Lentil Stewp

So, I have ventured into my first recipe post. I apologise for the picture quality, next time I'll get more artsy around the chopping board. A second apology for my rough measurements, I'm very much a guesstimate cook. This is a lentil stewp. Stewp of course being a cross between stew and soup, all depending on how much liquid you add during the cook.

This is a super easy recipe, and it is full of nutrients. Have you been feeling run down recently? Just generally a bit unhealthy? Have you got a bit overexcited with the winter comfort food?

Cook up a big batch of this, and have a bit of a body reset. No, it's perhaps not as aesthetically pleasing as a pizza, but it will leave you feeling so much better.

Makes 8ish Servings

Ingredients:

4 red onions
4 carrots
4-6 sticks of celery
4 cloves of garlic
Parsley (I used dried, but use fresh if you're fancy)
Oil (I use olive but oil's oil)
1 teaspoon of thyme (dried)
1-2 teaspoon of chilli flakes (don't over do the chilli)
200g green lentils
200g red lentils
2 stock cubes (I use vegetable because I'm a vegetablearian but I guess beef might work)
A tin of cannelini beans (think around 400g)

IMPORTANT! IF YOU ARE USING DRIED LENTILS PUT THEM IN A BOWL OF WATER THE NIGHT BEFORE!

I always forget this and then curse myself for being an idiot. It's not an effort just, bowl, lentils, water, fridge, go to bed and forget about it. 

Directions

Get a huge pan, whack it on the stove, drizzle in some oil, and turn on the heat (medium). Whilst that's doing it's thing, chop your onions. Curse the inventor of mascara.

Chuck those babies in the pan, suppress your bitchy thoughts about my dirty stove.

Let them soften a little whilst you are prepping your carrots and celery. You know how to do that, peel, chop, end etc.

Chuck those in. Whilst they get going, get out your garlic crusher. Screw peeling it because, effort. Put the clove straight in the crusher and crush straight into the pan. The skin will be left, scrape that out with a knife, move onto the next clove, feel good about the precious seconds of your life you just saved.

Get a bit sexy with flavour. Shake that stuff like a polaroid picture all around the pan. Get your spoon and give it a stir. It wants it.

Now play hard to get. Put the lid on it and leave to cook for about 15 minutes or until the vegetables have softened.

You can play the field a bit now, go to the sink drain your lentils...

Use the kettle and make up about a pint of stock (more if you want soup, less if you want stew)

Double check the veggies are soft and then add your lentils and stock. Simmer until the lentils are soft. I'm afraid you're going to have to do some more reading here because it depends what it says on your packet. My lentils take 35 minutes. Suck it.

Now add your beans, simmer for a further ten minutes, than add a sprinkling (too much and you'd die, probably) of pepper and parsley. Stir, stir, stir, then serve. Have bread with it if you want.

If you don't feel like eating all 8 servings at once, pour it into containers and fridge or freeze it for instant goodness later in the week.

A week in the life of a former fat girl

Okay so I'm still a little bit fat. But I'm getting there, slowly.

When I'm really on form and dedicated, I surprise myself so much. My willpower can be amazing sometimes. After last weekend's disgusting overindulgence, I promised myself to get right back on it and have the perfect week. See for yourself:

MONDAY

Breakfast: 2 Weetabix with skimmed milk, mixed berries and chopped banana
Lunch: Home made vegetable soup, 1 slice multi grain seeded bread
Dinner: Shepherd's pie with sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and chilli cheese topped loaf
Snack: 3 pieces Cadbury Jelly Popping Candy Shells chocolate

After the weekend binge, it feels really good to be back on track again. I didn't have much to eat during the day then I had a beautiful home made shepherd's pie (perks of having a boyfriend who can cook) with loads of veg and a piece of chilli and cheese topped tear and share bread. Yummy! It was nice to have a little chocolate treat at the end too. I always feel wrong if I don't have something sweet after dinner. I stopped at just 3 pieces though and I even said no to some lemon cheesecake! Proud of my willpower!

TUESDAY

Breakfast: 2 Weetabix with skimmed milk, mixed berries and chopped banana.
Lunch: Home made vegetable soup
Snack: Pepsi Max, chocolate chip mini chinois
Dinner: Chicken fajitas with peppers, onion, tomatoes, cheese, salsa and jalapenos
Snack: Natural yogurt, drizzle of golden syrup and a crushed up chocolate digestive

Even the picture of that mini chinois makes my mouth water. Dad had the bright idea of buying them when he went to Aldi one time and now they seem to always be in the house... so hard to resist! They're only about 150 calories so not too bad, if you can just stop at one that is! I love my carbs too much. Still a pretty good day though. Mexican food is my all time favourite and I love to overfill my fajitas with loads of veg so I only have to eat two wraps. Packed with jalapenos too!


WEDNESDAY

Snack: Cup of tea, small glass of orange juice
Breakfast: Smoothie with banana, berries, yogurt, oats, protein and skimmed milk
Snack: 2 hard boiled eggs, shredded wheat
Lunch: Ham and cheese roll, apple
Snack: Flapjack high protein oat bar
Dinner: BBQ chicken breasts and pilau rice

Snack: Spearmint and chamomile tea, low fat yogurt with frozen mixed berries

Exercise: PT session, swimming, boot camp

Wednesday is usually my crazy exercise day so I eat more to make sure I have enough energy for my workouts. Started with an hour PT session in the morning where I pulled a muscle for the first time ever. Great! That was followed by an induction at the new gym (learnt how to use equipment in the scary free weights zone) and did a bit of swim, steam and sauna. Boot camp in the evening which consisted of lots of squats, lunges, crunching, boxing and way too many burpees! Feel amazing after all that and pleased that my eating is still on track too.


THURSDAY
Breakfast: Smoothie with chocolate/banana protein, peanut butter, oats and milk

Lunch: Diet Coke, bacon and egg roll

Snack: Asda baby potato and egg salad, salt and vinegar Squares
Dinner: Home made vegetable soup, 1 slice multigrain bread

Snack: Pepsi Max cherry, Malteser reindeer
 
Exercise: 40 mins gym

I walked half an hour to the gym this morning only to find out that Zumba wasn't actually on. I went into the gym and just did some of the exercises we do with the PT to make up for it. Was naughty and went for a big bacon and egg butty after but it was filling and full of protein! I couldn't resist buying a small chocolate snack to eat after work because that's what I crave when I'm tired. I'm gutted that MaltEaster Bunnies aren't just for Easter now because they have made special Christmas ones. Too much temptation!


FRIDAY
Breakfast: Smoothie with banana, berries, yogurt, oats, protein and skimmed milk
Snack: Chocolate peanut butter protein bar, 2 cups tea no sugar
Lunch: Asda Mexican chilli chicken snack pot
Snack: Pepsi Max cherry, Skips
Dinner: Home made vegetable soup, white roll
Snack: Malteser Reindeer

Exercise: Circuit Training

Long day! Had circuit training early this morning and then straight to start work at my new job in a cafe/cake shop. I'm really pleased that I managed to resist all the delicious cakes and pastries and scones and bacon rolls that were on offer today! Tomorrow is the grand opening of the shop though so I'm sure I can allow myself a few tasters and freebies. I am working from 8am-9pm (the pleasures of having two jobs) so I'm just going to try my hardest to resist snacking on junk food like I usually do when I'm tired.

SATURDAY

Breakfast: Croissant with light butter
Snack: 2 bite size cupcakes, Diet Coke
Lunch: Tuna mayo sandwich on brown bread with salad and a handful of plain crisps
Snack: Piece of tiffin, white hazelnut hot chocolate with skimmed milk
Dinner: Home made vegetable soup, 1 small slice brown bread

I think I've done considerably well today; I resisted most of the yummy baked goods that were on offer except a croissant and a few nibbles. Not the best lunch either but it could have been a lot worse. The first day of work being open was a success and the best part is I get to wear a bright pink apron as my uniform! Apart from for a grand total of about 1.5 hours today, I've been on my feet walking around for 14 hours so I think that makes up for my food choices. It has been a very long day and I can't wait to go to bed!

SUNDAY

Breakfast: Chocolate chip protein bar
Lunch: Wetherspoons chicken breast and pepper skewers, BBQ sauce
Drinks: Way too many
Drunken eating: Chicken chow mein, chips

Exercise: Circuit Training

Sunday was always planned as my cheat day; we had planned to go have a nice meal in a new restaurant that has just opened but we got sidetracked by all the drinks.... I started off well and was just drinking double Disaronnos with Diet Coke but then I had a few too many beers. Didn't really need the chow mein on the way home either (although I did only have half). Nevermind! At least I went to the gym in the morning and I know that one blow out isn't enough to ruin a whole week's hard work. It was a really fun day as well.


So there you have it. It's not perfect, but it's realistic. I can keep up with this lifestyle without feeling like I'm depriving myself of certain things. If I eat right 6 days out of 7 and go to the gym as much as I can, I will get where I want to be in no time!

What Colour Is Your Hair?

So sorry I haven't written a whole lot recently, except my sugar update mnnnhheeere (SUGAR), but I have been going through the second loss of a family member this year. My nan passed at the beginning of this week, and it's all been a bit sheet.

When I found out she was going to die, I thought fuck this I'm dyeing my hair. What the beejizz does that have to do with anything, you may ask. I don't know, something to do with control is probably what a psych would say.

Being poor, I ruled out going to a hairdressers. Being absolute POV, I ruled out buying a home hair dye. So instead I rummaged in my drawers and found a 5 year old bottle of Stargazer Plume. Yeah, it'd been open for half a decade but whatevs. COLOUR! YEAH! Surprisingly the hair dye didn't boil my head or anything, and that little sign on the box saying use within 12 months is all bull, except for the fact the colour is a bit different.

Here are the results below:

Which got me to thinking just how much I love dying my hair. Since the age of 10 I have been about every colour under the sun, which I have rounded up with whatever photos I could find below. Yeah there's lots of photos of myself but shut up, all my loved ones keep dying. (Literally, can't get enough of this new level of awkward humour I have, always look on the bright side etc).

So this is the hair colour I was born with, apparently as a baby I looked bald as my hair was so fine and light.

How about a vintage Scotch & Cassius photo, taken on such an old phone that is literally as big as it can get. YES, that is brown hair with one blonde streak. NO, I don't know why.

Bright Fuschia. This was a manic panic RED dye, that decided to be neon pink on my hair, so I went with it.

 

Mid brown, forever emblazoned on my driver's licence and therefore I always get double looks at checkouts.

Chocolate, I actually had this one professionally done and I loved it but couldn't afford the upkeep.

Pretty sure this is Stargazer Rouge, which actually means this Plume hair dye I'm using is 7 years old because I bought them at the same time. Ooops.

 It's hard to see in this picture but this was more of a black/brown. And of course I still had that blond streak (whhhhhy?)

 Caramel brown, also a bit ginge. This was when I worked at a hair dressers (it lasted two weeks I quit due to boredom, love of hair dye does not equal a great hairdresser!), you can tell because my ends look healthy and fresh cut.

 Caramel blond, with a sweepy. Perhaps the posiest photo I've ever done. I can already hear you saying "You mean besides absolutely all of these photos?"

 Redish wine, I really liked this colour but this is the only photo I can find of it. I was obviously not feeling as photogenic that week...

 Golden blonde. I like it because it's shiny. At times I dislike it because it reminds me of a labrador.

 Ice white plus fringe. I love being this light because it's as I was born but you can tell it's drying. I adore fringes but I'm to lazy to keep them.

 

Here's me and my dad just looking wonderful. This purple was to cover the fuschia above, as the supermarket I was working for threatened to sack me for having an unnatural hair colour (of course purple is perfectly natural. I quit soon after) I dislike the cut here think I look a bit too butch for my liking.

 Ash blonde and blue.

Not really, this isn't me. but I like the blue/blonde combo.

Not pictured because they are forever lost in time:

Grey. A semi permanent black gone wrong. I was a sort of bluey/green/gray for some weeks, I went with it.

Ginger. The very first dye I ever used was called copper blonde. So was something along these lines:

 Because that's what all 10 year olds wanted in 2001. Right?

So what should I do next?

Payday wishlist

I haven't been paid for any work since the 30th August when I left my previous job and moved down to England so it's safe to say that I am very ready for this! Friday is the day and it's been a long time coming. I'm only on part time hours so I won't be getting a huge amount but it will be nice to treat myself. I've already discovered that I want everything from boohoo.com and New Look but I'm going to have to be very picky with what I choose. Getting paid monthly now means I have to be careful with how I spend my money. Here are the things that top my wishlist:

♥ Tartan winter coat - Primark
I don't have a picture of this because Primark are yet to sell online (grrrr) but it will be mine! I don't have a proper winter coat so I need something to keep me warm during these chilly months.

♥ Red Tartan Sweetheart Dress - New Look (link)
It's red. It's tartan. It's a dress. It's definitely for me.

♥ Sheep Jumper - New Look (link)
I love jumpers and I love winter because it gives me a perfect excuse to wear them. This one just suits me to a tee. They only have the plus size jumper online at the moment which means I'll have to venture into the store itself. This will be bad because I won't be able to resist the shoe section!

♥ Jerome Russel powder bleach and Directions poppy red hair dye
My roots are so very bad and desperately need sorting! It's bad to bleach your hair but I need to in order for the red to cover my natural colour properly. Directions hair dye is semi permanent but it comes in a range of awesome colours. Just be careful of your bath and shower because it can stain! I usually buy mine off Ebay because you can get some good deals.

♥ All the make up
I was in Boots today eyeing up all the products I need to buy. I always seem to run out of everything all at once so it makes for a very expensive shopping trip. £3 off lots of Max Factor products at the moment though! These are all on my 'to buy' list:

- Max Factor Facefinity 3 in 1 Foundation
- Max Factor Facefinity Compact
- Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner
- Rimmel HD 5 Pan Eyeshadow
- Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil
- Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara (free when you spend £10 on Rimmel)


♥ Kitten Mittens - Primark
Crazy cat lady strikes again. These are just too cute NOT to buy!

♥ Baby clothes/accessories
My sister is due on the 3rd January and I've been dying to start buying things for my new niece/nephew! I'm thinking tartan booties, moustache dummies and something very similar to these:

If you think I'm cute, you should see my auntie

Hurry up Friday!

Surviving a binge (aka getting back on the wagon)

We've all been there. You're doing so well on your weight loss/healthy eating journey and then, somehow, you go temporarily insane and have the dreaded binge! This weekend I think I ate more than anyone's ever eaten in three days. I had planned the Indian takeaway and treats on Friday night. That's fine, it's good to have a treat. What I didn't plan was the 12 hour drinking session and disgusting kebab shop chips, cheese and doner meat on the Saturday. Then of course there's the excessive hangover recovery eating the whole next day. Eurgh.

This happens to me way too much. I used to get really down about it and it would spark an eating frenzy for the next month or so. I think I've learnt to take the good with the bad now and I'm getting better at just accepting my failure and moving on.

People forget this very simple fact:

Losing weight isn't easy and it's never going to be a perfect journey, unless you have unlimited amounts of money and willpower. I certainly don't. I try to remember a few very important things when I'm feeling rubbish after a binge.

START NOW! One thing that really annoys me is when I see 'diet starts on Monday' or 'eating right again from tomorrow.' Why tomorrow? Surely it's better to start straight away! Put down the burger and go for a run NOW.

You didn't put on all that weight in a weekend. So it's not going to happen again. In the same way that it's not going to come off overnight either. It's a process and a lifestyle. As long as I am generally going in the right direction 90% of the time, I feel okay. Yes it's annoying when you feel like you just keep getting distracted and stalling but all is not lost!

Exercise is important. When I eat rubbish and sit on the sofa all day, I feel disgusting. When I'm exercising, I find it easier to eat right. REMEMBER THIS. Somehow, it always seems to slip my mind though. It can just take me a week of not going to the gym to completely forget the amazing feeling it gives me and I start to dread going. I don't know why this happens. As soon as I brave the first workout, I feel amazing again and it spurs me on to keep it up.

Water, water, water. When you step on the scale after a binge weekend, you haven't really put on 7lbs. Most of the time it's just water weight. When we eat excess amounts of salt and (for me personally) carbs, our bodies balloon up and we store lots of water. The only way to get rid of this is, weirdly, to drink more water! It's important to keep hydrated anyway, even if you haven't fallen off the wagon.

Treats are good. I like to have a few treats or 'cheats' to keep me sane. If I didn't allow myself chocolate or cake ever, I know I wouldn't last a week. It's important to allow yourself 'naughty' things once in a while. Diets just don't work. You need to work out a lifestyle that you can keep up every day.

Plan your meals. It helps me a lot to keep a food diary. If all my meals and snacks are written down for the week or at least the day, I find it easier to stick to it. If you deviate a little, it's okay, as long as you generally follow what you set out to do. Try it for a week and see if it works for you.

I read this very interesting article once and have never forgotten it: http://www.healthdiscovery.net/articles/scale_lies.htm It taught me not to rely on the scale so much; it's more important how you look and how you feel.

So if you have a disappointing weekend or few days, do not despair! Just try and think about the bigger picture and start introducing healthy habits back into your life slowly.

You can do it!