8. Lose 4 stones

Lost 1/2lb this week, woo!

7. Make a Christmas cake

So, not being one to do things by halves, I decided to make not one but nine christmas cakes! Ok, so they're only little ones but nine seperate cakes all the same.
I started back in October by soaking the fruit in brandy, then in November I made the actual cakes. For the last few weeks thay've been living in a cupboard and being fed brandy every few days.

And here they are, the finished articles. I've already given one to Lydia's teacher. Sadly I only have a rubbish iphone photo of that one, but trust me, it looked fab!







This is the recipe I followed Boozy Fruit and Christmas Cake

8. Lose 4 stones

(I might blog about something else soon...)

Today's rather dull update is that I lost 1/2lb this week. Good considering the chicken fried rice, pizza, chocolate, biscuits, warm coconut macaroons etc etc.

Now, let's see if I can keep up my no gain record next week...

8. Lose 4 stones

I didn't have high hopes this week. The Christmas thank you presents have started to arrive at work, as well as a chocolate hamper from our area manager.
Some kind of advent miracle occurred though and I lost 2.5lb again! I was so shocked I asked her to double check!

8. Lose 4 stones

2.5lb off this week meant I finally got my stone award. I also got slimmer of the week and am currently looking for recipes involving 3 apples, 2 kiwi fruit, a grapefruit, a courgette and a packet of chicken and mushroom pasta 'n' sauce.

So, a quarter of the way to my original goal. I'm at the annoying point where my clothes are too big but the next size down is still too small, hopefully I can rectify that by christmas.

16. Bake once a month

Chocolate Orange Panettone Recipe Here

8. Lose 4 stones

A rather miraculous loss this week, only 0.5lb but I really was expecting to gain. I've eaten a tonne of celebrations at work and my friend Kerry forced me to eat scones with too much cream at the 1st birthday party of her youngest!

I've now set my target on the SW website, it always seemed too far away but now I've lost almost a quarter of my original target it seems more achievable. It estimates that if I keep losing at the rate I have been I can be at that goal by my birthday. Hopefully, if I get my arse into gear I can do it before then.

31. Get fitted for a bra

I can no longer throw them over my shoulder like a regimental soldier. Not clothed anyway.

8. Lose 4 stones

I maintained. Grump. And the first person to say it's better than gaining will get a punch in the nose.

86. Get new glasses

I've put this off for ages. I hate wearing glasses. Really, really hate it. I'd have laser eye surgery in a shot but I'm beyond skint and would have to sell a kidney or a child to fund it. This is a bit tricky as I can't see anything without them. I've had my current ones for 5 years and they really needed changing as a) They're knackered, b) my delightfully tactful husband told me they were dated and c)I can't bloody see anything, even when I'm wearing them.
So finally this month I was forced, kicking and screaming popped along for an eye test. After being told off by the optician for not being able to read the eye chart, even with my glasses on (I told you, it's a wonder they haven't sent me a guide dog) I spend an hour looking at frames. I hated them all. Every single pair. Too big, too small, too narrow, too Dame Edna, the arms are too wide, the wrong colour, too Elton John...
It took me a week to find an acceptable pair, well two as they were buy one get one free. I'm still not sure about them, they're different. I like familiar.

8. Lose 4 stones

2lb off. Consistency is my middle name. (it's not, it's Marie. Consistency is better though, more exotic, so I'm considering deed poll)

8. Lose 4 stones

Another 2lb off this week, 10.5lb in total.

8. Lose 4 stones

2lb off this week and my first award! Woo!

22. Visit 5 different museums

Bolton Museum

It's half term, day 3. Three long days. We have a wobbly tooth so every other sentence is about the tooth fairy and when she's not talking about it she's wobbling it. Time to get out of the house! So off we went to Bolton.

First to the aquarium which has recently been made a bit more buggy friendly. It's only small but the girls enjoyed it, especially the exhibit about looking after the environment. Never has a retro crisp packet caused such excitement!


Lydia doing her best fish impression!

The upstairs to the museum. The local history exibit was closed (due to reopen tomorrow!) but we still managed to see the dinosaur, some (slightly horrific) mummies, and lots of other stuff. Best loved of all was the Noah's Ark. Lots of tantrums when it was time to move on!



It's a fabulous place and free! Much recommended by us.

7. Make a Christmas cake (part one!)

So I've started my christmas cake! I bought the fruit weeks ago but I've only just got round to acquiring some brandy (thanks MIL!) I'm following the recipe from Ruth Clemens' blog The Pink Whisk (she was a finalist on the BBC programme The Great British Bake Off)

I've been soaking it since the weekend and stiring it everyday. It's currently living in the cupboards wrapped up in cling film and a tea towel.

It smells lush!

16. Bake once a month

This month has been a quieter one, baking wise. I'm not really the kind of person who makes muffins with crushed up bran flakes, I'd rather do with out!
I got an urge to bake in saturday though, so I flicked through my new baking book and settled on lamingtons. And very good they are too (I've eaten several since weigh in!)

15. Cook 10 things from a recipe

Slimming World Lamb Dhansak (from SW magazine October 2010)



Serves 4

Fry Light
1 carrot, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2.5cm fresh root ginger (i used my namesake, lazy ginger!)
1tbsp tandoori spice mix
397g lamb, cubed
255g cherry tomatoes
400g can green lentils inc water (I did this in the slow cooker and it was too watery.would leave the water out next time)
284ml lamb stock
salt and pepper
basmati rice
fresh corriander (i left this out. fresh corriander has no place in my house. bleugh)

Spray a large, deep frying pan with fry light and place over a medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and red pepper and cook, uncovered for 10 minutes.

Add the garlic, ginger and spice mix and cook for a further 2 minutes, stiring constantly.

Stir in the lamb, cherry tomatoes, lentils and lamb stock. Season well and bring to the boil. Cover and cook for 25 minutes until lamb is tender. Cook the rice in boiling water for 10 minutes and drain.

When the curry is ready, stir in most of the coriander and check the seasoning. Sprinkle the remaining corriander over the curry and serve with the rice (but no naan bread as a sharwoods plain naan is 16.5 syns!!)

8. Lose 4 stones

Half a pound. Half a measly pound.
I weighed at a different time of day so that'll be it won't it? It'll mean a better loss next week won't it? (the only acceptable answer is yes by the way!)

8. Lose 4 stones

2lb off this week. Treated myself to a stale cake from Greenhalghs. This town needs a Starbucks!

8. Lose 4 stones

So I've made a start on #8. I've joined Fat Fighters Slimming World.
First weigh in this week and I've lost 4lb.