Lose weight in '26 with Slimming World & SWIP's.

bubbs

It was and the chicken was gorgeous, flavours on both were lovely, dh had mixed grill and said it was lovely

bubbs

The only thing was they don't do mustard and dh keeps saying , still can't get over they don't do mustard 🤣🤣🤣

beanielou

Glad you enjoyed bubbs.

joedenise

Morning all, weather today looks absolutely carp! Rain all day and it's been raining overnight too. Have looked at the local forecast for tomorrow and looks like we're getting a dry but cloudy day so if it is then I think I'll get the bedding washed.

I think the Harvester is one of the better options for SW friendly food. Last time we went DH had the chicken and ribs combo and said it was really good. I was good and had chicken and loads of salad, although I did have Swips for a G&T! I think we're both signed up with the for birthdays now so that will probably be the next time we go - so sometime in March/April and get our 25% off!

I'm finding the top I'm making a bit heavy going with having to keep reading the instructions and realised yesterday that I forgot to cut out one of the pieces so going to have to get the fabric out again to do that although don't need it just yet so will probably leave it until I've got the complicated bit I started yesterday! Hopefully I can get that sorted today.

Today's plan:

B - fry up with sausages - P; S; F; 2

L - LO pasta/savoury mince - P; S; F

D - SC chicken, roast potatoes, roasted carrots, butternut squash & peppers, green veg - P; S; F (will make gravy for DH with the SC veg and meat juices)

HEA - milk

HEB - not sure but may have a couple of skinny bars

Swips - wine 13

Dry January is finally over so I'm going to celebrate with a couple of glasses of wine! Did your DH manage Dry January @maman?

Have a good day everyone.

Coxy11

Morning,

All this talk of Harvester makes me want to go. The one where we used to live was shockingly bad - think we went once and walked out.

Yoga this morning. Will drop DSis home afterwards then go get mum and take her shopping. We seem to have run out of lots of staples so can see it being lumpy. Glad it’s Aldi week!

Food today:

B - 2 x satsumas, apple - S

L - BNS soup, toasted protein bagel thin, blueberries - S, HEB

D - roast gammon, roast potatoes, broccoli, sprouts - P, Free, S

HEA - milk

Will make cauliflower cheese for the family later but I’ll avoid it 😇

Weigh day tomorrow eeek.

maman

Well done on your little loss @Longwalker . You're creeping closer to target every time. 👍🏻

In my first group, there were twins who went to their mum's after every WI for a roast dinner with all the trimmings. I suppose they could have had worse meals but like you, they said syns didn't count on WI day.🤣

That same group used to go together to the local Harvester for a meal. Chicken and salad seemed to be favoured SW friendly option at the time. I'm delighted you had what you wanted @bubbs . You deserve a treat with all the messing around that shutdown brings for you. Strange that they don't do mustard though.

Yes, @joedenise, DH has stuck with Dry January despite a few wobbles. He's not feeling well today, says he feels dizzy so we'll see whether he's up for a glass tonight.😁🤔

Well done for resisting the cauliflower cheese (or planning to) @Coxy11 😇. I made mine on Friday with just milk, cheese and cornflour so hopefully not too many swips for my portion.

Today's plan-

B- HEB porridge, HEA milk, blueberries (S), banana (F)

L- warm salad (P,S,F)

D- beef in 'red wine' (P,S), SW roast potatoes and parsnips (f), many other veg (S)

Swips- LTL mayo 2, cornflour 1

Longwalker

OMG I so miss a harvester Loved their salad bar , really loved their blue cheese dressing as well :) Used to love a Pizza Hut buffet as well because of the salad cart

Unfortunately we dont have them here in NI. We have two Wetherspoons ( Belfast and Derry ) and a Brewers Fayre in Carrickfergus We would occasionally take the coastal route down to Carrick and stop and get the fish and chips there and if we are down in Belfast for a show we tend to use Wetherspoons for a drink and a bite. I know its not fine dining but I like Wetherspoons as I know the portion size isnt going to to be vast so Im not going to over eat. Cost of eating out is so expensive now and most places are using cheaper products and piling the plates up with unneeded calories. Like throwing big battered onion rings into burgers to make it look like good value or cover a dish in tobacco onions and because you have paid dear, you feel the pressure to eat it all.

But we do carvery here. Everywhere does a carvery We have two favourites , one is at a golf course. It's a step back to the 70's with melon, soup or prawn cocktail starters and ice cream sundae or triffle for dessert But the main event is what people go for. The carvery . 4 types of meat and yes you can have all four and proper thick slices , chipolata sausages, yorkies, mash, roast, cabbage and bacon, cauliflower cheese, carrot and parsnip mash, peas - and gravy you could mop up with bread and be happy with on its own. £14 for one course on a Sunday, over looking the golf course and out to sea

The second we go midweek lunch. Again it's a step back in time. A formal grand dining room with big circular tables , all laid out with even tea and coffee cups , in a hotel on top of a cliff - so fantastic sea views. We are often the youngest there, it's very popular with the golden oldies . Where as the golf course one is rammed with a constant queue for food and family orientated, this one is very staid and quite hushed and formal. Not such a big offering, just the turkey and ham and something else like a pie or a curry , again the food is just delish, all perfectly cooked as they arent serving so many £16 on a weekday Both you come out completely stuffed - and a parcel for the dog :)

Must actually go to one , not been out since November


Made up for the nibbles by not wanting dinner. And whilst it was beige food, - Arancini balls, stuffed peppers , mozzerella sticks , cocktail sausages , all air fried so not so bad.

Just going to make scrambled eggs cos I am hungry now. Did a 5 k walk this morning - only got slightly damp - just a passing shower

Dinner is Roast pork loin and all the usual

Jellybaby

Afternoon all,

@Longwalker both your eating places sound fabulous! I never make cauliflower cheese at home as I’m the only one who’d eat it but it’s fair game when I’m out 🤣

Well my night out was cancelled last night due to friend having a family emergency. All is well and although I was disappointed not to see her, I did save on wine syns 🙈🤣🤣

I had a mooch around the shops this morning and picked up a few bits for birthdays coming up. There’s quite a few ‘big’ birthdays on the horizon so very pleased to get some bargains.

Food today has all been on plan - cereal, fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, a baked potato with beans when I took my aunt for her shopping and it’s salmon for dinner (pork chops for DS), roast potatoes and loads of veg.

Coxy11

Sorry your night out was cancelled @Jellybaby but yay to no wine syns!!

Dinner here was lush - haven’t roasted a gammon for ages, as usually do it in the SC with Pepsi Max. In a moment of madness last night I reserved a TGTG bag from Budgens in the local filling station. Only when I went to collect it just now it wasn’t our filling station but one the other side of town 🤦‍♀️ However for £3.34 I got:

6 royal gala apples

2 avocados

A cauliflower

A head of broccoli and

3 x 500g beef mince - it’s 20% fat though… hoping I can fry it off/rinse it - any ideas? It’s gone straight into the freezer as UB date is today.

DS2 will eat the avocados. Was pleased with my haul!

caronc

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81865513#Comment_81865513

If you soak the mince in water (mix well to separate) for half an hour or so then bring to the boil, simmer for 10 mins then drain over a sieve a lot of the fat will melt off . Cool and then use as you normally would.