Tomatoes

So my father in law did an experiment- he squashed a shop bought posh cherry tomato and saved and dried the seeds on a bit of kitchen roll. 

He then planted the seeds and then potted on the seedlings. He nurtured them and then distributed the baby plants. I had 7 plants. He kept 10 and gave another 10 away. I gave 4 plants away and kept 3. I really really looked after 1 of them - it’s own tub, in the sunshine, staked up and pruned properly. The others I’m afraid I gave them sunburn and nearly killed them off through lack of water. I shoved them among the plants in the border and left them to it. They all thrived and went about their business of producing 26780000000 tomatoes! 

About to go in the oven

Bluebell photobombing Grandad’s fine tomato plants

Erm believe it or not, this is the plant that O was making an effort with! All that scrap metal in the background has now been weighed in and the last of the rhubarb harvested today. 

Father in laws amazing tomato plants! 

Erm …spot mine that I shoved in the border!!! 

Me in the shadow! 

Oooooo

The very first ripe tomato! 

They are so delicious! 

I’ve just harvested the red ones that were on the plants and am leaving the rest another week but then they will probably end up on the compost! 

Todays harvest was halved, sprayed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sprinkled liberally with onion and garlic granules, salt and pepper and herbs de Provence and then shoved in the oven because it’s on low and left for about 40 mins. 

They are done and are absolutely delicious. They were destined to be added to a pasta sauce but I think I’ll pop them in a tub and have them sprinkled on my meals this week!! 

I went to class last Monday and saw half a pound shaved off my total! A smidge. But that’s ok. Me and my friend are starting a savings club for from October 1st so every pound off is a pound coin in a jar. If it’s another smidge tomorrow night, then that’s 50p in the jar! It’s taster, so I am going all out and am making a really delicious tikka masala from one of the Pinch of N books - their recipe is for a butternut squash and butterbean curry but I’m making it with boneless and skinless chicken thighs instead. It really is a lovely flavoured tasty dish. I’m going to double up on the make so I’ve some sauce for my freezer and will save a couple of the  chicken curry portions for myself too. It’s a really good group for taster and it’s a generous group too - need to make sure I try everything within reason!!!! One man always makes his famous homity pie and I’m really looking forward to eating that tomorrow hahaha! 

Right best get chopping me onions! 

Trying to be less fat with the help of tomato power! 

Glad I went

 Well yesterday, groups were

On with Louise the leader opening early for weigh in at 9. The HG took me and I only dropped in to get weighed and left. Because I was early we had time for a chit chat as she set up. She is just like me - as in loss A LOT, dallied at target and then faltered and regained but put the brakes on before all was back and then some and we do get along so well. She’d been struggling too this week but we were both delighted with my 2.5lbs off so that has spurred me on a bit more. I’m not sure if it’s a SW mantra or just hers 

But she says 

Let’s see less of you next week! Always makes me chuckle. I said to her as we left, let’s see less of each other! 

I returned home to watch the funeral which took longer than I imagined. Affected me emotionally and deeply. I made full non SW chicken dinner as in I made cheese sauce way over the cheese allowance for the cabbage and cauliflower! 

Today I will have fruit and yogurt to break my fast at lunchtime and then leftover roast chicken and lots of speedy veg for tea with syns being used for the gravy. 

I am also amused that I replied to a comment left by the lovely Poppy Patchwork and I had to go through my own comment moderation!!! It’s posted as anonymous! 

Rachel *definitely me* Radiostar xx

Sad day for many today

 Sugar free September has been a bit hit and miss, as probably predicted by my lack of posts. 

Our group is having groups as normal today which is my day and I woke up and do have a slightly different feeling about the day. Anyway 

Groups are on as normal today which kinda doesn’t sit right with me but she is doing an earlier weigh in which I intend to weigh and go in order to get back and properly settled. 

I’ve bought some fresh figs which I adore and will bake them drizzled with some of the orange essence honey I’ve been gifted by a grandparent at school to help with my arthritis - she swears by it and I feel

Humbled she gifted me some, it’s very expensive stuff! I’m not normally a fan of honey at all but this is lovely and I’ve been having just 1 teaspoon a day for medicinal purposes- ha that made me laugh!!! 

Anyway what is honey if not PURE SUGAR! Honestly, I really do set myself up to fail with my grand declarations!! I admire those who stick to their guns so much! 

Right 

Must get my shower and sort the dog out before class. Coffee first….

Rachel *too fat for her liking* Radiostar xxx

8am Sept 5th

 Just about to get sorted to go to work. I’ve had a pint of water, a vitamin tablet, a daily anti histamine tablet and a coffee with a smidge of warmed full fat milk. I will break my fast at 12.40

Probably as I’m in class

For the month of September supporting a little one who is non verbal with additional needs. And they are only little - 5 years old! 

I’ve done a covid test but it was negative - so let’s co time this SFS. It is like day 1 again because it was my father in law’s birthday yesterday and I had lemon drizzle cake. 

I am human after all !!! 

FR x

14.38 Saturday

 Had a few drinks with friends last night. Not totally sugar free as I did share some Chinese chicken and a ready mixed g&t. 

Today I am tired. Going to have a nap! Lamb curry is for tonight- always better a day later. 

8.46 Sept 2

 Morning- thanks for the comments and support as always x 

Slept better last night, though was mentally drained from work - and pre internet changeover stress. 

Day two so far I’ve had water and black coffee. Will break my fast with a tuna salad I think at lunch. Making Lamb Keema for tea very healthy and will have with cauliflower rice. Successfully navigated and didn’t have the free posh sandwiches/jacket potato to order  from the very nice deli that school paid for. There were no simple salad options. I go home anyway for the dog but it was quite hard to decline especially as it was free and from the posh shop!!! 

Bit of a headache still so two paracetamol and more water before I start work. 

R x

3pm day 1

 I’ve got a headache. 

Had lettuce leaves, cheese, tomato and onion for lunch with mayo. It was lovely. Need to up my water and I have got a coffee with oat milk. 

So far so good. 

SFS

 

No more Afternoon Tea for me until October! 

The title stands for 

Sugar Free September 

I have over indulged n the holidays. I can tell it on my scales, in my clothes, my chin, my joints. I’m bloated and uncomfortable and I know this happens every single time.

So I will be back at SW on Monday night but have properly tightened up my resolve to follow the F800 and SW principles that work so well with me. And the SFS stands for Sugar ( & Sweetner ) Free September 

And by this I mean sugar in it’s simplest for chemistry wise which includes all those simple carbohydrates that I have been stuffing my face with! 

Sugar, white bread, white pasta, potatoes and anything with sweetners in as much as I can manage. 

I will allow sourdough bread only if I have it. It’s allowed on F8. And I’ve been going to make my own sourdough starter for 100 years now so I might do that! 

Pasta and rice will be wholemeal and whole grain if I have it. 

8.20am so far so SFS! 

I will probably blog often recording my withdrawal!!! 

I’m fasting until lunchtime today. There will no doubt be goodies galore in the staffroom but no I will be strong! Lunch will be scrambled egg and leaves I think. Tea will be cottage pie SW recipe for them with mash and the base mix with veg for me. 

Going to measure my waist and neck and record it on the first of every month. Along with the scales! 

Back soon with progress. 

R x

August

 Well, it's been up and downy. I am still trying! The month of August has brought lots of challenges so far and many celebration meals planned out for my Mum's 70th. I will endeavor to keep the days in between as healthy as possible and will not go absolutely overboard at the events themselves. I will enjoy what I have and be mindful of what I am having. But I am having!!

 I am still following the F8 methods. It works best for me. I am determined that once the holidays are done and I am back to school routine that I will once and for all keep the downward trend in numbers going so I can change my wardrobe!! I had a morning yesterday looking at the things that are just not comfortable and with a bit of effort will be fully wearable. Then I will embrace the next phase of getting down to my target range of August 2018! 

Happy to report that I am a long way from the start range of August 2017 but letting go of feeling cross about it all was liberating. 

I've a new recipe I want to try for overnight oats. Tiramisu flavoured ones. I'll do a full report on it! 

Trying to be less Fat August 15th 2022 xx

What I ate in June 2022

 As promised to myself, here are most of the things I’ve eaten in June. 

It’s been my birthday month and the butterfly cakes you will see are made by my son, so light as a feather - I had one a day for three days! 

Mostly on track. A few days of hit and miss. I restarted my SW official progress as a tool to help me forge ahead with shifting this flab. 

My reasoning was if I had to re lose stupid pointless pounds to get where I was…I might not! It’s drawing that line that I have been scathing of a little in the past. 

I have a new mantra for any lapses, not relapses. See a previous post. 

There’s time for the day to get better. I have used this and it worked. Another way for me to stop that I’ve had a biscuit I might as well have the packet, and then a large unhealthy meal. Even if your last packet of crisps was 10pm 

There’s still time for the day to get better- have a large glass of water and go to bed! Instead of then having chocolate at 10.10pm ! Honestly, it’s a wonder I ever get anything done with this inner voice going on and on and on! 

I am still fasting and still believe it’s this that has helped in the gain and gain some more usual habit of my past 40 years of dieting. I have definitely stopped the immediate self loathing. It’s now a so what?  I tell you, if I think of this it deeply saddens me that that is my life. So we go on! 

As part of my role in the Pastoral Team at work, we had a well being celebration as part of our peer support group. In my line of work this is definitely needed. And we did some forest bathing stuff. In a teeny tiny public wood led by a wonderful human being who made me feel reenergised and enough. It’s true that at this moment in time, every form of human being on the planet seems to be recognised and accepted, yet never ever truly embraced across all walks of life are those who are larger. Why is this??? I don’t know if you ever watched a TV programme where a beautiful girl who I think is great, Scarlett Moffatt who came to fame via Gogglebox. Well they took their semi detached house and went to live with an African tribe. There was a scene that was powerful where she was invited to join in the village ceremony for coming of age for the girls I think it was. The just was the tribal women wear necklaces and a maybe a sarong to hide their nether regions but are bare naked elsewhere. I half understood her reasoning as she is on tv etc but the main reason was because of her self loathing and disgust - but the genuine love and admiration and messages from the tribal women about how her body and her shape was the desired one in their world and how she should never be ashamed had me in tears. Gosh I’m going off on a tangent here. 

So some stats to keep me going! 

Wearing smaller knickers and bra again. 

Definitely more comfortable moving about.

If I’ve lost this week I’ll get my stone award for this attempt! If I was talking in old money, ie. the SW card before this one it would have been my 2.5stone award. But I’m in new numbers for this time around and the next new number bracket, although a way off, means that some of the smaller clothes stashed in my wardrobe will finally fit again. 

Not every day’s food but a snapshot of what’s going in!! 

The baked cheese and honey crisps - YUMMY - but not buying them again! Dangerous!! 

Lots of love for now.

Today can still get better xx

Some of the meals I’ve had in April and May - photo heavy

 I just want to record some of the delicious meals I’ve enjoyed on this way of eating I’m doing. When I look at them, it amazes me why I revert in a lapse to boring beige stuff (crisps, chips, bread and biscuits although the empire biscuit shown is very colourful but that’s only on as it’s my absolute favourite treat when we go to DaisyClough ( pronounced cluff for my none local chums ) Tearoom ) 

Eggs Benedict

Greek chicken kebab

Mushroom omelette and salad

Sunday Roast beef

Omelette, bacon and tomatoes

Cajun dirty rice chicken

This is GRILLED tender stem broccoli a la James Martin - TRY IT with poached eggs and mushrooms

Jacket potato, synned full fat coleslaw 

Manky veg soup with lean ham

Full fat synned chicken liver pate in celery with salad

SW ready meal, halved with steamed sweetheart cabbage and leek.

Ham and egg salad

Plain salad

Manky veg soup with 30g cheddar grated on the top,
with strawberries and yogurt for pud.

Mmmmmmmmmm hahaha

Mixed salad to go with quiche at the caravan. 

Beige but healthy coffee and fruit salad with yogurt

Beginnings of a quiche

The pre roasted innards of a quiche

Overnight oats

Afore mentioned quiche

Chicken salad

Think I’ve shown this before, beans on a homemade bagel

SW ready meal with salad

Bonus freezer find campfire stew on cabbage medley

Tuna sweetcorn innards for another quiche

Another day, another overnight oats

Two Tuna sweetcorn quiches 

The SW ready meal featured in the pics  yummy

Steak and veg

Sunday Roast Chicken Dinner

Good stuff packed in my overnight oats
Pictured above. 

SO, having collated all of these, it is easy to remind myself that I am in no way being deprived or missing out. Yes, it takes a little effort and planning sometimes to have a good and varied daily menu, but most of the time it does give me joy. 

Doing this post has inspired me to post an honest and truthful record of everything that I am going to eat in the month of June. 

Challenging due to lots of birthday celebrations with friends and family. 

So as it is the 1st June, I will get started. I will somehow meld the photos and try and do one a week so will have 4 posts. I will also record my weight and measurements and note any difference- here’s hoping they are all going the preferred way hahaha. I am still combining the F8and SW. I have said it before, but it’s what has kept me going. I think, either of the regimes on their own, would have seen me with big sustained gains. I’m still far from target but still two and a bit stones lighter than I was in November 2021. 

Let’s see how I fair in June. TTBLF as ever x