garden when he's here as at the moment they live in a flat and don't have a garden. Bless him.

I didn't do a workout today so i felt pretty bad so told Phil we'd walk to tesco so it wasn't a complete write off! Pic below of Phil on route!






On the way i got a bug stuck in my mouth! Yuk! And it wouldn't go!! I was freaking out so had to buy an apple to dislodge it! lol

Once back home i made a "breakfast cookie". These i found on a fab blog i follow The Fitnessista. They look so yummy i've made one ready for tomorrow and posted the recipe version i did with UK conversion.

45g oats
30 ml milk (i used rice milk)
1 heaped tbsp almond butter (or any nut butter)
1/2 scoop protein powder (i used choc maxitone sculptress or you could sub by putting some cocoa powder)

Mix all these into a bowl until a crumbley mix. Add the milk slowly until all mixed in.

Then you can add pretty much whatever you like. I added a pinch of cinnamon and half a mashed banana. But you could add seeds, nuts, raisins, choc chips etc

Put onto a plate and spread with back of spoon until even then put in fridge until morning. Then eat with a spoon. I know it says cookie but it's a bit softer than a cookie so spoon is needed!





So you'll prob thinking not a bad day food wise yet. Well after making the cookie i had a galaxy bubble (so good though) and then my downfall- Chilli Heatwave Doritos and Salsa! Phil wanted them and I couldn't not have them! Must try harder!


Couple of other pics. One is me and my best friend Cat (who i'm bridesmaid for in Sept) out last weekend (the sambuca night!) and the other is my nephew Connor with one of our cats Daisy.








Hope everyone is having a fab weekend.

Jess xoxo

Looking forward to another sunny weekend!

I hear this weekend is supposed to get warmer- i feel another BBQ coming on! I just love them!


Tomorrow I have a cupcake class 10am -1pm and then after I hope to go into town. Need to go to the butchers and pick up some meat and also to pop into Holland and Barratt. Also want to check out a couple of book stores to see if they have "Crunch Time by Michelle Bridges". She is the trainer from The Biggest Loser Austrailia.








Tonight for dinner was Masala lean lamb steaks with baby potatoes and salad with sunblush tomoatoes. So yummy and filling.


For the lamb I crushed some cumin seeds and added some garam masala. Rubbed this spice mix on the lamb. Grilled them for approx 6 mins each side and served with some mango chutney on top. Delish!










Mango is now officially my new favourite fruit. I just love it! I'd have it everyday if we could afford too! Today foodwise I had:


Breakfast: Readybrek with skim milk


Lunch: 2 egg omlette and salad and activia cherry yogurt (these are sooooo yummy)

Post workout: Maxitone shake


Dinner: Masala lamb steaks with salad and potatoes and Mango for pud



Evening snack: 2 slices of granary toast with almond butter


Exercise: 35 mins cross trainer and 10 mins running (I cannot runso having to start off very slowly!)


Things i'm loving this week:

• Body Shop Pink Grapefruit shower gel- it is divine! Everytime i shower it wakes me up and gives me that sweet buzz instead of eating chocolate!
  
  

• Almond butter- really good for you and soooo yummy. I have it on granary toast or in a smoothie

• The book i'm reading "Dark Angel by Sally Beauman"- it's a great read about murder, love, abuse, betrayal, war and sex. Set in 1910 and present day.
  
  

Right i really must get some sleep!



"Be it, Believe it"

1lb this week

Lost 1lb this week. I'm pleased as the weekend consisted of 2 BBQs plus a night out on Saturday which consisted of many many sambucas and various other mixtures of alcohol! Plus i missed 2 workouts due to the hangover! Lol.

Today i'm making a lemon tart- it's a recipe i found in my health and fitness magazine and it uses spelt flour, quark and creme fraiche to make it healthier. Will have to report back on what it tastes like!

Exciting times... Sex and the City 2 is not far off!!! I cannot wait! I watch my box set while on my cross trainer and it makes the session go by a loty quicker. And the last film was fab. Plus with this one i saw a clip with charlotte baking lots of cupcakes and with me running a cupcake business that floats my boat! Below is a link to the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBdqYGnwI9A&feature=player_embedded

3.5lb loss this week

WI on Monday i lost 3.5lb which i'm thrilled with as i lost 2lb the week before even with easter and my birthday :-) So i got my 5%. Now onto the 10%!! I'm feeling fab at the mo. More energy, positive, seeing changes in my body. And you may remember a post a while back where i just didn't want to do things like go out with friends etc. Well now i want to do things like go out for a couple of drinks with them etc.

Next weeks meal plan is:

M- Enchiladas (WI treat)
T- Gratin of gnocci with tomato and bacon (ww recipe)
W- Turkey and ham escalopes with veg
T- Vegetarian sausage stew with sauted potatoes
F- Pad thai
S- Mango masala steaks (ww recipe)
S- Thatched beef pie (ww recipe but i'm using quorn mince)

Tomorrow we are hopefully having a bbq if the weather is nice. I loooooove bbqs. Just need to work out points so i don't over do it. Make sure there is plenty of low point things and salad on my plate! But i'm going to enjoy myself too and have a burger and minty lamb steak....yuuuuummmm

"Believe it, Be it"

Some Pics

Thought i'd upload a couple of pics. One when I started and an up to date one. The 1st one is one of my fat photo's. The 2nd was last week for my birthday night out with a vodka teapot!! I think i've definately lost some form my face i think.

This week is going well. I'm keeping up with my exercise. Now it's better weather going to try and do a bit more skipping and boxing outside. Phil is doing ww with me now so we can do some exercise sessions together.

Decided this weeks i'm going to cut out any workouts in my fitness mags and put them all in one folder and try and create some good workouts for me.

If i lose 1lb this week i get my 5%. So i'm focussing on my 10% which i need to lose 1 stone 1lb.

Woo hoo 2lb

Lost 2lbs this week! Am very pleased as Friday was my birthday and with easter as well! I did exercise and tried to save points to help with having treats for my birthday. I went out on the sat night and danced for most of it to keep moving! Plus my sister (who is very slim) wanted to get food on the way home form the club- did i? No sir-ee!



Went to the shops on my bike today- no car. Loved it! Basket and all!!



This week meals are:



M: Had southern fried chicken (but healthy baked version)

T: Prawn chilli linguine

W: Turkey burgers and homemade chips

T: Sausage stew

F: Homemade spring roll (baked) and sweet and sour chicken and rice

S: Martinique chicken curry

S: Wholewheat pasta and tomato sauce



I've planned the following week too.



I'veordered a couple of Anita Bean's books- apparently she is the queen of nutrition. This is something i'm keen to learn about. I don't just want to lose weight/count points. I want to fuel my body properly. Here are the links to the books http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anita-Beans-Sports-Nutrition-Women/dp/1408114070/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270583413&sr=8-3





The protein shakes are having a good effect, I feel I have more energy now which is good! Still on Maxitone but when I start My Protein i'll do a review.



"Believe it, Be it"