Last Post Of 2009

I haven't posted as often as I meant to and I hope that will change next year.

I have a few challenges and targets but I am not, repeat not, setting myself up for failure this year.

I know what I would like to achieve and I shall do my best to make sure they happen.

They include passing my OU course with a good grade in October; losing as much of my excess weight as possible before a planned holiday in June; cleaning up my diet; and applying as much determination and discipline to my health and fitness as I do to my studies.

I also hope to get a few followers to my blog as I think some feedback and encouragement would be a good motivator.

Happy New Year my unknown followers.

The end of another week

I have had a mixed week this week. Somehow the scales are showng a 3lb weight gain. I've not been an angel but I don't deserve that :-(

My new slow cooker has been busy earning its keep this week; casseroles, stews, and today a large pot of bolognaise sauce is simmering away. That will be the base for a Cottage Pie for supper with parsnip and potato mash on top. The rest will be frozen for quick suppers next year when I start studying again.

Lunchtime soup today was Curried Parsnip & Apple - to use up the glut of parsnips that were taking over my fridge.











One tasty supper this week was Salmon on Mushroom Risotto. Very filling and tasty.

Exam Results Today -and other news

The day started badly with my trainer not turning up for our new time slot of 0630 on Tuesdays. He was contrite when he realised his mistake.

Rod was in hospital today for an op on his ear. Thankfully when I picked him up he felt well and the newly fitted grommet had stopped the drumming in his left ear that he has suffered since April.

But the best news of the day is my OU exam result. I achieved 76% in my exam and 75% overall for the course. That gives me a Grade 2 pass. With any other institution that would be a First but with OU it's a 2nd! And there was me thinking that if I did pass I would scrape though with just over 40%.

It has given me more confidence in myself so I have enrolled for the compulsory course for a History degree. Let's hope I don't live to regret that decision.

Sunday Again

I can't get into the habit of logging on every day - then boooooom a whole week has passed and I haven't posted anything.

This week has been pretty good.

I have seen my trainer twice and enjoyed two good sessions. On Friday we spent an hour doing a circuit of boxing, crunches and hill walking with dumbbells - I can't run due to a back problem.

My meals have been mainly healthy and nutritious and I have maintained my weight for the third week in a row. So hopefully I have stopped the weekly gaining that had been part of my life for several months.

If I can maintain until the New Year I shall be happy as there is quite a lot going on over the next couple of weeks.

I've used my slow cooker and made a couple of very tasty meals - veg casserole to go with roast lamb last Sunday and my Chicken with Lemon & Honey. That worked well which was a relief as it only takes about 20-25 minutes in the oven.










I've got a venison casserole simmering away for us to have when we get back from an early Christmas Concert tonight. I'll make some mash when we get in so we should be eating within 25 minutes of walking through the door. Yum Yum.

I shall try to post more often and keep a diary of my gym routines and my meals - that was the whole idea of starting a blog - so I could look back and see what I had done and eaten.

Sunday, Sunny Sunday

What a wet week!!

I have lost that real 'go for it' feeling that I had last weekend and ate way way too much yesterday (Saturday).

I have made a few positive changes this week though and saw my personal trainer, Mark, on Friday for the first time since March. He worked me hard for about an hour and a quarter and I felt a pleasant ache yesterday.

Foodwise I have made some healthy and nutritious meals. My diet is about 80% healthy. I want to change that to 95% healthy.

Pics of some of last week's meals to follow.










Lamb with sweet potato and spinach













Sideways view of oats and ginger clementines










I made too much of this mushroom soup and got fed up of it.

My plan to buy a new freezer and make stews and soups ofr my lunch has failed. The freezer is far too big for the kitchen and will be returned.

Today I am going to make a vegetable stew in my new slow cooker (£10 from Tesco) and have that with roast lamb tonight. The left overs will be for lunch tomorrow.

Another trainer session tomorrow morning will make sure I get back into the gym. Looking forward to it.

Frosty Start

I went to the gym this morning. It was frosty cold and I had to defrost the car at 6:15. My ankle niggled a bit after 11 minutes on the treadmill - that's longer than it took last time so I think it is getting better!


I also got some unexpected exercise when I went house viewing with my colleague - 20 minutes or so brisk walk both ways at lunchtime. Very pretty little house too :0)


Breakfast today was porridge made with soya milk and water and served with chopped pear and Yeo Valley Natural Yogurt.



Lunch was a rushed ryvita,cheese, cold meat and sliced mango affair when we got back from the house viewing.


Dinner was Cajun Lamb on Rainbow Vegetables.
My mix of leek, red pepper, red chilli, sweet potato and spinach ended up a bit wetter than planned but was very tasty.


Snacks included cashew nuts and dried fruit. And 2 Thorntons Moments as a treat.

my photos don't want to transfer from my phone so I'll update this later.