Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe!

Just thought I would stick up a recipe that's really easy to make, really low in pro points and most importantly really tasty!

This is a bolognese made with quorn - before you dismiss it, it's really tasty and I guarantee you will not know it's not meat.

All you need to do is chop one onion, one carrot and one stalk of celery. I like to chop them up quite small so I use a food processor. Fry the vegetables with a bit of spray oil on a low heat for 10 minutes.

Then you need to add in one packet of quorn mince (just the normal size one, not the family size). Add two crushed cloves of garlic, one large tin of chopped tomatoes, half a tube of tomato puree and a beef stock cube that has been made up with only 75mls of hot water.

Bring this mixture to the boil, then turn down the heat and allow it to simmer for 20 minutes.

Add some basil or parsley to season and season with salt and pepper if you feel it's needed.

This should make six servings which works out at 2 pro points each. If you really want, you can use extra lean mince but it will then work out at 5 pro points per serving (but please try it out with the quorn first please!!).

I don't know if anyone is actually reading this blog but if you are I would appreciate your comments.

One stone later

So obviously I have been a little remiss with updating this. VERY remiss in fact. But I'm going to give it another go.

Since I last updated I have been away in America for a month and been using the propoints system as much as I can.

Well, today I had another weigh in and the scales surprised me - I was down three pounds today, meaning I reached my five percent loss as well as getting my second silver seven.

I have to admit, I was beginning to get a bit disillusioned with WW. The weight was coming off really slowly and as much as it was encouraging to hear other people's weight loss at meetings, I just kept thinking - why are they losing weight and I'm not? Now I've factored in exercise and I really think that it has made a big difference. While I'm not perfect, I do feel much more motivated to stick to the plan.

One of the problems I had with losing weight before was that I would work hard for a couple of weeks - no junk, gym 4-5 times a week etc. Then when I didn't get instant results I began to be frustrated and fell back into old habits. But now I've lost a stone. A STONE. I've never lost that much weight before and trust me, it feels a lot better than gaining weight or even staying the same.

To be honest, I don't feel any different and I don't think I look different but it just feels good to be able to say I've lost a stone! Hopefully by the time I lose another stone, I will begin to see and feel the results!

Week 1

So I finally took the plunge and joined Weight Watchers! My mother rejoined recently and encouraged me to join.

I'll let you know a little bit about me. When I was around 12/13, I had puppy fat. I wasn't obese, I was just slightly overweight. I am convinced if I had been more sensible with my diet I would have easily lost the puppy fat and I might not have been writing this blog now. But I wasn't - I made unhealthy food choices. In school, I would go to the sweet shop most days. I hardly ever ate any fruit and vegetables. I'd have some sandwiches and then fill up on junk food. At home, I would sneak biscuits and sweets out of the cupboard.

Not surprisingly, my diet caught up with me. My weight slowly shot up and now I am at - wait for it- 19 stone 2lbs. I'm 6" tall, so I can carry a bit of weight but I am definitely overweight. Obese in fact. I'm not sure what compelled me into action, apart from my mother joining WW.

I've never been happy with my size. My friends all have lovely figures, my sister always looks amazing. My self esteem has never been high. All it takes on a night out is for someone to look at me and I feel like a whale. I don't like going into shops and realizing I don't fit into a size 18 anymore. I don't like looking at pictures and seeing rolls of fat, a double chin and a girl who looks unhealthy.

Joining WW - it's been a long time coming. My first weigh in took place last night. I didn't want to know my weight but I had to look at it to shock myself into action. 19 stone 2 pounds.... I was honestly welling up on the scale. My only consolation is telling myself "This is the last time I will EVER be this weight" and I have to truly believe that.

I didn't put on the weight overnight, so I don't expect to lose it overnight. I know this is a lifelong change so I need to be realistic about it.

My first day using pro points was an eye opener for me. I've started to weigh my portions, something I always knew I should do, but never actually did. I calculated pro points (with my WW calculator that I got at my meeting) for all my favourite foods - and wow! For example, Tesco's Finest Potato Mash, something I would have had with my dinner, or on occasion AS my dinner is 20 pro points!!!!!!! I can tell you that went back into the fridge as fast as it came out. I'm still picking my jaw off the floor.

My daily allowance is 46 pro points. Today I only managed 33 pro points, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I had lots of fruit today as snack and all fruit is 0 points. I feel full so that is the most important thing. My next blog entry will be on Tuesday after my weigh in. Hopefully I will have good news then!!