Extra Easy Online - attempting to maintain!

[newbee89]

It was good and I'd probably make it again but I wouldn't use a whole chilli next time - far too hot so it overpowered the flavour.

<img src="http://www.minimins.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=71837"/>

That looks AMAZING!! Be interested to see what you would think of it with less chilli. Looks so creamy and 'proper'. Basically doesn't look diety, but then again rarely does any SW food look anything but amazing!

I wish we had those squarish wraps. It would be a great way of making a thin crust pizza which is my favourite kind. I wonder can I get them online!

OMG that poc of your tummy is soooo motivational. Do you have any before pictures? I can't imagine you with weight on you. Even the 1 and a half stone you lost, i still imagine you looking quite thin. You look amazing!!!

Girl you should go all out and do a front picture of your tummy. When you've got it flaunt it!

Cannot wait to be your size ))))

Hope work goes well for you xxx

 

[vintagepockets]

I REALLY wish I'd taken measurements and photos for comparison when I started SW but I didn't . I looked back through photos from December last year when I was 11st 12lbs but there aren't many and for most of them I'm wearing baggy clothes and I'd perfected the "jut your chin out" look for the cameras. It was actually playing Dance Central when they replay your dancing back to you that it hit home that I needed to lose weight. That and trying on a size 12 bodycon dress that made me looked like I was trying to fit into a size 6 there was that much back fat!

Instead, I have attached some pics of me from my final year at Uni, which were taken in 2008. I'm probably about half a stone heavier in these than I was when I started SW. (Excuse the fact that I look drunk in every pic lol)



In that final pic I'm actually wearing a dress that I wore today and it's currently too big. Here you can see that it's clinging a bit to my tummy.

I'll try to get some full length now pics taken this week and uploaded as I don't seem to have many. Although you can definitely see the difference in my face in the pic below which was taken last week.

 

[vintagepockets]

I had burger and chips from the chippy tonight and now I feel so gross! Not because of guilt just because I ate too much and I feel so uncomfortable. I'm not sure if it's the grease or that I stuffed my face lol.

I think following the priniciples of SW but not having a food diary where I catalogue everything I eat and I don't count syns is working out for me at the mo.

In other news, literally as I was writing this I got a phone call from one of my best friends and she got engaged half an hour ago! And she's asked me to be her bridesmaid! I may have cried a little!

 

[suzyflo]

You weren't huge before but you can really see the difference in you now, you look great!
I did take my measurements when I started s/w, I was 11st 11lbs, at the beginning so just about the same as you were and my measurements were 40" chest, 34" waist and 41" hips...when I got to target of 10st 3lbs I measured chest 36", waist 30" and hips 37".....just been hunting high and low for my tape measure to check if I'm the same now, but I can't find it, i'm guessing I will be as my weight is the same and my smaller clothes still fit.

 

[newbee89]

Wow I can really notice the difference in the pics, i love the one taken recently - you look great! It's amazing how much of a difference SW has made to your life. Such a great success!

Oh i was craving chips today so so much. We went to a market and as we were walking around EVERYONE was eating chips and they smelled amazing. Is it smelled or smelt? I am mortified that i do not know this. My brain is having a bit of a fudgy moment. I resisted but my little hungover self was begging me to eat them.

OH and I have this plan, for our first night spent in our new home in Feb were going to have tea from teapot he bought me as a gift when i said i loved it, AND we are going to have chips from the chipper. Sounds so simple but it excites me SO much. The ultimate treat. Only about 8 weeks to wait, haha!

 

[Applekath]

Hello! Found you now and will be having a good read in the near future. Looking forward to trying out some of your recipes too!

 

[vintagepockets]

Thanks guys and Hi AppleKath - welcome to my diary!

I weighed in at 9st11lbs today!? I don't know what is going on but I can only think that it's because I'm working back at the pub and I am doing a huge amount of exercise because of it! It has been SO busy so most of the time I'm running too and from the kitchen and up and down the stairs. I'm also getting loads of squats in putting glasses away lol. My thighs were so painful yesterday I felt like I'd had a punishing session at the gym. I'm sure Xmas will sort that out though lol.

Not much else to report really. I've been eating old and tried recipes so far this week (Paella yesterday and absolutley delicious steak and chips with Schwartz steak seasoning nom). I've got loads of Pork Loins to use up and I'm feeling a bit uninspired with them so suggestions welcome. I think I'll do a chilli con carne for dinner tomorrow as I start work at 6pm and I can cook it in the morning and just heat it up and eat it before I leave for work.

Hope everyone is ready/excited for Xmas? I tried to do some Xmas shopping today but ended up buying pressies for myself . I bought two dresses from Topshop, both the same but one is black and one is green. They are bodycon which is a bit daring but I think with tights I can get away with them. My Mum tried one on and she said it was too tight on her so if I can pull it off I'll be very chuffed as my Mum has always been at least a stone lighter than me and now we're the same weight. My competitive side is feeling a bit smug about that although I'd like to stress that is definitely not the reason why I've lost weight! Anyway here is the dress...

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/s...Id=&searchTerm=midi bodycon dress&pageSize=20

I'll try to get a pic in it.

 

[newbee89]

Link just brought me to general site!

 

[vintagepockets]

Aww no. Well here is a pic of it in Burgundy. It doesn't look like much but the green and black ones are gorgeous and I can see them being really easy to dress up/down.





Also I finally bought the in-laws presents! I actually want one for myself. The one on the left is an espresso cup for the OH's step dad and the other is a tea bucket mug for his mum. That's the last of the Xmas shopping done - I just hope they arrive on time!

 

[vintagepockets]

Here are some pics of me in my new dresses. Not the best quality photos (btw I hate it when peeps take pics in the mirror so please excuse that). The pics of the green one came out really badly so here is the black. A couple of bumps from the front but pretty pleased overall!

 

[Applekath]

How slender do you look!

Fab!

 

[Ruthie-D]

whit who missy, you look great. I would sooooo love a flat stomach like yours. Enjoy all the Christmas prep xx

 

[Honeyoc]

Woohoo Vintagepockets, well done!! Gosh under 10st, can't wait till I'm there! My super sexy weight is 9st 7lbs
You look so beautiful, even in your "fat" pics, and your after pic is definitely hot hot hot! Congratulations!

 

[Honeyoc]

Oh do you have the recipe for the peanut curry? Looks amazing!

 

[newbee89]

Aww no. Well here is a pic of it in Burgundy. It doesn't look like much but the green and black ones are gorgeous and I can see them being really easy to dress up/down.


View attachment 72109


Also I finally bought the in-laws presents! I actually want one for myself. The one on the left is an espresso cup for the OH's step dad and the other is a tea bucket mug for his mum. That's the last of the Xmas shopping done - I just hope they arrive on time!

Here are some pics of me in my new dresses. Not the best quality photos (btw I hate it when peeps take pics in the mirror so please excuse that). The pics of the green one came out really badly so here is the black. A couple of bumps from the front but pretty pleased overall!
View attachment 72141View attachment 72142

Those mugs are lovely, I can imagine OH's parents will be very pleased. Hopefully they arrive on time for you now!

Ooooh you look so good in the dresses. So slim and just stunning! Do you have an event you can wear them to?

What's your plan for Christmas day? Will you and OH be having Xmas dinner together or at your respective families houses separately?

x

 

[book_lover]

hi hun, just popping on after long absence to say hi and happy christmas, you look super stunning now, so slim, total inspiration for me! I've posted an update pic too - have a lovely time, don't worry too much on Christmas day as you've done so well

 

[vintagepockets]

Thanks guys I was really chuffed with how they looked and I am feeling rather proud of myself . My main annoyance now though is that the constant comments of "you don't need to lose anymore" are driving me nuts - I'm not trying too!!!! I feel like I need to be conciously eating rubbish just so people believe that I'm not. Their starting to make me feel like I have an eating disorder or something! It drives me up the wall!

We went out for dinner tonight to a local pub as my Dad always goes across to South East Asia for 6 weeks on Christmas Eve. Partly because he hates Xmas and partly because he's a self employed plasterer and January is always quiet for him work wise. I gave him his Xmas pressie which was a jumper and some Just Brazils (I remember when we were little he'd always get a box of Just Brazils and my Mum would get a Choc Orange). I decided to have fish and chips and my god am I regretting this now. My stomach is killing me and I've had to make a dash to the loo a couple of times (TMI sorry!). It was the same Sunday night when we had chips from the chippy. I'm not sure if my stomach is just not used to the grease or if it's an after effect of my stomach problems whilst we were travelling (fyi the inflamed colon that hospitalised me with chronic diarrhea for a week ). My stepdad had camphilobactor too (what they think I had) and he said his stomach has never been the same since. I must admit it is really sensitive lately so that could be it!?

Anyway, here's a pic of my Dad with his pressie!

 

[vintagepockets]

We also did another trip to Whole Foods today (I'm seriously addicted to that place), so I thought I'd take a few pics after being inspired by Honey's post!

I really wanted to buy some of this spice but I had no idea what I would do with it!? May do a bit of research and take the plunge next time!



Yummy Gorganzola - a tub of which managed to make it's way home with us...



Make your own Peanut Butter



The OH in the wine aisle



I came away with a gorgeous loaf of Multiseed bread and two more boxes of tea (I swear I have an addiction to buying herbal tea!). I got Tea Pigs Jasmine Pearls after reading about them on AppleKath's diary, and Pukka Relax tea which I love. I steeped the Jasmine Tea for too long when I tried it earlier so I'll be giving them another go tomorrow.

 

[vintagepockets]

Here are a couple of absolutely gorgeous recipe books that were in there too. I may treat myself to them after Xmas and see if I can find them cheaper online. They are so pretty!



And a pic of a GIANT Lindor we saw in Sainsbury's. OH included for scale



Speaking of the OH, he reached his target of 13 stone today!!! Very proud of him.

I think I'm going to go back to SW properly from Friday through to Monday and keep a diary as I haven't been eating enough fruit and veg and would like to get a healthy few days in before Xmas. Thinking about it I actually had no fruit or veg today! I'm probably not going to keep within the 15 syns neccessarily but I'll make sure I'm having SW meals with a third SF as the two "naughty" meals I've had this week have left me feeling rotten.

 

[vintagepockets]

Woohoo Vintagepockets, well done!! Gosh under 10st, can't wait till I'm there! My super sexy weight is 9st 7lbs
You look so beautiful, even in your "fat" pics, and your after pic is definitely hot hot hot! Congratulations!

Oh do you have the recipe for the peanut curry? Looks amazing!

Thanks Honey! I'm sure after baby comes you'll have no problem getting there as you already look slender even though you're pregnant .

The recipe is one of Pete's. I wouldn't add the chilli next time though as it completely overpowered the taste of the peanut which makes adding the peanut butter (and the syns) a bit pointless. Then again I may have just used a big chilli lol. Next time I'll try it with just the curry powder.

Here is the recipe...

Pete’s Peanut Curry

(Adopted from Tesco’s real food booklet)

Not suitable for people with nut allergies

Serves 2

Ingredients

150g Pre-cooked chicken (s) (ff)
1 Onion (s) (sff)
1 chilli, deseeded & finely chopped (s) (sff)
1 Pepper, finely chopped (s) (sff)
1 Knorr “herb stockpot”
1tsp cumin
1tsp coriander
1tsp turmeric
1tbsp madras curry powder
1tbsp sweetener
2 Garlic cloves (sff)
2tbsp smooth/crunchy peanut butter 9syns/2=4.5syns each person
2cm piece of ginger, grated
200mL hot water
400g chopped tomatoes (s) (sff)
Handful of coriander

Method

In a frying pan sprayed with Fry Light, cook the chicken until browned, remove and set aside.
Spray the frying pan again with fry Light, cook onion, garlic, ginger & chilli until soft.
Add the cumin, turmeric, curry powder & coriander, cook for 2 minutes then add the chicken, tomatoes & sweetener, cook for 10 mins. Place the stockpot on top of the cooking food and allow to infuse.
Add the peanut butter and the 200mL of water mix well & cook on a medium heat until the chicken is hot, and the sauce has thickened, sprinkle the coriander over the food.