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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Nothing Tastes As Good As Slim Feels Part 4

727 replies

knottyhair · 03/09/2011 09:04

Whoops. Managed to fill it up again! Hope it's OK to start a new one. Let's keep going everyone - big zonetastic push up to the festive season!!

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dinkystinky · 17/10/2011 13:21

Yes much better thanks TDW - did outdoor PT session yesterday at 8am (brr, that was cold) and bodycombat session just now and feeling tonnes better. Made a lovely morrocan chicken stew in the slow cooker over the weekend which was lovely. Have bought some venison to do venison stew at some point this week - heavy on the veg and lighter on the carbs for me version - which am v much lookign forward to.

TDW, remember - the same principles apply if you dont want to put on too much weight in pregnancy: one little treat a day and eat healthily the rest of the time - and drink lots of water and get some exercise (though not hardcore exercise) in.

knottyhair · 17/10/2011 14:06

Glad you're feeling better Dinky, and the stew sounds gorgeous. And glad you've no morning sickness TDW. With DS I wasn't actually sick much but had travel sickness type feelings from when I got up to about 11am and then from about 6 until bedtime - horrible.

The toffee apple cake recipe is in the Good Food mag November issue but I don't think they've updated the website yet so here it is:

200g dates, roughly chopped
200ml milk, plus a splash
250g softened butter
280g self raising flour
200g soft brown sugar
half tsp baking powder
4 large eggs
1 tbsp mixed spice
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 small red apples
squeeze lemon juice
handful of toffees
icing sugar for dusting (although I didn't bother - too sweet for me!)

Heat the oven to 180 (160 fan) gas 4. Grease & line a 20 x 30cm baking tray with baking parchment. Put the dates and milk in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and set aside for 15 mins to cool.
Whizz the date mixture to a smooth puree in a food processor or blender, then scrape into a large mixing bowl. Tip in the butter, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, eggs, mixed spice and vanilla, and set aside while you prepare the apples. Quarter and core the apples, then slice quite thinly, tossing in a little lemon juice as you go. Quickly beat together the cake ingredients with an electric whisk until smooth, then scrape into the baking tray. Arrange the apple slices, overlapping in rows on top of the cake. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a skewer poked into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the tray.
Put the toffees in a small pan with a good splash of milk and gently melt, stirring, until runny. To finish, dust with icing sugar (if you want to), then drizzle the sauce all over the cake. Should cut into 15 squares - 327 cals per square.
Nice with a cup of tea or warm with a bit of cream.

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BelleEnd · 17/10/2011 15:22

Ooooh that cake sounds amazing!

I am carb hungry today. Think it's because of horribly heavy AF.

thedogwalker · 17/10/2011 20:16

Yipee managed to stay under my calorie allowance today, chuffed that I've not biffed today Smile.
Knotty I didn't have Morning sickness with DS either but this time I am getting dizzy spells. They only last for a few minutes but they are rather annoying . Hope everyone else has had a good day xx

LadyBuzz · 17/10/2011 21:34

Hello ladies, I'm not liking this back at work malarkey, I'm only in 1 day and struggling to MN Grin

STS for me last week followed by a bad weekend with lots of treats Blush

But my niece asked me to be her best woman when she gets married next summer so I now have another goal to spur me on, I need to get my skates on before she wants to start dress shopping.

Back on MFP today!

dinky are you feeling any better now?

jam hope the leg is ok.

knottyhair · 18/10/2011 11:23

TDW, hope your dizzy spells subside soon. LadyBuzz, well done on your STS and congrats on being a best woman! Will you be making a speech??
Did a L2 Shred this morning, then had to walk round to my friend's house for a hot shower as our boiler is definitely on the way out and DP is against the clock trying to sort out the new one. There's nothing like cold air on wet hair, is there? Bean soup again for lunch with maybe some bread & speck, then sticky chinese chicken with brown rice & broccoli for dinner. Have a good one xx

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BelleEnd · 18/10/2011 11:54

Ooooh LadyBuzz That is so lovely that your niece thinks that much of you that she wants you to be her best woman! Congratulations!
Knotty How annoying about the boiler, though I am well impressed that your DP can deal with such things. Mine can write poetry but has no idea about practical stuff! :o
TDW Ugh, dizzy spells. How horrible. I didn't have them whilst pregnant but I do suffer from Meniere's disease so I know that dizzy feeling only too well! Make sure you have plenty of sleep...

I have just been prescribed the pill, and I'm a bit nervous because I really don't want to put any weight on because of it. But condoms annoy me and I don't want the coil as I am hoping to convince DH to ttc soon. So I'll keep an eye on it and see how we go.

dinkystinky · 18/10/2011 17:34

Knotty - now is not the time to be without a boiler! Hope your DH gets it sorted soon. Till then perhaps lots of starjumps to keep yourself warm? Grin

Lady - how lovely about your niece! Good to have something to slim for.

Belle - I didnt actually put on any weight when on the pill (mind you that was a good few years ago) so hopefully you wont either.

TDW - hope the dizzy spells stage passes soon.

Am off out for a hot stone massage and use of spa facilities with DH tonight (belated anniversary present - from July Blush) which am looking forward to. Will let you know if it manages to get rid of all my aches and tensions tomorrow.

knottyhair · 18/10/2011 17:42

Belle, good luck with the pill - hopefully you'll be OK on it. Oh poetry, how romantic! Mind you, I'm finding the idea of a hot shower in my own house quite romantic at the moment Grin. Dinky, a hot stone massage sounds gorgeous, I could definitely do with one of those. DP is doing all he can in the time he's got, but as it's all linked into the underfloor heating he's putting in, and it's some sort of new-fangled massive NIBE boiler (I've got no idea what I'm saying), it's all a bit complicated. However, the underfloor heating is working in the kitchen/breakfast room which gives some heat to what we are currently using as our living room so we're warm! It's just the bloody hot water - thank god my friend made such a kind offer. Not sure how much she'd like DP & DS trooping round there tonight though if he can't get it going! Could be boiling the kettle for a strip wash with a flannel! (Not really what he wants after a day outside on a building site Sad).

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justaminute · 18/10/2011 21:53

eeek to the strip wash Knotty. How about hosing dh down in the garden - that should get him sorting the boiler pdq Grin

Ladybuzz - I so know what you mean about work interferring with MN time! thankfully though the lack of personal internet access and no mobile signal are the only downsides to the new job so far. Hope yours is going OK.

Dinky - I think I'm coming down with your bug now. Grrr... thanks for sharing!Wink.

The leg/ankle is slowly getting better although it's still not right. The lack of exercise, a family party (aka biff weekend) and comfort eating (feeding my cold) is not going to be good for the scales this week. Ho hum.

knottyhair · 19/10/2011 09:45

JAM, thankfully DP didn't have to revert to a seventies childhood strip wash! Glad your ankle is feeling better, but sorry you're feeling so rubbish. It is bloody freezing this morning. I managed 4 circuits of NMTZ before the school run and then got so cold, "had to" have toast & peanut buttocks when I got back. Bean soup (again, but I do like it!) for lunch, and I'm trying a recipe for dinner that will either be lovely or horrible - a sort of curry made with quorn sausages and baked beans! Am slightly worried about the effect on DP's system - ahem. Have a good day xx

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dinkystinky · 19/10/2011 10:07

Morning all - Knotty didnt have the massage in the end as the bloody spa lost our booking (despite the fact I booked and got confirmation by email and text months ago) grr so went out for dinner at Vinoteca instead - not v zone like but lots of fun and we were back home for 9.30!

BelleEnd · 19/10/2011 12:51

ROFL at "toast and peanut buttocks" :o :o :o

dinkystinky · 19/10/2011 14:58

I missed that belle - brilliant Grin

knottyhair · 20/10/2011 10:05

Aah, Dinky, what a shame about your massage - how fecking annoying! Glad you enjoyed your meal though, and I like to be home for 9.30 Grin. And I can't take the credit for inventing peanut buttocks - my best friend always says it and it's very catching!

Having a rest day from exercise today. Was due to anyway but had a bit of pain in my back last night which has been niggling for a few days, so I think it's just as well. Going to see how I am in the morning. Finishing off the bean soup for lunch with some left over Quorn sausage and some sort of mini roast for dinner depending on what is reduced in Waitrose this morning! Will have it with roast potatoes, kale & runner beans. Hope you're all having a good day xx

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dinkystinky · 20/10/2011 10:39

Knotty - if you're getting back pain may be worth trying to work in a rest/stretch day into your week, with some yoga or pilates or just a long Davina stretch session. Not sure how good the stretches are in Jillians other DVDs but know that the shred stretches are rubbish - may help ease the niggles.

Yes was v annoyed about the massage at the time but has been rebooked for December so will be a nice pre-xmas treat.

BelleEnd · 20/10/2011 14:39

Weigh in today as I'm away tomorrow and it's an STS. A week's holiday to come, so I am taking a break for that week. Shall have to work hard after coming back to get rid of all the nice holiday food I'm about to scoff! :o

knottyhair · 20/10/2011 14:54

Thanks Dinky Smile. I've had a slightly dodgy back for a good few years - apparently caused by either a wonky pelvis or one leg being slightly shorter than the other Confused. Saw an osteopath for a while which really helped but can't afford it now. Totally agree about the Shred cool down but I always do longer. I might well do some stretching in the morning if I've got time but DS has an inset day and we're off out fairly early. We're also away this weekend so might just give it a few days off and get back to it next week. Belle, have a lovely holiday - where are you off to?

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justaminute · 21/10/2011 11:01

Enjoy your breaks Knotty & Belle.

Amazingly on a diet of jaffa cakes and crunchies I have managed to STS. Must try harder next week.

dinkystinky · 21/10/2011 11:46

Have a lovely break Knotty and Belle.

Too hungover this morning to weigh in (drinks with some other mums from school last night) but weighed self at gym yesterday and am apparently back to 10 stone 7lbs - so my goal of being at 10 stone for my birthday seems as far away as ever. Sigh.

Impressed you sts'ed JAM - roll on the huge loss next week...

knottyhair · 21/10/2011 14:53

JAM well done on STS! Dinky, is that a gain? You haven't been well though so don't be too hard on yourself. Hope last night was worth the hangover Smile!

I weighed in this morning at 8st 12 which is about 2lb down in the month since I started trying to maintain, so I guess it's going OK. I've been nearly up to my allowance most days, and a bit over on a couple of days but I think I'm more active than I put down. I'd rather leave it as it is and give myself a bit of leeway for days like today when I had a cappucino with sugar and one & a half cookies Blush. Also away this weekend staying with friends in Bristol - bound to be lovely food & wine. Hopefully it will all balance out. Been to a new soft play place this morning (DS on an inset day). Minestrone soup and some prawns for lunch and pasta with cabbage & bacon later. Good luck to those still to WI xx

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LadyBuzz · 21/10/2011 19:12

STS here too, I really haven't been trying though so i'm very happy with that.

knotty I also have a dodgy pelvis most annoying when it flares up.

Busy busy here, my SIL is moving in with us for a while which has forced me to clear out all of my crap (or move it somewhere else) but we will have a built in baby sitter for a few weeks which is fab!

enjoys your jollies belle & knotty.

knottyhair · 24/10/2011 09:01

Morning! Hope everyone had a good weekend. Well done on STS LadyBuzz.
Had a lovely time in Bristol but ate FAR too much on Saturday - ham & cheese crepes, nibbles with wine, figs, parma ham & mozzarella, followed by roast pork with crackling, roast potatoes, red cabbage, then chocolate pots & cream. It was fab Smile! The journey back yesterday was a bit slow so ended up pulling into services at 4 for cappuccinos and mini yum yums Blush. Still, back to it today. Got to walk into town with DS for last bits of halloween plastic tut decorations etc. Could be a bit hit & miss this week though - DS's best friend's birthday party on Wednesday (adults as well, will involve Cava and crisps, oh dear). Then we're away again to another friend's who always cooks lovely stuff, plus we're doing a Halloween party on Sunday afternoon/eve. Will try to do well inbetween! Have a good day xx

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dinkystinky · 25/10/2011 11:42

Hi all - quiet on here! Sounds like you had a lovely weekedn Knotty and have more fun ahead of you. Enjoy. Have a stinking cold again now - sigh - so exercise is kind of out (trying to do body balance and pilates instead of hard core cardio and weights but hard to do when having to blow your nose all the time!) and feeling v meh! Oh well, at least I have 2 days in Dorset to look forward to at the end fo the week. Hope everyone has a lovely half term.

knottyhair · 25/10/2011 11:53

Sorry you're feeling rubbish again Dinky! Hope you feel better soon and enjoy Dorset. Feel not quite right myself this morning, the beginnings of a "funny throat". Am doing a stir-fry for dinner later and will lace it with plenty of garlic & ginger in an effort to see any bugs off. Did L3 Shred this morning before I started feeling odd (1st proper exercise in 5 days due to twingy back and being away) - I could definitely tell I'd had a break! Hope everyone's off doing nice things x

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