Tuesday is weigh day and this week I was looking forward to going. I have been really good this week and although I went over my calories slightly on Saturday, I was slightly under every other day and ended up 82 calories under total which I think is very good. I have also exercised quite consistently. So off I went to the leisure centre to get on those scales feeling quite optimistic.
Oh my goodness, you won’t believe it! I LOST 6 POUNDS THIS WEEK !!!!!!!! That means I have lost 21 pounds this year so far which is one and a half stones. I didn’t expect to lose that much and am a bit worried that the scales are wrong. But I won’t anxst too much about that and will assume they are correct and consider this an amazing week. To finish this week I ate within calories and managed a walk.
Any self-respecting Scotsman would hitch up his kilt and run to the hills screaming rather than eat my “porridge” today. I started by wanting to make a traditional porridge and use the Pinhead Oats, also known as steel cut oats, I have. In Scotland they tend to eat porridge made with oats, water and salt rather then the sweet and milky version we favour in England. However, after looking online I found this recipe for perfect porridge and decided to try it. It seemed to be a blend of the 2 styles.
It asked for 1/4 cup each of pinhead and rolled oats. They are very different to each other to look at and in cooking times. I used almond milk instead of dairy milk and made it with my pink silicon spatula rather than a traditional spurtle! I also added chia seeds for extra protein and satiety. I followed the cooking method in the recipe and it was a good consistency and tasted ok but not quite exciting enough.
An apple would make the difference.
Perfect. A lovely bowl of apple porridge made by just grating the apple and stirring it in.
I worked form home today and took advantage of some clear skies to take the dogs over the road for a walk.
It was wetter and muddier over there than ever!
There was water where I have never noticed water before.
Where I am used to seeing water, it was flowing much faster than usual.
We got back just before the rain began again.
Time for lunch and I made roasted red veggies with chicken and salad. I roasted 2 tomatoes with thyme, salt and pepper for half an hour and then added beetroot and red pepper and roasted them all for another half hour. I didn’t use any oil.
I prepared a large pile of rocket and lamb’s lettuce and added 100g roast chicken and 50g humous.
This was colourful and flavourful.
Every mouthful was an absolute pleasure. Apart from the beetroot which was not cooked enough. This is one of the tastiest lunches I have eaten for a while. Why don’t I roast tomatoes more often?
497 delicious and fabulous calories.I had a lot of work to do today so I was tired by this evening. Harvey still feels off colour and once again wasn’t hungry. I couldn’t be bothered to cook so I cheated tonight.
I heated up this can of Thai vegetable curry and added the cooked Basmati rice I had leftover in the fridge.
I would have liked to add some spinach but I didn’t have any. A little fresh basil would have to do.
This was perfectly adequate. Not amazing but for ease and cheapness it hit the spot tonight.
6 pounds lost eh?
I am just so proud of you and what you have set your mind to do and have accomplished. Keep releasing those pounds and stones. I don’t want you to lose them, co’s they might find you again, so I am officially blogging that you have RELEASED 21 Pounds as of today January 28, 2014. Well done again with the food. I have never heard of lambs lettuce or rocket.
Thank you Laura, your support really helps. You may know rocket as Arugula. Not sure of any other names for lamb’s lettuce but it is delicious. Small and quite a sweet leaf which goes perfectly with peppery rocket.
Yes, of course I know Arugula. I am surprised I didn’t recognize it. Mâche is the only other name I found for Lamb’s Lettuce with a recommendation to plant in late August early September because the heat of summer will make it bolt.
It is very small and succulent and soft. I love it but it is quite a delicacy – the current box is from France so I have it as an occassional treat.
Thanks for filling me in Zoe.
Well done Zoe! What a fabulous achievement in 4 weeks, you should be very proud.
Thank you Debz. I think I am astonished!
Some great recipes again recently. Love the green bean chilli one – not that I have made it yet – and the apple porridge. Where do you get your Chia seeds from? There are loads of on-line options but I am sure you have found a good supplier. gx
Thank you. I like ‘Raw Health’ Chia seeds. I buy pots of their white and black seeds. This is their website – http://www.rawhealth.uk.com
I probably buy mine at Planet Organic but I see Holland and Barret in Derby stock their products. They may not stock chia seeds but their website provides online suppliers too. They are expensive but one pot lasts ages. The white ones are porbably my favourite because they are less gloopy than the black but I like them both 🙂