Sea Bass

And to follow the pea and ham soup, some sea bass, with boiled new potatoes, asparagus and sugar snap peas.

It was lovely!

Company for Dinner

My niece came for diiner tonight, before we went to a comedy gig. She's also watching her weight, so low cal all the way tonight.

This is homemade pea and mint soup, with some crispy pancetta on top (which is where all the calories are!)

I made it with shallots, sweated off with 1/2 Tbsp olive oil, then added a veg stock pot cube, some fresh peas and some boiling water - then cooking it until the peas were done. I added a big handful of chopped mint and blitzed with a stick blender until smooth.

In the meantime, I crisped the panchetta between two baking sheets (to keep it flat) in a hot oven for about 7 mins. You could skip the pancetta if you want to reduce the calories even more.

How the other half live

Of course what I really fancied was the cheese and onion pie, with potatoes and cheese and chive sauce...

Although to be honest, I'm not sure I could actually eat that these days - but it looked popular - that hand sneaking in ended up with a fork in the back of it! "Touch my food, Feel my fork".

Tuna

And trying to stay on the healthy options, I then went with seared tuna, with sides of green beans and ratatouille. Eschewing the carbs drops the calorie count quite a lot - and with this much protein, lunch is quite filling anyway.

It was all delicious, and I'd had pleasantly enough by the time I'd finished...

Asparagus and Egg

We celebrated our photoshoot with lunch at Albert's (where else!). This was my starter, baked agg with asparagus.

I tried not to have too much of the hollandaise sauce, although it was lovely!

I'm so glad asparagus season is here, I love it! If you read this blog regularly, you'll probably see many pictures of those delicate green spears before the end of June.

Where have I gone?

Can you tell I'm still baffled by where I've gone?

I did my "big trousers" trick again today, getting sis in there with me (pics to follow). I still cannot get over the fact I used to be that big - and although I say I don't know how I got there, I do really - just eating too much and exercising too little.

Putting on these trousers reminds me just how far I've come, and makes me very determined to stay here. I'm so glad I kept them.

Getting ready for my close up

Here I am, putting in my earrings just before the Daily Mail photo shoot. Big sis and I decided to co-ordinate outfits, and so we were both wearing our bright red dresses.

Co-incidentally, we also both painted our nails red, and wore bright red lippy - just as well we have different colour hair or we'd look like twins!

Another 15 minutes of fame

Following our recent appearance in Real People, my sister and I have been asked to do a feature for the Daily Mail.

We're delighted - another photo shoot, but this time with both of us together, which should be fun. My big sister is like me - very confident and very open about the whole weight issue, so I'm sure there will be some quite frank questions and answers, and banter, today.

So I'm sat here, hair and makeup done, nails done, outfits packed, ready to head over to west Manchester to meet the photographer.

I've no idea when the feature will be published - but I'll keep you posted!

Leading a normal life

Now that I'm maintaining (rather than dieting to lose weight) I lead more of a "normal" life - my food choices are now only restricted by my own judgement - rather than by a strict list.

And so yesterday I found myself faced with sticky toffee pudding.

It had already been a busy day; lunch out whilst shopping with Wardrobe Angel saw us in Carluccio's with a pile of pasta - she's doing the Manchester Marathon on Sunday, and is carbo loading. So we had pasta between us - but with a side salad for me, so I could fill up on salad while enjoying some pasta, but didn't need to eat lots of pasta to be satisfied.

It also helped that we had pasta to share, so it was in a serving dish and not actually on my plate - meaning I could decide my own portion size. Having said that, I'm sure I worked lots of the calories off doing the length of the Trafford Centre and getting dressed and undressed about a million times!

I got home just in time to get ready to go out again - to a Cricket Club pre-season fundraising dinner. Then off to the White Hart at Lydgate, where the food is excellent, even for large functions.

After a goat's cheese salad and some beautifully moist chicken, dessert arrived - the most delicious, light, sticky toffee pudding you've ever had. Well, I had to taste it - but that was all - I ate less than half and then put my spoon down.

At one time, I would have eaten it all - and perhaps helped someone else finish theirs - it was so lovely. But I was already satisfied, and didn't want to be "stuffed", so I left most of it.

And do you know what - nothing happened - nobody died, I didn't get struck down by lightening, there was no vengeful wrath from the chef. And I felt good.

I just thought to myself "I cannot eat all of this, on top of what I've already had today, and still fit in this lovely dress I'm wearing, so I have to chose. Slim or pudding?"

And I chose slim!

Spicy Soup

Thought I haven't posted a recipe for a while, and just made this soup for lunch. I'm home from work today, so had a bit more time than normal. It's lovely and thick (which is how I like it, but you could water it down) and very filling.

Chop up a butternut squash into about 1" cubes, and spray with a little oil, then roast in the oven for about 40 mins at 200 degrees.

When the squash is almost ready, add 1/2 Tbsp oil to a pan, and gently fry 2 shallots with about 1" of root ginger and a garlic clove (both grated or very finely chopped). Add a little chilli (I used 1/2 tsp lazy red chilli) and once its all cooked add a vegetable stock pot. Stir it in, then add in the butternut squash. Add just enough boiling water to almost cover the squash and then cook for a couple of mins to let the flavours blend.

Tip everything into a blender (or use a stick blender in the pan) and blitz until smooth. Add more boiling water to get the consistency you like - being careful not to splash yourself with boiling hot soup.

Pour into a bowl and enjoy!

Depending on the size of your squash and how thick or thin you like it, it will serve 1 hungry person or up to 3.

I worked out the calories at about 300 (but it depends on the size of your squash, I based this on about 1 lb of squash weighed raw).

Thank you M&S

I went to M&S this afternoon to buy another Control Body Slip - they are fabulous. They give you a great outline, stopping the wobbling, pulling you in the right places, and because it's a slip (rather than control pants which can be a bit cutting) they are really comfy. I love mine (I have a nude and a black) and wear them most days, so time to buy another.

The lovely lady on the till suggested I didn't need one as "there's nothing on you"! You can imagine that that made my day. I couldn't help from saying that although that might be true now, I'm still not used to it, having lost 9 1/2 stone. She was flabbergasted and wanted to know more - and hopefully she'll be reading this soon, as I told her about my blog.

Anyway, if you want some great shaping underwear that's comfortable to wear and easy to wash, check these out http://www.marksandspencer.com/Body-Solutions-Firm-Control-Smoothing/dp/B003X0JA8M?rrClickthru=Browse

I'd recommend buying your largest size (so I'm a 12 top and 14 bottom, so I buy 14, or even 16 (for more comfort and marginally less control). If you're on Alizonne, buy your size or it will be too big for you before you know it!

A Year Ago..

This is me almost a year ago today - swimming in open water at Hatchmere, on Easter Sunday. That's the size 22 me, with a big smile on my face.

To be fair, the smile's frequently there, I'm generally a happy bunny anyway, but I'm especially happy when I'm swimming outdoors.

I haven't done any so far this year though - an indication of how much colder the weather has been this year, and the fact that my wetsuit no longer fits me, and I haven't got round to ordering a smaller one yet. Must do that and get back out there... c'mon summer!

Little kitchen

This is photo of the kitchen I set up at one end of the dining room during all the recent building work.

With only a microwave, toaster and fridge, it wasn't brilliant - but I was amazed at how well we managed. OK, so there was a higher degree of beans on toast than would be normal, and it's been nice to have meals that don't end in a "ping".

I was particularly impressed by some of the microwave dinners you can get these days - with lots of fresh veg and not too many additives - and all calorie counted!

I've set myself a 600 calorie limit for dinner, and didn't have to go over it all. Sometimes I had a dessert too, all within the limit.

I'm glad the builders have finished though, and I'm getting back to normal (albeit in a much bigger kitchen!).

Pasty anyone?

Last week, I made a pasty for my husband, having some leftover pastry in my fridge. I don't often have pasty in the house, but I'd made a chicken pie for the in-laws at the weekend.

Anyway, there wasn't a lot of pastry, so I made a turkey, bacon and mushroom pasty, with some creme fraiche to make it more moist. I had the pie filling on its own, followed by some fruit salad.

It was very tasty, and I didn't miss the pastry at all!

I'm a Real Person!

I'm a Real Person - I must be, because I'm in Real People magazine!

This is the article, it's on page 18 of the issue dated 26/4/12, with a story about a bacon butty on the front cover.

I've quite enjoyed doing this - Alex, the journalist, was lovely and the whole article has come out quite chatty - just like me (apparently).

There is a mention in there for Alizonne, and I hope people who read it will look it up - as you all know, I've found the whole journey of losing weight with Alizonne very supportive and positive.

If you do get a copy, enjoy the read,

Really glad I lost weight

Some days, things happen that make me very, very glad I lost weight. Today was one of them. I've been running errands all day, and at one point I got back to my car to find that some "idiot" (to use a much politer phrase than I did at the time) had parked so close to my driver's door that there was no chance I was getting into the car that way.

I just shrugged, opened the passenger door, and clambered over the handbrake. I got my feet over the handbrake and under the steering wheel to the pedals with ease - not a feat I would have even attempted last year!

So, that's another thing that doesn't scare me anymore.

This makes me very happy!

One Year Ago...

 
One year ago today I was nervous about my first day on Alizonne. It was the night before my first weigh in and treatment. I'd seen the doc, I knew what to expect (kind of) and I was very determined.

Tonight, I've just come home from my 4th monthly check in since reaching target at the end of November. I'm over 38kg (6 1/2 stones) lighter. I'm a size 12/14 not a size 22/24. And I feel fabulous. (and just 1 kg over my target - but it's "TOM" if you know what I mean).

According to many, I also look fabulous (and I'm very happy to take that compliment, thank you!)

This week, Real People will publish my story - comparing my weight loss journey with that of my big sister, who had a gastric bypass. (It's out on Thursday, and we're this month's centrefold - now I never thought I'd be the centrefold in a glossy magazine!).

I've changed my eating habits - having 4 or 5 smaller meals rather than 2 or 3 big ones. I've also changed what I eat, with much less bread and carbs (and drink) and more fruit and veg.

I'm no paragon of virtue; I did demolish some Easter Eggs, I have the occasional chippy tea - but they are not habits, just treats that are offset by generally eating much healthier.

I now know people who never knew me when I was fat. They think I've always been the slim me, and that feels wierd.

My head still hasn't caught up with my body. I'm still reaching for larger sizes in shops, and I still get surprised by my reflection or photos.

But I have so much more energy, I'm no longer scared by stairs, long walks uphil - or by high heels!

I'm not pretending it was easy (or cheap) but for me it wasn't as difficult as some. I don't have children, my husband is away a lot, and I have really (REALLY) supportive family and friends, and I'm in control of my own schedule most of the time.

And I made some great friends along the way (you all know who you are and I love you).

So if you're just starting out, good luck - enjoy your journey and make the most of it.

To all those who went before me, thanks for the inspiration, the tips and the support.

Good luck everyone,
take care,
Dawn

Real People

I recently did an interview with Real People magazine and I just found out the article will be in the next issue - which is out on Thursday 19th April. I'll be buying a copy - possibly more than one!

It will include lots of photos, from both me and my big sister - who also lost lots of weight, but through bariatric surgery.

It's been quite a long process - I think I initially talked to them back in January, and with several follow up calls from them, and requests for more photos, I can't wait to see the final results. I've had the text read out to me, so I know it will be fine, but I'm really interested to see how they've illustrated the story, given all the pics we sent.

So, that will be another 15 minutes of fame for me then!
Enjoy - and let me know what you think if you read it.

Proper dinner

Well the builders have finally left, and I now have a fab new kitchen to cook in. So this was one of my first "proper" dinners in ages - having lived on microwave food for months.

For starters, scallops (as you know, they are my favourites). This big juicy super-fresh ones were from Bury market. You just can't beat them. Simply pan fried, served with a little sweet chilli dipping sauce and some micro pea shoots. Lovely.

This was followed by cod and chips (wedges made in the oven) with tinned peas - I still don't have a new freezer yet, so frozen peas are off the menu for now).

And then some exotic fruit salad later on - but unfortunately my other photos didn't come out too well, so I'll have to recreate this dinner again soon!

Things that make me smile

You know sometimes you come across things that really just make you smile? I've had a few of those recently - and here's the latest.

Another gem from IKEA - someone in their merchandising team has a real sense of humour, love the thought of Bert and Ernie playing chess, and being so equally matched!

Enjoy,

Walking the Plank

Did I mention that we have builders in? It's been very chaotic, hence my radio silence for a while.

As I was leaving the house this morning, walking the plank from my new back door, it occured to me that at one time I wouldn't have faced this plank.

So, this should be "things that no longer scare me #2"

I would have had a fear of the plank breaking, or of me overbalancing (with my wildly off centre balance point). But for the past 6 weeks, I've been happily walking the plank without thinking about it.

In fact, the only thinking I've been doing is "which pirate phrase shall I use today?".

Avast me hearties, and have a lovely day!