What a rollercoaster it's been this week. I've been ill as I've had a bad couple of days with the M.E. so I've spent those days sleeping due to the headaches, queasy feelings and general tiredness.

Worse still, this resulted in me having to postpone my catch up with my friend.

I'm hoping to rearrange this in the next couple of weeks so I’ll keep you updated on her reaction to my weight loss when we do meet.

On a positive note, a lovely lady at Slimming World told me that you could tell by my face that I'd lost lots of weight and another said I was finally getting a waist!

That made my day as I've always said that fashion programmes never talk about bigger body shapes like mine, which is a beachball with tree trunks for legs. I've always wanted a waist.

It's great when people start to notice and even better when they tell you! It really boosts your confidence and makes you feel a million dollars.

I went to my Wednesday Slimming World Class in Consett this morning knowing I hadn't eaten anything bad this week but also knowing I had been poorly and not eating as much as I should.

I got on the scales and I'd put 1lb on, which was disappointing, but at the same time I know it can and will happen from time to time.

Dawn, our brilliant class consultant, told me not to worry and to focus on the 4st I've already lost. She reminded me that I'd had a big loss the week before so with that big loss and also not being very well and not eating, it's possible that the scales won't show a loss.

The class were really supportive too and told me not to let it get me down. I know that without the many new friends I've made, the journey would be so much more difficult. I probably would have given up by now.

To be honest, I always thought that if you gained weight at a slimming club you would be publically flogged and humiliated.

I can't even begin to tell you just how wrong I was. Dawn never critisizes anyone who has had a gain, she always talks through where they could have gone wrong and helps us get back on track.

I know now why her classes have so many members and also such a great success rate too.

There are quite a few who have reached their target weight and another member who has lost 10st and is now at target.

These people are such a great support and also an inspiration to all of us no matter how much we have to lose.

In the past, when I've gained weight, I've always thought, "That's it, I've failed. I might as well give up as I've blown it this week."

In those cases I have given up there and then and, of course, this has resulted in the weight I'd lost going straight back on with lots more besides.

It's so easy to fall off the path and to lose focus whether it be a meal out, a birthday or even a day when you just generally have the munchies.

I do get these and often spend my day pacing the kitchen looking for something naughty to have but at Slimming World everything is allowed in moderation, so I never have to deprive myself.

I've included some tips on how to combat the munchies.

Tips

1) Get to know the days when you are likely to get the munchies. That way you can be prepared with some healthier alternatives should they attack 2) Prepare a fruit salad and keep it in the fridge on those days where you're more likely to sabbotage your weight loss. You can enjoy it with a fat free yogurt.

3) I always have a Milky Way or Curly Wurly in the freezer so I can have one when I have the munchies. I like to savour chocolate, and when it’s frozen it takes longer to eat and you enjoy it more. Make sure you only have one in at a time though so that you're not tempted to eat loads of them!

4) Have carrot sticks and celery sticks prepared with some low fat fromage frais with cucumber and mint chopped up and mixed in. It's a healthy dip with vegetables that all count as your recommended 5 a day.

5) Perhaps most important of all, if you have a bad day, don't blow the week. Put that bad day to the back of your mind and continue afresh the next day. It's never too late to start again.

Tomato Soup With Bite (serves 4) Free on Extra Easy

This in my favourite recipe this week shared by a lovely lady in class who has almost reached target.

Ingredients

2 tins of chopped tomatoes
1 tin of baked beans
2 large pickled onions (add more if you want more bite)
Salt and Pepper to season

Method

Place the chopped tomatoes, baked beans and pickled onions in a blender and blitz until smooth.

Place in a saucepan and bring to the boil adding the salt and ground black pepper to taste Serve immediately.

This great recipe can be used either as a soup or as a sauce to go over pasta and is delicious. it's great to take in a flask to work especially as the weather is getting colder.

I'VE been back to see my GP this afternoon so she can keep a check on my blood pressure.

She's over the moon with me and also told me not to worry about my weight gain this week.

We even discussed me joining an excercise class on referral after Christmas.

It would be great if I could as it will help me tone up after losing some of my weight and hopefully help me get some more of my confidence back.

I know it won't be easy but then again I never thought losing weight would be this easy. By then I will hopefully have lost at least another half a stone, hopefully more.

I know my weight loss wasn't great this week. I'm going to take the advice of Dawn, the ladies and gentlemen in my class and my GP.

I'm not going to let it get to me. I'm going to use it as a motivator and I'm now determined to get that 1lb and more off next week. You'll have to tune in next week to my blog to see if I manage it.

Please let me know how you're weight loss journey is going and always remember, it helps when you have support along the way.

If you're local, why not come along and join us on a Wednesday Morning at St Patricks Church Hall, Consett from 9:30 am. It would be great to see you.

See you lighter next week,
Love Wendy xxx