I have just completed my first week of Slimming World meals. It hasn’t been too tricky. I have yet to be weighed though. Hope I have lost some!
The programme has been pretty easy to follow. I just had to grasp a few basic principles. We eat a lot of the food that is ‘free’ (ie you can eat as much as you like) with Slimming World anyway. Fruit, vegetables, potatoes – even pasta! You can eat as much of each as you fancy, which helps with any hunger pangs. Mr S doesn’t really need to lose a lot. He is joining in but not giving up the beer yet…
One thing I have been impressed by is that the Slimming World programme is budget friendly. I didn’t have to buy loads of special low calorie food and can get pretty much everything in Aldi.
The main thing I have cut out this week is bread. I know if I eat a lot of it I get really bloated so feel better without it. I have also knocked the chocolate on the head, although I did buy some low fat chocolate mousses in case I was desperate. Fortunately they are not delicious so are pretty easy to resist!
Meal planning is even more important when you are following a slimming plan, otherwise it is almost impossible to make the kind of meals that are likely to help you lose weight. I have also been buying a ton of fruit for snacking, as well as fat free yogurt.
I am still having a tipple in the evening sometimes, but have swapped my usual white wine for gin and slimline tonic.
A week of Slimming World meals
Saturday
Basque fish stew with potatoes and loads of vegetables. This is on the Slimming World website, which you have to be a member to access, but it’s a bit like this one.
Sunday
Veggie sausages, mash, vegetables and gravy. We might go out for the day so need something undemanding when we get back.
Bank Holiday Monday
If the weather is good enough, I will be up super early with my daughter selling at the boot sale. So I don’t expect to have loads of energy for cooking! Baked vegetable frittata seems an easy recipe for a busy day. I like the look of this, as it contains macaroni and loads of vegetables! We will have this with salad and jacket potatoes.
Tuesday
Prawn stir fry with rice noodles, seasoned with vegetable stock and soy sauce.
Wednesday
Salmon with new potatoes and vegetables. I will have parsley sauce as some of my Syns for the day!
Thursday and Friday
Thrifty Lesley’s green lentil cottage pie with spring greens and peas. I am making double quantity so that I don’t have to cook on Friday. It is my last day at work and I think I will be a bit emotional. I am going to save enough Syns through the week to have a large glass of wine. Sad just thinking about this, so heaven knows how I am going to be on Friday!
So that’s my week of Slimming World meals. Following the plan isn’t hard most of the time. What I find tricky are the occasions – my last day at work, meals and drinks out with colleagues (that will be next week), cakes for my last day, an invitation to a friend’s for dinner. I will see if I can resist but won’t blame myself if I end up doing a bit of comfort eating!
As usual, I am linking up with Katy Kicker. If you want more ideas on meal planning and saving money, take a look at her blog.
Joleisa says
Aww, you made me well up about your last day of work! I’m not good at occasions like those. Guress what? I didn’t go in for my last day!
Anyway, I love that you educated us a bit about Slimming World and ‘free’ food and syns etc. I’ve never really looked into it before. I am a good cook, and I generally know what’s good for me and what isn’t. It’s the will power to be ‘good’ that I find difficult.
Saying that though, I do love the sound of the dishes you’ve planned.
I hope it goes well, all the tears and laughter.
Have a great week ahead and thanks for sharing.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks
Anne says
oooh I haven’t had a stir fry in ages, I’m so tempted now. I hope you manage to get through your last day of work without too many tears. It’s so hard leaving a job if you’ve been happy there.
#mealplanninglinky
Julia says
Good luck for Friday. All dieting bets are off when it comes to life’s major events!
I tend to look at the bigger picture when it comes to food in general, so if I fall down one day but overall have had a good week, then it all evens out and that’s good enough for me. You can always do a bit more to ‘catch up’ the following week if you wish!
Pat says
Hope your last day is ok. I had my last day on 25 April but so many people had left our place that it wasn’t too bad but I was given a large box of chocolates. The main thing I have problems with in Slimming World is lunches rather then main meals. When I was at work I would prepare something to take with me that I know my husband wouldn’t eat but when at home I find it difficult to know what to eat and usually end up eating something I shouldn’t. Also I find if I eat pasta rather then bread I am more likely to lose weight. I keep yo-yoing up and down by 1 or 1lbs.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
This is why I am making a huge pot of veggie soup. I think it will be the perfect Slimming World lunch. I shall add spuds to it to make it nice and filling
Hilly Ellis says
Hi, I’ve been on Slimming World for 17 mths , so far 3st4lbs lost , I love cooking the recipes from the site or pinch of non, also got cookbook, I have a good cook up every 2 weeks and fill the freezer , tend to eat lots of chicken , not much red meat , make loads of soup , no bread , I have a weightwatchers wrap , good luck
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
I was looking at that book last night. Might need to invest
Karen Smith says
Good luck for your last week at work – I’m sure it will be emotional! I left my job 14 years ago (ran away to live in Spain!) and I still haven’t managed to read my leaving card all the way through! I come across it every now and then, when having a sort out, and decide I will finally have a proper look. Gets me every time, big lump in the throat and back it goes in the cupboard until next time! I shall have to try starting in a different place each time and see if I can finally get through it all – and hope I can remember who everyone was! I still miss my job to this day, I enjoyed it a lot. But it ‘disappeared’ a few years after I left – the work ended up in India! So I would have had to move on anyway!
Have a great week 🙂
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
hope I manage to read mine within a couple of days. Bet you enjoy Spain more!
Niamh says
I lost 1.5 stone with S world 7 years ago. But the 7 year rebound has returned with some friend called the menopause and nothing fits! I hate clothes shopping now as I see lumps which werent there before. A full life and fed up.. Tried re joining but not a great success I have the book but struggling…..Life begins at 50?
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Don’t give up! Maybe some exercise too?
Laurahutchison says
I joined sw at 82 to relieve pressure on knees and hips arthritis. Lost 2 and a half stone and its made such a difference to my joints I’d recommend it to any one
Debbie says
Think you’ll find you can’t save up your syns on slimming world!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Don’t tell me such things!!! Expect I will be told the error of my ways tomorrow
Bev says
Hope all goes well and that you are not too sad Friday. Thank you for all your wonderful posts. I regularly look on your website and find it cheering and very useful.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks, Bev!
Tree says
I’m impressed you are dieting whilst so much is happening. Well done. All your meals sound great and not like the cottage cheese and lettuce leaf diets my mum was always on!
Tx
Paula @ Mummy Vs Work says
I hope the last day goes ok!
I’ve done slimming world on and off however I’ve always found the meals delicious! It is all about being aware of what you are adding and if you cook a lot from scratch you can enjoy a lot of meals. This weeks dinners sound delicious!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
I agree. Preparation is key
Kat says
I’ve been on slimming world for a year and and eight months. I’ve lost nine stone in that time, and feel completely different.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Wow! That’s amazing. Well done. You must feel so much healthier
Kim says
Good luck with the weight loss. It sounds like you are doing well with the Slimming world meals.
Your meals sound delicious. x
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks! Enjoyed them all so far
Katy Stevens says
Sounds like a delicious week and I am looking forward to seeing how you do with Slimming World!
Thanks for linking up!
Sarah - Mud, Cakes and Wine says
sounds like your doing well, we did a few slimming word recepies an they are really good. your meals sound lovely and salmon with a parsley sauce is so nice