Help, I need to get into my jeans - anyone want to join me for a September challenge?

[thatsnotmyfruitshoot]

Just put all my loose linen summer numbers in the loft and realised I'm bulging out of all the lovely jeans I planned to wear this autumn. Going away for half term so it would be great to be a size smaller by then.

I'm 5ft 7 and need to lose about 20lbs to be at my most comfortable, so not drastic, but enough that I'm feeling really lardy, and need to do something before I gain any more.

My plan is to eat healthily (using food focus website to keep me on straight and narrow..) - boiled egg and slice of toast with grilled mushrooms for breakfast (totally fills me up), then soup for lunch and something with veg for dinner. One treat meal at the weekend. 30 mins exercise a day (either running or exercise dvd)

Please come and join me, I'm hopeless when left to my own devices..!!

ooh yes timba keep meaning to do that - apparently putting a wet kitchen towel over the crudites keeps them from going dry :) and I'm planning to use parsnip next time I do a soup! what else are you putting in?

my lentil stew was ok - definitely not my best though. needed a wholemeal roll with it - I think from now on I won't bother putting any meat in at all.

anyway I've done well considering the sh*t this day has thrown at me - DD threw a massive strop, I think she had a bad dream last night as she's been uber clingy all day, she's missing nursery for the first time :( and I'm now even more behind on my maths assignment. I'm sooooo tired.

good thing I don't have anything unhealthy in!

hmmm... just really pigged out...

but it was only grapes, so that's ok right?!

Algebra - hope your day gets better :)

Bra - I just do a plain parsnip soup. Will post it here later. It is really tasty.

Can you post your lentil stew please. Am always looking for new ways with lentils.

I am a bit intolerant of bread so find it easier to just go without but if you count it then surely you can have a roll?? Or is that the start of the slippery slope for you ... as cheese is for me?

Good ideas for parties Proper.

Hello again,

Timbachick this is a delicious lentil and bacon (if you eat meat) soup lentil bacon soup I can testify to it, as a big pot is now sitting on my stove ready for supper

Shaxx, Have you read the Idiot Proof Diet? Not everyone can get on with the diet itself, (although I really like it), but it's brilliant on identifying pitfalls and strategies and how to overcome events and things - it really changed the way I think about food. You can always find it in local charity bookshops (perhaps other people don't find it so helpful ), or it's on Amazon. Oh, and this is the outfit I like for Xmas will be looking for a slightly less expensive version What do you think?

Algebra have you ever tried frozen grapes? One, they're delicious and two, you can't eat as many!

Have forced myself to do an exercise DVD and am going to go out for a walk with my little boy. Who is going to go to school, school, in 10 days. My little man.

Sorry that link to the soup doesn't seem to be working. I'll try again and if not, I'll C&P it.

www.mediterrasian.com/delicious_recipes_lentil_bacon_soup.htm here]]

Aaargh.

here

with the lentil stew, I basically just soften some onion or leek in a little butter, then tip in a load of red lentils and water/stock, and chuck in whatever other veggies are around! it can be quite nice with bits of cooked chicken/turkey. also mum taught me how to make a dahl with garlic, bacon, cauliflower and turmeric.

I really need to chill today, I'm so tired and am wallowing in self pity! just feel really hungry so have eaten too much I think, but at least it's all been decent stuff. I have resisted DH's coco pops and the chocolate spread :)

'fraid I have asked DH to pick me up a pepsi max though - I neeeeeed caffeine. gotta burn the midnight oil with maths later or I'll never get it done! oh well it's calorie free right...

quibbler frozen grapes sound yummy thanks :)

Thank quibbler and Bra - I will try those. Do you find the lentils themselves make it go nice and thick?

Quibbler - love that outfit. Really nice . Will also try the frozen grapes - they sound delicious.

Bra - hope your work goes well tonight. I remember the days of cramming, big time . I wish you a sugar free night

Hi everyone,

Am still doing well. Very annoyed at Waitrose though as they aren't doing the red cabbage/beetroot in red wine vinegar on their salad cart thing at the moment which was the only thing that made my salads edible . I will have to attempt to make it myself I guess but doubt it will be as nice....

Anyway started August at 12 stone and am 11st 6 this morning (and I was on and off the diet for the whole month so hopefully if I stick to it I can easily be in the 10's again soon :)

yes exactly, the lentils thicken it up really nicely so no need for flour etc. yum :)

same with the soups I make - put a couple of potatoes in with all the veg and the starch makes it thicker.

Bra - good luck with the Maths!

Quibbler Love the skirt - and I love Frozen grapes.

Have been really good and have Mint and Pea salad for dinner rather than a Friday 'treat' takeaway! But I am taking DS1 to the cinema tomorrow so will have to avoid sweets and popcorn, plus we are going to Bella Italia afterwards

Out for dinner in a bit - I've had a no carb day, so am going for two low carb courses and no wine. That is the plan, anyway

Well I had salmon baked with a dab of pesto and some salad for dinner. Put balsamin vinegar on the salad which was always free on SW.

Spoiled it a bit by having a small amount of Ben and Jerrys.

Viva - a little bit wont hurt, thats what I tell myself :)

Phaseolus - enjoy the meal out.

mmmm Ben and Jerry's. Must resist.

Thanks for the ideas. I think I'll just eat apples before meals.
Its a good strategy. Check this out;

www.bookarmy.com/Books/9780767920414_The_3_Apple_A_Day_Plan_Your_Foundation_For_Permanent_Fat_Loss.aspx

Quibbler, I have heard about that diet but just thought it was another low gi one. I'll see if I can find it at the library.
That skirt is gorgeous. I think you should print several copies of it and stick it on your fridge and in your cupboards

Algebra, well done for being healthy on a challenging day. You'll feel really good about it tomorrow morning.

Phase enjoy your meal out.

I made lamb rogan josh (bbcgoodfood recipe) for dinner and had that with no rice or anything. It was really delicious.

I'm hoping to go to the gym about 7.30 today and run on the treadmill.

No more food for me today. I'll relax with no Ben and Jerry's and a cup of herbal tea this evening

Shaxx - do you think the Rogan Josh would work with Chicken. I dont like lamb but could use a nice curry recipe as I normally make a korma.

Hi Shade - hope you don't mind me butting in but I make curry quite regularly and have it on fairly good authority that you can substitute meat in most recipes. Lamb and chicken are, as far as Anjum Anand is concerned, adaptable to other recipes so feel free to swap away.

Hope you have a great meal out phase

Hope you enjoy the party shaxx

Hi Nikki* hope you have had a good day?

I had chicken stir fry with noodles for my dinner. Lovely

Phew! back from the gym. I'm really enjoying running but I wish we had tv screens in my gym. Its a bit boring looking at a blank wall!
In my previous gym, they had about 5 screens and you just chose the sound channel for your headphones. It was so much more fun exercising to an episode of Friends or Eastenders!

Shade, Timbachick is right and the curry would def work with chicken but check out some chicken curry recipes too on bbcgoodfood and look out for the ones with the best reviews.

Timba your dinner sounds yummy. Do you follow a particular recipe? I'm always looking for good stir fry sauces.

I probably won't get a chance to post tomorrow so I hope everyone has a good day.
Be good!!

Chicken stir fry here as well and a glass of wine.
Weekends are the worst for me so trying to plan well.
I'll do the long dog walk in the morning and avoid the bacon sarnie breakfast!!

Shaxx - no recipe just whatever veggies I have and a bit of meat. It's the kind of meal that used very little meat and goes a long way. I add soya sauce as I go and sometimes a bit of chinese cooking wine, also garlic salt and chinese 5 spice. Have a fab day tomorrow.

shade - Anjum Anand's books are very good. The bbc good food website is fab, as is deliciousmagazine.co.uk and deliaonline.co.uk - both good for recipes. Good Housekeeping mag has a website which has a recipe category which can also be useful.

walker - the weekends are often the hardest as everyone is around and it just seems they are all after food ALL the time . Try to plan ahead and have plenty of veggies cut up to nibble on and fruit.

Hope everyone has a good weekend

timba yeah i have the recipe, they are lovely
i neede more inspiration lol

today had
no breakfast
did 2 hours housework
tuna pasta sweetcorn (free,mayo 2 sins) for dinner
2.5 hours ironing
beans(free) on toast(healthy b ,flora 2 syns)as a late afternoon snack
banana
and just had 2 jackept potatoes with beans and cheese (healthy a and free)whist dh and ds tuck into a dominoes pizza
oh and an echo bar or 2

had about 20 sins in total, im probz only allowed 15, but will just have 10 tomorrow....

Feeling very virtous as I have managed to resist the temptation of a glass of red wine.

I find evenings the hardest time to stay on course on a diet. Having spent all day running around after DD and DS, I find it very easy to justify that glass of wine which then leads to another and the bags of crisps come out.

Which Gyms do people go to? I would love to join one but there are so many to choose from!