Monday 23rd April weigh in

glass - thanks very much.

I'm thinking of joining you all (upcoming wedding) - but I don't have any scales. I'd like to ask - does it really matter if I don't have any, or do you consider it absolutely necessary for the 'feel good' (losing) or the 'sad' (gaining) emotional roller-coaster?

Do I need to buy some to join in, or can I just go by the feel of my clothes and the less prominent tummy?

All advice urgently needed!

Help! 5 weeks and counting.

butter you dont need scales. Some people dont get weighed and use the fit of their clothes as a guide, the only problem with that is you can loose a little all over and it may not show in your clothes until the loss is greater. Whereas you can see a loss as small 1/2lb or even less depends on the scales used, but that does give you an instant feel good factor.

You do what you feel comfortable with.

What method were you thinking of using butter restricting certain food or a plan of some kind?

Not running away I will be Back shortly

I can give you some recipes if that would help butter are you vegetarian?

Or I can point you in the right direction to get a healthy eating plan?

Thanks glass.
I'm a demi-veg. and a size 16- tall, wide shouldered, with a waist (just)!

I think I'm comfortable with eating less, but will buy some scales for the duration.
I think I'd just like to 'look' a bit slimmer - being realistic I don't think I am going to change my overall shape now, - but a bit of trimming up would be lovely and feel I need the support.

I shall look forward to joining you all.

Wellcome fat

Butter

Try to limit your bread/ cereal have either two small slices of bread (brown rather than white) a day or 35g of cereal (not sugar coated)/2 weetabix or porridge, but dont have both.

Plenty of fruit and veg, you can have potatoes but be careful.

Dont use oil to cook with try to use Spray light. Try to dry fry if not using Spray.

If you can cut out cheese or limit it for the time being as you only have 5 weeks.

No cakes, biscuits of any kind (sorry).

Make sure you are eating regularly and have a decent size portion enough to satisfy you but dont overfill yourself.

Milk (250ml semi-skimmed or 375ml skimmed) per day.

Red pepper, spinach and sweet potato tortilla
1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/Gas 6. Mix a chopped red onion, 2 sliced (and peeled) sweet potatoes and 1 chopped red pepper together and place on a roasting tin lined with baking parchment.

2. Roast the vegetables for 20-25 minutes, until they’re tender. Five minutes before the end of cooking time, add 1 tsp dried rosemary and a crushed garlic clove and mix well. Remove the vegetables from the oven and reduce the temperature to 180ºC/Gas 4.

3. In a large bowl, whisk 4 eggs then add the roasted vegetables and 60g baby spinach and mix together well. Season to taste.

4. Preheat an 18cm-20cm/7-8inch diameter non-stick, ovenproof frying pan on the hob. Once hot, spray the pan with low calorie cooking spray.

Pour in the eggs and roasted vegetables and then dollop 2 rounded tbsp quark in small spoonfuls over the top. Let the tortilla set slightly on the hob for 1 minute, transfer to the oven and cook for 20 minutes, until set. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

Serve up a slice of red pepper, spinach and sweet potato tortilla with a generous helping of potato salad, made by mixing cooked new potatoes, chopped chives, chopped spring onion and fat free natural fromage frais. Pile lettuce, sliced tomato and cucumber onto the plate for variety and crunch.

Quorn cottage pie

1. Spray a non-stick saucepan with Fry Light and fry 2 chopped onions, 4 chopped carrots and some chopped mushrooms and cook for 5-6 minutes until they start to soften.
2. Add a pack of Quorn mince, 2 tablespoons of Worcester sauce (optional), 2 level tablespoons of tomato purée and half a tin of chopped tomatoes and half a tin of baked beans, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. While the Quorn is simmering, boil some peeled potatoes until tender, then mash them with some fat free natural yogurt, salt, pepper and a sprinkling of mustard powder.
4. Pour the Quorn mixture into an ovenproof dish, spread the mash on top and bake at 200°C for 30 minutes.
Makes 4 servings.

Tropical muesli crunch A good breakfast

In a large sundae glass or bowl, defrost a large portion of mixed tropical fruits and layer with fresh strawberries and fat free natural yogurt. Top with 30g Alpen High-Fibre. Add a teaspoon of granulated sweetener to the yogurt to taste, if preferred.

This is handy if you are out to work or out and about and need to take something with you for lunch time.

In a sandwich box, mix together a large portion of cooked pasta shapes with some tinned mixed beans (in brine or spring water), diced cucumber, grated carrot, sweetcorn and a generous dollop of fat free natural fromage frais and a level tablespoon of extra light mayonnaise (1 Syn). Enjoy with 2 Mini Babybel cheeses, diced and mixed in.

Another good breakfast.

A huge bowl of refreshing orange and grapefruit segments whilst preparing yourself a breakfast for a king – Best ever Quorn sausages (1 Syn each), a mountain of scrambled eggs, grilled tomato wedges, big flat mushrooms fried in one calorie cooking spray or button mushrooms poached in tinned tomatoes and 1 slice wholemeal toast from a thick-cut 800g loaf to soak it all up with

Spicy chilli and butternut squash risotto

1. Bring 852ml/1½ pts stock made with Vecon to the boil in a saucepan. Meanwhile, spray a large non-stick frying pan or saucepan with Fry Light. Add 1 finely chopped red onion, 2 finely chopped cloves of garlic and 1 deseeded and finely sliced chilli, and cook gently for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Increase the heat under the frying pan to medium and add 255g/9oz of Arborio or risotto rice to the pan, along with 140g/5oz chopped butternut squash. Stir in a ladleful of the hot stock.
3. Wait until the stock has been absorbed, then continue to add a ladleful of boiling stock at a time, as soon as each addition of liquid has been absorbed. Stir constantly to prevent it from sticking.
4. Add the stock in this way until the squash and rice are creamy and al dente (tender, but retaining a bite). Season, stir in some parsley and serve.
Makes 4 servings.

For a quick, filling alternative to your Friday night takeaway,

Rustle up your own Chinese delights by heating some Fry Light in a wok, adding some chopped spring onions, red chilli, finely chopped ginger and crushed garlic, fry for a couple of minutes, then throw in a pack of mixed stir-fry veg from the supermarket. If you’re feeling adventurous, add other oriental delights like water chestnuts or lychees! Add lots of Soy sauce to taste, cook for 3 or 4 minutes and serve on a mound of boiled egg noodles.

Here are a few recipes butter to start you off

Oh, glass - That is marvellous! Thank you so much for taking the time to post these ideas. I shall go shopping, after my walk tomorrow, to get all the goodies.

jeni - and a fat to you, too.

Butter Let me know if you need anymore recipes or any help. good luck.

First Jersey Royals in our local supermarket today I can resist chocolate more easily than Jerseys! I had 3 with my dinner, plain boiled and no butter. First potatoes I've eaten for months and they were wonderful. Good job they're only available for a few weeks!

They have a taste of their own notso

Oh! I love them! The only potatoes I like. Must get some!

New Jersey Royals- Yum-yum.Like to eat them alone-boiled and coated with butter .

maniac

12 2 1/4 I think that's down a smidgen?

jeni think you have lost 1 st 2 3/4lb from the weight you recorded last week congratulations

I think you have actually lost 2 3/4lb wow what have you done this week, well done

Wishful thinking! 13 2 1/4

jeni