weight

31/08/11 = 14 stone 2
4 lb off this week, making a total of 4 stone 5 in 19 weeks.

There's nothing in my wardrobe that's been there for more than 2 months, and all sorts of things are starting to happen. But that can be the topic for another post!

Lemony Snickets

It might be because it's Great British Bake Off on the telly, but I had the urge for some lemon buns.

I made this by mixing the pancake mix with the lemon flan, baking and then adding some lemon syrup.

I made 2 portions, I've eaten one lot (3 buns) and just hope the rest can survive until tomorrow!

Meatballs and spaghetti - sort of...

Feeling a bit Italian tonight, so made spaghetti and meatballs!

Since I'm not allowed carbs, so pasta is definitely out, I used runner beans for spaghetti. The meatballs are the chicken nugget mix, made into balls and browned, and the sauce is tomato, red pepper, spring onion greens, chilli flakes, herbs and garlic, and some passata.

Spicy (like an arrabiata sauce) and lovely.

Chocolate Pancakes

Time for supper. After thai green curry for tea, I fancied something sweet, so I had chocolate pancakes. To be honest, I think they were a bit too sweet - think I'll go for the traditional lemon and sugar next time - think that would be nice!

Wardrobe Raiding

So having had such a big sort out, I didn't have much left. My eldest sister had given me some of her stuff, mostly casual. Then my middle sister offered me a raid of her wardrobe for some more work stuff and evening wear. And this is the huge haul I came home with!

I've now got it all in my wardrobe (just) but it's quite tightly packed. I've no doubt though that some of it will be too big quite soon. Watch this space for the upcoming fashion parade!

Wardrobe sort out

This is the huge pile of clothes that no longer fit me, that will be shared between ebay and the charity shop. There's evening gowns that have only been worn once, jackets that haven't been worn at all, and lots of stuff that's really just too good to throw.

It does make me realise that I probably normally have way too many clothes - but I'm not sure that I will be able to resist buying lots of new things when I'm all slimmer!

Mince and chips

Last night I really fancied some comfort food, and the thing I had in mind was a tin of minced beef with chips, just like when I was a kid.

So this was the closest I could get - swede chips with finely chopped veg in a sauce made from beef and onion soup. It really filled the craving gap!

Lovely Sister

Went to my middle sister's house for dinner on Friday night. She'd offered to cook on plan, so I'd sent her my list of veg earlier in the week. And this is what she made - lovely veggie kebabs, with salad, tomato and red pepper salsa and pickled cucumber with radish. It was delish!
She also made chicken kebabs for her and her husband.

Thanks sis!

And one from a bit later

And this one is Christmas 2008 - after the first chunk of weight loss. That's my other half, David, looking very happy at a 60's themed party (in case you were wondering why I'm dressed like that!).

Here's another

And this one's from the Christmas party in 2005 - still before I'd lost any weight at all. Goodness me!

OMG - look at this blast from the past!

I've been looking through some old photos and found these (more to come). This is from 2004 - I'm obviously very happy and relaxed - but gosh, don't I look different! Sometimes, in my head, I still look like that. It's wearing off a bit, but every now and again...

Funky!

Decided to be a bit funky today and so I'm sporting a short, patterned dress and leggings!

Leggings! What a revelation - I have never worn leggings before, but I'm quite happy with the effect, and they feel so comfortable.

On another note, one of my colleagues confessed to me this morning that three times this week he'd seen me from the back and not realised at all that it was me! He just didn't recognise me, and he sees me most days!

Must say, I do feel like my body shape has changed a lot in the last 2 weeks - as if all my molecules are realigning themselves to the new, slimmer outline. There has certainly been a change in size from last week to this, as my ever emptying wardrobe can testify.

It's the pits

Ladies and Gentlemen...
I have armpits!

Now, just so you know, I've always known where to put my deodorant, it's just that now the area is much more defined, and actually is a "pit" rather than just a curved area that's there when I lift my arm up.

Tell you what though, it's more tricky to shave!

No Spots on Me!

Wearing best bib and tucker today for a visit by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester - he came to present us with our Queen's Award at work.

So, wearing the suit my sister gave me and the new blouse I bought at the weekend, I was feeling fab! Got lots of comments on how great I was looking, which helped enormously!

Resisted all the buffet food (which the caterers had done a fabulous job of) and had a green salad after everyone had gone.

After work, went to a meeting of marketers in Manchester, and bumped into an old friend I haven't seen for ages (Hello Matt!). To say he was a bit shocked is probably an understatement! Made me feel very happy and proud of myself.

Wonder what I'll wear tomorrow...

Braised Fennel

I made braised fennel for tonight's tea, based on a Simon Hopkinson dish I saw last week on TV.

I made enough for 2 nights, and braised the fennel yesterday - splitting the bulbs in half and putting them in a casserole dish with the fennel tops, a stick of celery, some star anise (to accentuate the aniseed flavour) a couple of cloves and some black peppercorns. Put in enough water to just cover the fennel and put in the oven for an hour.

Tonight, I reheated the fennel, and topped it with goat's cheese, and then grilled it so it browned on top (carefully not letting it cook too long, as the cheese will split if it overheats).

It doesn't look very pretty (and doesn't photograph well) but it's very tasty in an aniseedy way.

Enjoy!

weight

22/08/11 = 14 stone 6
6 lb off this week - whoohoo!

So, over half a stone in 2 weeks, and a dress size in the last four.

Feeling great - was told I am "much smaller" by my Japanese boss, who has been trying to lose 3 kg for months, and I've lost 26 in 17 weeks. It's all good!

Cottage Challenge

Last night I was challenged to make something using the beef and onion soup mix. So I experimented tonight and made cottage pie.

I roasted 150g swede (spelled t.u.r.n.i.p. in the NE apparently!) in the oven to make the mash on top, mixing it with 1/2 Tbsp olive oil.

The base was 50g mushrooms, 1 stick of celery, green part of 3 spring onions and half an aubergine - all diced and sweated in 1/2 Tbsp oil, with some dried mixed herbs and a shake of garlic powder. I added a drop of water and cooked in a frying pan with a lid on, to keep it all juicy.

When the veg was cooked, I made up the soup with a tiny bit of water, so it was only just mixed, but not liquid. I then stirred this into the veg mix, and it made a really savoury, meaty base (umami as they say!). Then I got a bit cheffy and put it all together using one of those chef's rings - I would have made it in a small, deep pie dish, but then you wouldn't have been able to see it in the photo!

All served with runner beans. It was lovely and peppery with the swede, and savoury with a beefy taste.

Pretty in Pink

And today for my afternoon snack, I had raspberry clafoutis cakes (just done as drop scones in a frying pan) with lovely sweet roasted rhubarb.

I think it looks very pretty and pink!

Pizza

Some days it's hard to believe I'm on a diet - days like today when I have pizza for lunch!

Here come the girls!

Here we are, after dinner and a good night's chat. From left:
Louanne (Lulu) who's losing about the same amount as me - she's about 3 weeks ahead of me on the program.
Me (Ophelia on the forum)
Katie (Katfish) who has finished, having lost over 10 1/2 stone and
Alex (the Geordie) who is two weeks in.

I love these evenings out with others on this plan - we have some no-holds barred conversations about everything, and they offer such inspiration and support. Roll on the next one!

Dinner Out - Albert's Shed - again!

The picture really doesn't do this justice - a beautifully spiced stir fry at Albert's Shed.

Had a wonderful night out with some of my forum friends. The staff are all so lovely and accomodating. A huge thanks to Laura and her team for making us feel so welcome and looked after. Can't wait 'till the next time!

Wizard

I'm wearing my wizarding shoes tonight for an evening out with the girls. They are much more comfortable than they used to be now my feet are a bit smaller (and narrower) and my feet are very happy!

Haircut 100

Had my hair cut today - and after some debate, decided to go for a Pixie crop. It's shorter than I've had it for years, but I really like it. I don't think I would have got away with this when my face was fatter, but now that it's thinner, there are so many more options!

What do you think? See the front view on the right hand side bar.

Buttered up

I'm loving Palmer's Cocao butter - it comes in several formulas, including this firming butter, one for stretch marks and original. It's less than a fiver for this big pump action bottle (which doesn't get all sticky). It soaks in and is doing a really good job of keeping my skin lovely and soft.

Well done to the friend that recommended it to me in the first place - thanks!

Royal Visit

Preparing for a Royal Visit - The Queen of Rhubarb is coming to stay. The Queen of Rhubarb is one of the Alizonne forum members who knows everything about rhubarb (and many other things). We seem to have started Alizonne together, although she's at a different clinic, but have about the same amount to lose and are pretty well shadowing each other.

In preparation, I went shopping today - what a delight! I didn't have to worry about what food or drink to get in - I know exactly what she will eat, and that the biggest choice in drinks is going to be "still or sparkling".

I'm looking forward to it - and to dinner with some other Alizonners tomorrow night - always great to chat about what we're going through.

Right, off to finish the dusting now...

Cheesey pancake and chips

Fancied something really savoury for dinner tonight, so made this cheesy pancake and chips.

The pancake is made from 1/2 a bacon omlette - cooked thin and then filled with spinach and sheep's cheese mousse (which went a bit like phily cheese, gooey and lovely).

I stacked my chips up Jenga style, like they do in posh restaurants. They are made from swede obviously, but really tasty. I might never go back to potato chips.

I made this on a small plate - and I've noticed that my dinners are much smaller than they used to be. It's that eating 5 times a day that does it, I'm just not that hungry by teatime!

Busy hands...

I've been doing the ironing. I know, me! Ironing!

And it occured to me that ironing is one of those great occupations that keeps your hands busy and keeps you out of the kitchen hunting for snacks. So I thought it might be fun to list my top 10 ways of distracting your hands from the biscuit barrel:

1. Ironing
2. Knitting
3. Cleaning
4. Painting your nails (toes or fingers)
5. Writing a blog (that's why I'm here so often!)
6. Brushing a pet (my cat is soooooo shiny!)
7. Taking up trousers
8. Polishing shoes (my shoes are nearly as shiny as my cat!)
9. Tidying out your wardrobe
10. Doing Origami

Curry stuffed mushroom

Fancied something spicy for tea tonight so I made a curry. Obviously no rice, so I had mine on a mushroom.

Lots of veggies in it (fennel, green pepper, corguette, spring onions, celery) and then with chicken curry soup used as the sauce. Last time I tried this, it wasn't spicy enough, so this time I added a teaspoon of Garam Massala as well - much nicer!

It was really nice.

Tabbouleh - yeah!

There's been a lot of talk on the Alizonne forum recently about being fed up eating salad for lunch every day. As a result, there has also been a bombardment of new ideas for salads and salad dressings - which is wonderful.

One poster suggested Tabbouleh, made using the potato pie mix (cooked and then broken up with a fork) instead of couscous. I made it for lunch today, and it was really tasty!

I think next time I'd add mint (it was raining this morning, so I didn't go out and pick any!) and perhaps some oil and lemon dressing, but even without these it was still yummy!

weight

15/08/11 = 14 stone 12
2 1/2 lb off this week - much more back to normal.
And it was a full moon - I'm sure that makes a difference!

Visualising weight loss

So far, since 2007, I've lost 6 1/2 stone. It's hard to imagine what that looks like - unless you know Sarah!
Sarah is 6 1/2 stone - I've lost a whole person! Albeit a quite small one!

Many thanks to Sarah for letting me use her pic (and her weight). She's a really good sport. And in many ways, although I've lost her, I'm glad I haven't really.

Fitted up

Went for a bra fitting today too (while my watch was being altered). Turns out I'm 3 back sizes smaller and cup size bigger since my last fitting!

New bra makes me feel very 1950s - will be auditioning for a part in "The Hour" or "Mad Men" soon at this rate.

If you've never been for a proper fitting, I can't recommend it enough. Getting your bits in the right place takes pounds (and years) off you.

If you're in Bury, I went to Love Your Fit in the Millgate Centre. They were fab. The fitter could tell what size I was just by looking at my current bra and how it fitted (or not) and she was just lovely. Recommend them - can't find a website to post for them though.

Missing link

Celebrating today - had to have a link taken out of my watch strap. It's been twizzing round on my wrist for the last few weeks, so now it's a link shorter and much better!
Another sign of missing inches - this makes me happy!

Burger and Chips

Just had burger and chips for my tea - can you believe I'm on a diet?

OK, so the chips were made with swede, not potatoes, and that burger is actually a big mushroom, and I made my own tomato sauce - but still, it was delish!

Gym Bunny

I'm a gym bunny and have the ears to prove it! There they are, on my head during an Easter Sunday Swim! (Oh, don't think I added those to this blog, might have to go back and put them in!).

Anyway, went to the Gym on my way home today. 5 mins on the rowing machine and then 25 mins to walk a mile uphill. Quite enjoyed it!

Then went to mum's and WALKED HOME - it's 2.8 miles, and the last .8 is uphill! Mark Knopfler kept me company all the way, the sun was nearly shining, it was warm and I even enjoyed it! Noticed lots more along a route I must drive 6 or 8 times a week, just for being closer and slower.

Hopefully, I won't ache too much tomorrow and can go back for a bit more!

Thai Green Curry - part 2

And here it is...
Thai green curry with green beans,
Bosh, job done!

Thai Green Curry - part 1

Making Thai green curry for dinner tonight, experimenting with a new coconut sachet (the one I turned into a bounty earlier in the week).

Ingredients for the paste:
1/4 tsp chilli flakes
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp fresh coriander stalks (save the leaves for garnish)
green bit of 2 spring onion
zest and juice of 1/2 lemon (we're not allowed lime!)

Whizz all this up in a food processor - I have a tiny one, but you could also use a pestle and mortar and work those bingo wings!

For the sauce:
1 sachet coconut drink, made with 100 ml water, so it is thick and stiff

For the veg:
You can use what you like, but I put 125g courgette and 1/2 aubergine in the curry, and served with 75g green beans. Depends what you have or like. I griddled my aubergine first, because that's the way I like it and it means it doesn't absorb all the oil.

To make:
Cook any accompanying veg whilst you make the curry, which takes about 10 mins from this point.

Fry the courgette (or other veg of your choice) in 1 Tbsp oil until they start to soften.
Add the green curry paste and allow the flavours to develop and mingle.
Add the aubergine and stir everything round.

Just before you're ready, tip in the coconut and stir in. It will melt, but don't overcook it. Mine didn't split, but I wasn't taking any chances! When it's all melty (and it goes a bit stringy like melted cheese) tip it into a serving dish with your other veg and garnish with the coriander leaves.

You could add Thai basil, but I didn't have any, and in the original recipe they added sugar, so you could add sweetener, but I don't think it needs it.

Mmmmm

Whoop, whoop, victory dance

I bought some clothes from another Alizonne who'd grown out of them. There's a black devore dress which looks lovely on (albeit I was wearing socks and no make up). It fits! It fits! And it's a size 16!! I haven't been that size since 1995!

I feel like Asda... Rolling back the years!

(No picture, not sure you could cope with my glamorous socks after yesterday's FMBs - but will definitely post one when I wear it "for real")

Afternoon Tea

Five O'clock - must be feeding time again!

Really can't believe how much I eat on this diet and still lose weight!

It's feeling like a tea and buns kind of day, so I made raspberry buns (using clafoutis mix and made in bun cases in the microwave, 1 min 10 secs). Filled them with nat yoghurt - just a bit - and apricot glaze (that comes with the bread mix, but I usually make my bread into focaccia, and it doesn't go). Poured all the remaining apricot over the top to make it all nice and sticky, and had a cup of tea.

Ahhh...

And to follow...

Since I had my lunch early today, I had a 2.30 snack of rhubarb and custard. I know the bowl's messy, but I mixed the custard in the bowl to save on washing up! Some days I seem to do nothing but wash bowls!

Spice it up

Have been asked by someone on the Alizonne forum to post more pictures of food - so, without apology, here goes (specially for Lulu!)

Had a change today and made mustard dressing for my salad (1/2 tsp dijon mustard, 2 tsp yoghurt, 1 tsp white wine vinegar). Really pepped up the salad.

I made spicy chicken cakes to go with it, using chicken nugget mix with spring onions and chilli flakes. Really nice change, and a bit spicy for lunchtime!

FMBs

Thought you might want a closer look at those FMBs!

I bought these ages ago. I remember. I remember being in the shop and seeing them on the shelf. I remember feeling pulled towards them. I remember having them in my hands, cradling and stroking their very suediness (new work I just invented so there!). I remember thinking "they probably won't fit my huge calves. I remember praying to the god of FMBs that they would stretch far enough to hide my milky white tree stumps. I remember finding a stool to sit on to try them out. I remember my foot slipping into the red cosseting boot. And I remember ZIPPING THEM UP! Yeah! They fit. I remember how happy I was that I could have these lovely red boots, and wear them, and be happy and chic and stylish and admired from afar (OK, perhaps I remember too much).

And then I remembered it was spring, the end of boot season, and would be moths before I could get them out. So I put them in the back of the wardrobe and tried to forget about them.

And then this morning I REMEMBERED THEM all over again.

Today is joyful, I am happy that the weather is grey and miserable, and my feet feel cosseted and loved.

Swish swish

look at me all swish in my red and grey outfit (or should that be in-fit?). I've had this suit for ages, but it fits me now - yeah!
It wasn't what I was going to wear today - but the black skirt I picked out of the wardrobe, that I've never worn since I bought it, was waaaay too big - and I wasn't sure I could survive another wardrobe malfunction at work! It's now on the "too big" pile with a stack of other things.

Suspect I might be wearing the same 4 or 5 outfits for work now for a couple of months - resisting the urge to shop for "temp" clothes. Hubby thinks I should rent them instead of buying them!

These boots are made for walking

Manchester was wet and grey when I got up this morning, and it felt like winter was coming. It might have been bought on by the oppressive feeling of last night's events in the city, but it felt like a day for boots and knitwear.

I reached out my black boots - I don't have many boots as I've always had trouble finding ones that fit my very thick calves. Sometimes, to get them big enough round the calf, they have to be too big on the foot - so I end up with my legs squeezed into enormous flappy boots.

Anyway, today I put them on and zipped them up.

And that was it - they just zipped up. No struggle, no squeezing my legs into the welt, no getting skin or hosiery trapped in the zip. They - just - zipped - up. It felt marvellous. In fact, I think I might have to buy some thick socks if my legs get any thinner - or perhaps just some new boots!

I am on fire!

I am on fire - literally! I have a thread on the Alizonne forum which is a bit like a diary post, quite personal and lots of banter and support - and it just got flames for a hot topic! You can't all read it, it's only for my special Alizonne buddies, but obviously they all read it lots.

The little flames have made me inexplicably excited - this means that I must be popular really, and there was me wondering if I'd been posting and commenting too much. Don't want people to think I am bossy, or always have to have a say, but I just like to join in so much! Feel that this means I am accepted, and it makes me feel all warm... actually, warm enough to be ON FIRE!

Bounty-full

Mmmmm - Made Bounty dessert tonight - 1/2 packet of coconut drink, and 1/2 packet of dark chocolate dessert. Just to top it off, I added a sprig of chocolate mint from the garden - it was delicious, did taste just like a bounty! And because the coconut drink has coconut bits in, it felt like a bounty too - still picking the dessicated coconut out of my teeth!

Blues

Had a weird couple of days, with mood swings from quite happy to feeling quite blue. Not sure why - might be the overall mood of the country (we're in the middle of the riots) or might be my hormones. It might even be just that time of life. Either way, I get up in the morning not really my usual bouncy self and feeling a bit low. Yesterday it lasted all day. Today it started to wear off (helped by my boss and colleagues who kept making me laugh all morning!) so by mid-morning I was back to "normal".

Strange though, and I don't like it. Hopefully it will pass.

Of course, it could be because I'm tired from blogging late at night! Still, can't sleep anyway (not unusual for me) so might as well type.

Going to bed now though, night night all,

Elfin?

My mum has been keeping up with my progress on my blog (hi mum!). This is even though I see her lots and talk to her lots - but sometimes I suppose I miss out the little details (and she wouldn't get to see pictures of my dinner every day otherwise!)
She loves the latest picture of me - says I look "elfin".

Might have to get some of those pointy ears - certainly thinking of having an elfin crop next time I get my hair cut! Oh, and I might start doing mischief! (OK, when I say start...).

Chicken Nuggets

Made chicken nuggets for my lunch today, in the microwave at work. This makes me think 2 things:
- why did they call them chicken nuggets? Chicken bites would have sounded healthier
- how did I live before the microwave was invented? I now use it for so many things, especially when, like today, I have an extra 5 mins in bed and don't have time to prepare my lunch properly! Thank goodness we're lucky enought to have a kitchen at work!

They were OK - a little bit dry done this way, so next time I'll need to add a bit more water. Thinking of adding some chilli flakes or spring onions too, think that would be lovely. And now I'm wondering what they'd be like cooked in tomato sauce and served with runner beans for spagghetti and meatballs, or made into fritters with the sheep's cheese... Ohh so many ideas for experimenting!

Alizonne Documentary

For those of you more curious about the treatments and it's effects, I found a documentary about it on the Alizonne website today - it follows one girl as she loses 5 stones in 20 weeks. It's about 10 mins, so if you do want to watch, just click the link on the right to Alizonne TV Documentary.

And yes, I have to wear one of those white body stockings that makes me look like a tic tac too! (Not sure I'd let a photographer in though!)

Enjoy

Jaw Dropping

I had that lovely moment today when I saw someone for the first time in ages and actually saw their jaw drop! Poor thing was speechless, but very supportive and complimentary when she recovered. Made me feel all happy inside, and put last night's disappointment into perspective.

weight

08/08/11 = 15 stone
1 lb on this week - all that excercise has built up some muscles, hoping they'll go away again (and I'll stop aching!).
I thought I'd be devastated if I put on weight, but actually I'm fine about it - I think because I know I haven't deviated from the plan, and have an explanation for the gain.

here's hoping for a big loss next week as my muscles melt away.

Not digging this

Went for my weigh in tonight - oh no! I've put a pound on!
I'm sure it's all that digging, it's given me muscles (which as every dieter knows is much heavier than fat!).
So my plan is to stay very still this week, and hope all the muscle atrophies really quickly back into fat and then gets gobbled up by my pancreas.
Either that, or I'll have to go to the gym and do some proper fat burning excercises.

Caraway Seed Bread

Fanied a change of flavours tonight, so made some bread with caraway seeds and sea salt. It was lovely.

Digging for the last bit

Sunday morning, raining, and I'm digging again!
So, you may ask, why is it that I look so happy? Have you seen the size of that coat? That used to fit me (just) and now it buries me. I also put on some waterproof trousers later and they looked like clown pants - hilarious in one way, but very worrying in another. How did I ever let myself get that big? Still, doing something about it now, so feel much better.

Speaking of feeling much better, can't believe how hard I've worked this weekend - lots of really hard physical graft - and although I ache, I didn't really get tired, and did far more than I ever would have done previously.

Feeling quite proud of myself this weekend!

Sausages

I made some sausages for my elevenses today - using the chicken nugget mix, shaped into sausages and fried. They went lovely and crispy on the outside and tasted a bit like veggie sausages.

Really confused the cat though - he could smell the chicken, but they didn't taste like it to him!