Just Keep Swimming...

Hello again, everyone

I know I haven't posted in a while, I do apologise. I didn't realise it had been this long!

It's been a funny old month on the SW front. I've stuck to plan religiously all the way through but its only now the scales are really paying off! Let me explain.

It was the week with all our lovely snow. By the way I'm being sarcastic. I HATE it. I hate walking in it, I don't take my 3 or 1 year old out in it as my eldest stands in it and looks around and doesn't get what to do in it! Then the youngest gets ratty as he cant walk yet and then we go in, frozen. Anyway I went to group and was convinced I had gained, even though I had kept my usual food diary and couldn't see a reason why I WOULD gain. So, I get on the scales, I had gained a half. I was gutted. It HAD been star week, so I put it down to that. I started to drink more water, kept the food diary up and kept the faith.

The following week I arrived full of the joys of spring. I was in for a big old loss, after all! Imagine my shock when I get on the scales to see I had gained a pound! Believe me, I was deep in shock! I stormed out in disbelief thinking to myself that if I stay for group therapy, I'm bound to shed a few tears. I decided I would go home and take it out on hubby and shed a few tears there (sorry, Hubby) The tears were full of frustration. How could I possibly follow the plan and put on two weeks running, albeit very small gains. That wasn't the point, I wanted a reason.

I spoke to my consultant, one of the groups lifelines, some family members following SW as well as Hubby (the voice of reason!) and they all said the same thing. "Are you eating enough? Using your syns? having your healthy extras? What meals have you been having? ...Oh. I don't think you're doing anything wrong, just keep with it." When I first started hearing this, it made me angrier. I felt like complaining " I HAVE been doing all those things, I've been doing it since October and have always lost, I KNOW what I'm doing!" But the more I heard it, the more comfort I got. After all, yes, I'm doing everything right and no one, not even my consultant could pin point a problem. Whatever it was causing these little gains, certainly wasn't to do with what I was eating.

So, a few excuses. Could it of been that the first week was star week and then the second gain was down to the scales being in a different part of the room? Possibly. I WAS drinking more water and eating superfree, but was it enough? Ermmm... I thought so? Was I doing enough exercise? Well, I walk 3 times a week to preschool with the boys and the whole round trip takes about an hour. First in the morning, then in the afternoon. I also do one (measly) hour of exercise a week, be it a zumba class or a wii game at home. Could it of been because I was full of food from the night before? Who knows!

All of these things had been going through my mind all week. I decided it's time to tweak the plan a bit, to see if it makes a difference. So what did I do?

I drank the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. I do mean water too, not just in tea and coffee. I hate drinking water, but after two gains, I was desperate for a loss. I also then wanted to be able to say to people "yes I do that, yes, I do this, YES I have drunk water all week" followed by poking my tongue out. So there.

I made sure I ate alot of superfree. Thinking about it, I was probably in a bit of denial. I always thought that yes, a third of my plate was superfree, but was it? I'm the sort of cook that makes one pot meals, mainly. So, veg goes in my spag bol, but I don't then have a side salad etc. Thinking about it my plate probably was more of a quarter superfree than a third. Now, I know they now say it isn't compulsory to have superfree. But, I've been doing it since I started and it has stuck. Besides, again, I wanted a loss, dammit! So this last week, I really have been having about half a plate. I've more or less been doing "Success Express" without the name tag, really.

Syns. Now everyone says you can spend syns on whatever you like and again, since I started, I've been using my syns on chocolate every night and lost. So my little gains wouldnt be because of that. Having said that, I thought I would try using my syns on things like slices of bread and ingredients. Things that aren't so high in sugar. Things which also mean I was snacking on a bigger volume of food, not just one chocolate Lindor.]

After all this tweaking, how did you get on, I hear you all cry. Well, I lost five pounds. FIVE pounds. It also meant I got my Club 10 award, as well as my stone and a half award! Once again, I was shocked, but in a good way for a change! I actually welled up! I couldn't believe that really, just sticking to the plan and not giving up had worked. The old me has hit a bump and quit so many times before, it was so different to think yes, I'm angry, yes my motivation is at an all time low, yes I don't want to do this anymore but I have to, so what shall I do to put this right.

I cant tell you what it was that worked so well this week. It could just simply be I never gave up, not the extra water or veg. But I shall definitely try and repeat this week! I don't expect a big loss this coming weigh in. After all, I cant have a big loss after the one I just had! My body needs time to play catch up. But I know as long as I "just keep swimming" I will get there in the end.

Keep going, whatever you're going through. It's all in the mind!

The Synful Baker

Baked Bean Lasagne.. honest!

I love baking, but I'm never that adventurous when it comes to cooking dinners. It's always the same sort of thing. Spag Bol, salads, chicken with veg and cous cous. Nothing too difficult.

For some reason, as much as I love them, my lasagnes are never quite right. I never seem to get the ratio right between tasty filling and the layers of pasta. I know what it is. I make my layers too thick and then I only have enough for one pasta layer in the middle. This is something I have to perfect. Hence my photo. This is what I had for lunch the following day. All that was leftover was the beans and sauce so I had it over cous cous. Not a word I like to use often, but it was epic. I also thought you could actually make this and use it as a change to mince in a spag bol?

I made it, we all loved it, and I decided it's a recipe that has to go in the "we should have this once a week" list. I saw a lot of people ranting and raving about this recipe online and decided to make a few changes. The recipe is so easy, you can all make your own changes. My husband would like to try it with Barbecue beans next time for example, and I'm also thinking of adding very small cubes of peppers or even sausage (allowing syns for them, of course)

As I'm on Slimming World, I have all the ingredients which are all so basic, nearly everyone should have them anyway. I found this recipe by searching for it online. LOADS of different versions came up. I got the basic recipe from here and then adapted it to make it my own. So here it is, please go and make it, it's made me rediscover my love for baked beans!

Baked Bean Lasange 
(serves 4)
Syns - Allow HEA per serving for the cheese or like me, use syns, approx 7. Apart from the cheese, this is syn free.

1 onion, chopped
A few rashers of bacon, chopped, all fat removed (optional)
150g chopped chestnut mushrooms
3 garlic cloves chopped
2 tins of baked beans (I actually used Heinz Five Beanz)
1 Tin of chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons mixed italian herbs
A couple of good splashes of worchester sauce
1 tablespoon paprika
lasange sheets
low fat cheese (HEA - 40g per serving, or 8 syns 50g serving )

Preheat Oven to 200 degrees

Fry onion, garlic, bacon and mushrooms for a few mins until golden brown. Add all of the beans, tomatoes, italian herbs, worchester and paprika and cook for another few mins.

Place in casserole dish and layer as per normal with lasagne, cover with foil and cook for 30-40 minutes.

Add cheese on top, re-cover and cook for 5 mins or until cheese has melted and become golden.

Let me know how you all get on!

Love, The Synful Baker x

What's Your Motivation?

My eldest is now back at Preschool this morning and hubby is at work. We are officially back into our routine. It's Monday once again and a fresh week. This is when my motivation is at its highest for the week, I'm sure some of you are the same. But it got me thinking last night, what does keep me motivated? My motivation has been pretty high since I started Slimming World but if I am doing a diet on my own at home, it's normally the weekend where it starts to wilt before it's flown out the window completely and I'm "starting again" the next Monday. So, what's so different this time?

When I first started, my husband and I decided I would keep a pretty little money box in our living room. For every pound or half pound I lost, I would put a pound or 50p in it as a reward. If I gained, I wouldn't take money out, but simply "pause" until that weight came off and I could start adding again. This is still going strong. Every now and then I think about what I will do with that money. Whether it'll go to a "new me" hairstyle in a posh salon, a bracelet with a gold star charm to remind me every time I wear it how far I've come to be a target member, or even my much desired fitted biker jacket which will go with everything in my wardrobe. Heck, I even think about how many pairs of high heeled shoes I can buy with the money as right now, my ankles are just not up to the job of holding my weight any higher than about an inch. Obviously I change my mind on nearly a daily basis as to what I will get, but that's the beauty of it. I've got plenty of time to think about my little shopping spree as the pounds add up (and melt away!)

I also noticed on Instagram people were taking pictures of their "countdown to Christmas" graphs. Lots of pictures of festive trees, filled with baubles representing (usually) about a stone to lose in time for Christmas day. As the weeks went by, each bauble was filled in so that by the end of the year, it would be filled in completely  Mine was two baubles away to being complete but that's fine! I enjoyed colouring it in and it kept me going and gave me more drive to keep things like my "body magic" up.

I've actually done another countdown for the run up to Easter which again on Instagram, seems to be quite popular and I know a few people who have made their own version. The more of you the merrier! I'm aiming again to lose a stone and hope this time I can hit the magic 14th pound mark. It will mean that not only have I lost stone in the first few months of the new year, but I will only have just over another stone to go till target. Having it broken up into three parts like this again really helps. Instead of thinking "I will never lose THREE stone!" Losing it a stone at a time seems to be a more realistic task. And motivating.

The other motivation for me is my two boys who are three and one. With Summer just around the corner (hurrah!) there will be alot of visits the park, the beach and generally outside enjoying the fresh air. I want to be able to chase my eldest and play football without feeling conscious of people watching me from a distance. It will be nice not to get so hot and flushed in the face with the heat when I've only walked down the road for a pint of milk. Also, skirts! I'm not a skirt person at all, and have spent many summers in my jeans. It can be hot and sticky, but at least my thighs didn't rub. This year, I want to be one of those ladies who can wear a nice long maxi skirt with sandals and not look ridiculous! (I might even feel comfortable in sleeveless tops this year... might)

But getting back to my boys. The thought of leading a bad example diet wise worries me, as well as the thought of them realising or worst still, being teased that they have a "fat Mum" I don't want to be a supermodel at the end of this, stood there in the playground stick thin wearing nothing but designer wear (not that there is anything wrong with that, but it's just not me) I just want to be normal. To fit in. To not stick out like a sore thumb. True, I probably wasn't that big right now, but if I hadn't of dealt with it, I could of been. I want my boys to be active, to love being outdoors, to love having fun. I have to do this for them.

This time of year, there is always something on TV to keep me motivated. This week we have Supersize v Superskinny as well as Embarrassing Fat Bodies on Channel 4. It's important to think that it is not only appearance we slim down for, but our health too. These programs remind me that if I don't keep on top of  my weight, it can lead onto lots of health problems. I don't want to die young or worst still, have to rely on other people to get me through life.

Last but by no means least, people keep me motivated. The love and support from my husband and family (I have two other family members who do SW too), the lovely people at SW group and even the lovely people I have met through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter all help me keep going. Staying to Image Therapy at group is one of the best things I've done for myself. I have done lots of diets where you go and get weighed, and always used to leave straight away back to the safety of my home. Now, I don't feel like I could ever do that! I've met some lovely ladies who are fast becoming firm friends, staying has become a bit of a social life for me. I leave the boys with Daddy, go and get weighed and then sit with a cuppa and chat about the week I've had, good or bad and listen to how they've been. We all then discuss our losses and gains, have a few laughs and leave feeling great. That first week I was determined to stay despite my shyness once again kicking in. Then I thought sod it, I'm here on my own, no kids, and there's hot coffee! So, I sat there and smiled, spoke to some lovely ladies that first week and I haven't looked back. I'm sure if I left after weigh in, I would eventually think I will start doing it on my own and save the money and I would soon be back at square one. But staying has kept me going.  I'd recommend it to anyone!

Have a wonderful week!

The Synful Baker x

A good loss despite the cake..

Well I went to group this morning for the first time this year. Last week (Christmas week) I gained 3.5lbs and was gutted. This is due to the fact I had been jogging a couple of times to help "level out" the gain, and that hadn't worked. This week, I have lost 4.5lbs! All my Christmas weight, AND an extra pound! My jaw nearly hit the ground. I'm normally a slow loser, losing no more than a pound an a half at the most. I'm sure it'll level out again next week. I've also tried to really vary my diet this week as I do tend to eat the same things over and over. I've added a few pictures of some of the meals I had this week. A pepperpot stew seen in the recent Slimming World magazine, chicken with roasted vegetables and cous cous which I had for lunch and a chilli con carne. Its just so wonderful that with SW, there is no counting or measuring with no salad in sight, unless you want there to be!

Being first week of the new year, it was choc a block at group with new member which was nice to see! I wondered how many were there because they had got one of my leaflets I had been out delivering. I did it for the body magic but did think if out of all of these leaflets, it gives just one person the confidence to think yes this is the year I will do it, then I would be happy.

I haven't done anything differently this week. I have been keeping a food diary for about a month as I find even after all this time, it keeps me on track. I forget what I've had during the week so I have a good read of it the night before weigh in as I fill in the last bits so I can remind myself what I've had, and what I can sort of expect on the scales.

What I did do though was alot of walking this week. About 3 hours spread over a few days. I helped our new group leader by posting those leaflets in our area. When my son is back at pre school on Monday, it'll mean I'm doing about 40 mins, maybe a bit more, three times a week. I do try and do Zumba or Just Dance on the Wii too, but haven't done it since the Christmas festivities and now I'm thinking Ill do classes, more for the social aspect.

As for the food side, I didn't go over on my syns although last Sunday we popped over to my in laws where I had the smallest piece of Christmas cake and yule log (the day I did most of my leaflets) and thought I'll use all 15 syns on them. I had the shock of my life when I looked up the Christmas cake when I got home! Doh! Still, it didn't do any harm to my loss! It's made me think in future I will check my syns on the Slimming World app BEFORE eating anything or just be more headstrong while I'm visiting people.

Father in law loves to play host and buys cakes especially for our visit, including ones he knows I love. Before I started Slimming World, visits to the inlaws were filled with a break from the children for myself, with tons of tea and a wide selection of cakes thrown in. I've not officially told them I have started SW, so I'm still being offered cake 12 odd weeks later. I have said "no thanks" smiling sweetly, clutching my tea so my hands aren't free to take anything, but then a plate of goodies is usually pot on the coffee table next to me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't sit there feeling tempted or drooling wishing I could have any because I don't. I just feel bad that cake is bought for our visit and then I leave it (although hubby and sons do make up for it!) I suppose I will have to be honest next time and refuse point blank. I do spend my syns on chocolate mainly, but I have a nice little selection that's been growing since Christmas and I like to take my time and pick my treat, and enojoy it once the boys are in bed. I get a cup of tea, sit in the quite and have my treat watching something on the telly, reading my blogs or just enjoying one of my Yankee Candles. Not eat something to keep someone else happy.

On tonight's menu is a baked bean lasagne which a lot of people have ranted and raved about online as well as on Instagram so I'm going to give that a go tonight. I'm also making a baked sweet potato hummus which is syn free! I do love my dips but don't bother with them usually because they're normally high in syns but since I got a food processor for Christmas, the time has felt right.

I will be adding new recipes in the near future, but do look for the Synful Baker on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Would love to hear from you!

The Synful Baker x

I want a takeaway! No 1 - Sunny's (legendary) Chicken Curry

I love curry. I cant get enough of it. There's nothing quite like the taste of a creamy korma or tasty bhuna. Although I now have dishes that are Slimming World friendly, (dhansaks and rogans are not too bad, syns wise) I cant really afford to be having them as often as I really would like.

I bought the cook book, Gizzi's Kitchen Magic quite a while ago now. I bought it for the cakes and puddings to be totally honest. Then I came across this chicken curry recipe on page 95. I glanced over the ingredients and there wasn't anything I couldn't get hold of quite easily and thought I'd give it a go. I cant tell you how pleased I am. I love it. There's no cream so its not a creamy curry. A bit like a rogan josh, its like a nice, mild, winter warming, full of flavour sort of stew. It IS a little time consuming so, best to save this one for the weekend but my word it is worth it. Gizzi also recommends serving it a day or two afterwards for the full flavour. Yes it does make it even better (I always make some extra for a tasty syn free lunch the next day) but to be honest, once its cooked, I can't keep away.

The recipe does include some butter but I have tried making it without any or just using some fry light and it made no difference to its flavour. (I've made it alot) If like me, your'e a bit of a curry head, give it a go. You wont be disappointed.

Serves 4
Preparation time 20 minutes
Cooking time 1 hour, 20 minutes
Syns 1 for the butter per serving if you use it, otherwise free on EE

2 tablespoons of ghee (regular butter would be fine, I dont use either to keep it SW friendly)
2 to 3 large onions, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt (I use regular salt)
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
4-6 garlic cloves peeled and crushed, depending on how much you like
3cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
1-2 green chillies finely chopped (depending on how hot you like your curry. I must admit I juse use a small amount of chilli paste or in a jar. Whatever I have in the cupboard)
1 tablespoon tumeric
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon of chilli powder
1 teaspoon madras curry powder
200g tinned chopped tomatoes (I have heard somewhere that the cheaper the tin, the better when it comes to curry.)
8 chicken thighs, on the bone, skin removed
500ml chicken stock or water
a good handful of fresh coriander, chopped (optional I would say. I personally love it, but always forget to buy it)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (again, I use what Ive got already!)

Fill your kettle to the top and bring it to the boil. Heat the ghee or butter if you are using it, in a large pan. Add onions to the pan and fry for about 5 minutes until golden. Add the salt and cumin seeds and toast for a couple of minutes. Add the garlic, chillies and ginger and cook for 3 more minutes.

Turn up the heat, and add enough boiling water to cover the onions. Simmer slowly, occasionally stirring, until the water has reduced almost completely  making sure it doesn't burn. Keep adding water for about 10-15 minutes until the onions become mushy (for me, this is normally about three times). You are looking to make this into a paste, so do use a potato masher to help.

Turn the heat down to a medium, add some more water covering the paste, then add all the spices and stir. Cover the pan and let it simmer for up to 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes. Once they're stirred in, it should look like a thick soup. If it still has alot of water in it, let it reduce some more.

Add the chicken and give it all a good stir. Pour in the stock or water, making sure it covers the chicken and leave on a low heat for 40 minutes. Make sure you stir it now and again.

Finally stir in the coriander and add a little salt and pepper if needed. I serve it with plain boiled rice.

To buy Gizzi's Kitchen Magic, click here

Love, The Synful Baker x

The Resolution Post

Happy New Year, Peeps!

Once again its that time of year when resolutions are being made. I for one always make resolutions even though year in, year out they're the same. I thought now that I have a blog, I will make note of them on here and then at least this way I can see in 6 months how they're all going. Right then, so here we go..

I will lose weight
I have no doubt about this one. I've lost weight gradually in 2012 but now I am doing Slimming World, it has picked up pace. Motivation is still very high, as is the embarrassment of getting on the scales and being told I've gained. Being weighed every week does seem to work very well for me. I will carry on reading the Slimming World mags, following SW followers on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, and keep this blog up!

I will worry less
I stress about everything. Things I can control, things I cant. I did my group leader a favour by taking a huge stack of leaflets and went door to door with them, to help her get started. I got so worried someone would open their door and "tell me off" that I almost had a script ready to defend myself. I stress about what people think about me. I stress I'm not good enough as a woman as well as a Mum. I really should chill out and and not worry so much, but it'll take a while to stop doing this. How? To be honest, I'm not sure..

I will spend less money
I'm still not used to budgeting now I'm no longer working and am now a stay at home mum. I still buy items of clothing for myself or CD's without much thought. We've never been in debt and if we are in our overdraft, its only by one hundred pounds at the most but all the while, our savings isn't growing. I would feel alot better if I knew I was holding back to help put money back into saving or putting to things that are more worth while, like visiting family or going to classes. I shall wait until all bills have gone out, take into account food and diesel and just simply STOP looking retail websites.

I will "get out there" 
When I think of how different life will be when I am at target weight, I think of getting a better social life. Going to classes, learning new skills. I'd love to be a regular at a Zumba class the way I am at Slimming World now so that I know everyone and can have a good old natter, rather than being a newbie and never at staying at a class for very long. Ive already found a couple of classes I would like to try. One is Zumba this Thursday (I have done it before but never keep going) and the other is street dance next week. I shall let you know how I get on.

I will cook more
I've discovered I love baking. I often think when I fancy cooking that I will bake, as I always think its easier to do than to cook an actual meal. Hubby has bought me some cookery book for Christmas. Two are for baking, and the other two for cooking dinners. I always make the same things for dinner and would love to make things with more flavour. I love Indian food and would love to try more recipes. I will take a half hour each weekend to find a recipe I would like to try (that is obviously SW friendly) and make sure I have the ingredients for it.

Until next time

The Synful Baker x

Welcome to synful baking!

I'm a geek wannabe. I love tablets (got a nexus 7 for Christmas and love it), I'm getting the hang of Pinterest and I am always on Instagram. Another thing I love is blogs. Baking blogs, music blogs, blogs about beauty, blogs about being thrifty. I love them all. Most of all, I love reading blogs about my favourite subject. Losing weight.

I have been following Slimming World since October 2012. I joined two days after hitting the big 3-0. I wanted to hit my thirties slim and happy, but that didn't quite work out as I had planned. I have been overweight since I hit puberty and after giving birth to two wonderful boys, my weight went from being a couple of stone over weight to five stone over weight. The two years between my boys births were filled with family, fun times and photos. I couldn't bear to look at pictures of me in my larger size and avoided being in them if I could. I decided I would lose weight for my thirtieth. I managed to lose a stone on my own before hitting a wall. I would love to say I tried everything and "nothing worked" but the truth is, I got bored. Bored of the salads when it was cold, bored of exercising and there always seemed to be some sort of excuse to "start again on Monday" rather than see it through a weekend. I also discovered my love of baking, especially now I had a family of my own to bake for. Showing them love through my baking is something I like to do the most. That didn't help matters.

I spent all of my twenties being unhappy with my weight. I decided I didn't want to go through my thirties the same way. I want to get out there and do things. Now I'm a stay at home mum full time, I want to join classes, do workshops, learn new skills. Meet people. Regain some sort of social life. I cant help but think losing weight would help with this. I have already lost some weight with SW (a stone so far) and have already been bitten by the "I want to do things" bug. I stay to group every week (I cant stress enough how much it helps me with my slimming journey) and as I'm meeting people and making friends, I would like to broaden my horizons further.

I decided today I would look for slimming world blogs. I have plenty of other blogs to follow but I find there's nothing like a little motivation then to look at blogs and read peoples stories, things they've tried, food diaries etc to keep me on the straight and narrow. After having a quick look, most blogs I was interested in didn't seem to be posting anymore. Everyone just seemed to have stopped! I do follow the wonderful blog Slimming Eats which is full of recipes and I do use now and then. (the chilli con carne and spag bol recipes are wonderful!) There aren't many that talk about peoples journeys though. So I thought, I can't be the only one after SW blogs! I will make one myself!

I intend on this blog being about my struggles and successes with SW, but with such a strong love of baking, I will no doubt add the odd recipe of cook book review etc. I also doubt these will be SW friendly but I shall see what I can do!

Thank you for taking the time out to read this and hope to see you around, have a Happy New 2013!

The Synful Baker x