I joined Slimming world over 2 years ago initially, with my mum. I didn't have a lot to lose but I lost about a stone and maintained at around 9 stone 4 lb (I am 5.4" for reference) for a long while - this was my 'norm' weight.
I met my boyfriend about a year ago... now we can guess what happened! Lots of meals out and cinema trips, Netflix and Chills, and our first holiday together! The weight soon piled on and although it's never bothered me too much or made me less confident I was frustrated because all my gym efforts had gone to waste. (I joined the gym a few months after meeting my boyfriend - completely coincidental...)
So recently I decided to jump back on the Slimming World band wagon after loosely following habits for the past year or so but still eating far too much rubbish. I'm a week in, and I stuck to plan 100% (give or take perhaps a syn or two) which I have hardly ever done! And I feel great, so much less bloated, I actually feel lighter and much more positive in my gym trips.
Here are just a few meal ideas/gym routines that I follow which have helped me get back into this lifestyle:
Breakfasts
Pancakes
I love this breakfast because it feels so naughty and fills you right up!
Mash 1 banana and two eggs, fry in pan with frylight (preferably butter flavour) until set.
I like to add blueberries in mine whilst they cook or sometimes peanut butter if I'm feeling synful. I also like 2 syns of golden syrup drizzled over them, yum!
Cereal and Banana
A lot of cereals are HexB eg. Weetabix, Bran Flakes etc. Warmed up with milk and a banana is super satisfying.
Eggs on Toast
I like eggs poached, scrambled, fried, boiled and every other way you can cook them! My fave is poached or scrambles on toast with a few syns of marg and maybe a mashed avocado (which you should syn for but I refuse).
Lunches
Salad
I eat a bit of salad practically every day as either a side or a bigger portion for a main. I love love love salad cream on my salad and I like to add some extras if it's my main course such as...
HexA Cheese cut up into cubes
Boiled Eggs
2 slices wholemeal bread (HexB) fried in frylight as croutons
Slimming World quiche (which I have yet to perfect)
Coleslaw... and whatever I fancy; I don't mind adding syns to my salads.
Pasta
I love pasta with basically everything! I often have it with syn free homemade tomato sauce - with lots of superfree - and occasionally pesto. I like to experiment with pasta sauces because they're very hard to mess up which I often do with cooking. Pasta bake with melted cheese is the one.
Jacket Potato
Every Friday at work we have jackets. As standard I have HexA cheese (which I can't measure at work argh!) and beans. I occasionally treat myself to some coleslaw (more syn guesswork) and perhaps some butter. They're a go to meal if I know I have a busy evening too because they're SO easy to cook! I also often like sweet potato as a bit of a change, with a little bit of cheese and salad.
Another great use of these potatoes are Slimming World chips - syn free and delicious! PS. also try with sweet potato!
Dinner
Vegetables
As a vegetarian (a lazy one) I often find myself eating just huge plates of vegetables, roasted or steamed - I'm not fussy. Working at a farm shop I can get the freshest and unusual things which is inspiring to eat healthily. Sometimes I'll have vegetables with pasta or cous cous or try some vegetarian burgery things.
Soup
Again, I'm lazy, so at the end of the day I like to just heat up a can of soup... just be careful as they can be synful! I find soups really filling and satisfying, they're a great comfort food and make you feel cosy from the inside!
Syns
Crisps
It took me so long to get my head around syns... you can eat crap AND lose weight?!?! So I try and use a fair few each day to curb my cravings and to make me feel satisfied, not deprived. Crisps are a go to snack or to go with my lunch. I got for things like baked crisps and french fries as they are generally lower syns.
Icecream
My ice cream obsession started with an Oreo ice cream cookie... 5.5 syns! A chocolate bar would be twice the amount of syns and not half as satisfying. I always reach for ice cream over chocolate now although I do allow myself a bit of chocolate every now and then. I just find you get more satisfaction for your syns with ice creams.
In meals
I like to use up a few syns in my meals to make them tastier and more satisfying... as long as I'm satisfied I'm on the right track! Simple things like salad cream in salad, milk in tea, butter on bread...
Gym
When I joined the gym I'd go 5 times a week and I'd really push myself... then I'd go home and stuff my face because 'you burn more calories when you work out a lot' and 'I've earnt it'. The harsh truth is you can't out-exercise a bad diet. So I've toned down my gym routine, I try to do a 20-30 min HIIT routine Mondays after work which leaves me plenty of time to go home and cook an on plan meal.
I go Tuesday morning after breakfast and get home just in time for lunch! I do boxercise on Tuesdays which is for an hour and you get a mega sweat on!
Then I do pilates on Thursdays for 45 minutes which isn't sweaty but it really strengthens your muscles... in a relaxing way. I like it!
I occasionally do a bit in between but I'm focusing more on balance between food and exercise as they work really well together when you get the balance right but too much of one or the other can put me off plan.
If you have any questions visit me on Instagram: thoughtsofjodie
Also, wish me luck as today is weigh day!
