Poster Girl

I am the new poster girl for Alizonne!

The clinic (Alizonne) have featured me in their latest advert, which is in Janary's Cheshire Life, Yorkshire Life and an inflight magazine somewhere.

I've recieved lots of lovely feedback - from people I know and from some I don't - and I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you.

The photos are real - there is no manipulation or air brushing going on here - I really was that big (and that's not even my biggest) and now I really am that slim! And yes, I love it.

Someone did ask my (proud showing off the ad) mum which one of the ladies was me - I clearly look soooooo different in the pics.

And my boss got a shock when he was just about to turn in for the night and his wife (in bed next to him reading a magazine) suddenly yelled "OMG, it's Dawn. Look!!"

And do I have a copy of the ad framed? You bet - my husband made one for me for Christmas.

Calorie Counting

This is a graph of the calories I've had this week - an average of 1357 Calories per day. Since New Year's Day I've lost between 7 and 9lbs (some days I'm 12 stone, some days 12 stone 2!).

Next week I'm going to alter my goal from 1350 to 1450 Calories, as I don't need to lose more weight, just maintain about 12 stone.

It should be easier once the Christmas cake is gone - it's just so lovely!

Hello Sunshine

Fancied something tangy at lunchtime, and still coasting on the egg on toast for breakfast, so didn't need any carbs or anything.

Decided to have an orange and grapefruit salad - it looked like sunrise with the mix of pink and orange - and tasted sweet and juicy!

Perfect Poached Egg

This was my breakfast today - poached egg on toast. I used a duck egg, and 2 pieces of toast (without butter).

I've found a new way of poaching eggs - which works perfectly. Get a small bowl and a piece of cling film. Put the cling film into the bowl, with the edges all hanging over the edge. Put some salt and pepper in the bottom, and then break in the egg.

Now gather up the ends of the cling film, and twist so that you make a ball with your egg in it. Secure it close to the egg with one of those bag clips or a twist tie.

Drop the egg into a pan of gently simmering water, and leave it for 4 mins. When it's ready, lift it out and open up the cling film. For prettiest results, turn it over onto your toast, so the smooth, rounded part of the egg with the seasoning is on the top. Break open and enjoy!

Using a duck egg made this recipe 270 Cals, with 2 slices of warburtons small toastie.

Special Offer

This is the green curry paste I used for the Thai Green Curry I made.

I only bought one packet - wasn't sure about the special offer on these... What do you think?

Thai Green Curry - under 500 Calories

Fancied something spicy tonight, so made a Thai Green Curry.

I made it with chicken, using a shop bought green curry paste and a tin of coconut milk. I had it with sweet potatoes, cubed and roasted in the oven.

It was surprisingly low calorie - I always thought coconut milk was really high - but this whole dish worked out at 423 cals per portion, including the sweet potato!

Going Bananas

Ladies and gentlemen...
...I have just eaten...
...a banana!

Dramatic pause, round of applause... That was my first banana since mid-April - almost 9 months.

Begining to know how they felt after the war when bananas were re-introduced - very exciting. 100 calories well spent there I think, lovely! And next week I feel I might be having some grapes...