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