I hope you're all doing really well with your own personal weight loss. Again I've had some lovely messages of support but what really makes me proud is the fact that so many of you have decided to take control and lose those lbs that have been creeping on over the last few weeks, months and even years.

It's not always easy. I'd be lying if I said it was, but with lots of support, it's amazing just how strong you can actually be.

If you're thinking of starting after Christmas, why wait? If you started today, you could be half a stone lighter by Christmas. It doesn't matter if you put on weight over the festive period. What would your weight be if you didn't lose that half stone before Christmas?

Another saying I was always taught by my Grandparents was, "Why put off what could be done today?" It's true. Make that new start today and don't let Christmas be the excuse for giving up or not even starting. Together we can and will do it!


Freezing in a winter wonderland
What a mixed week it's been. I was so excited at reaching my 4st 8lb weight loss last week that I decided I wanted to reward myself with a new winter coat.

I've never been able to get one to fit in the past as the materials used have very little give in them and would never fasten.

I've always had to buy thick jumpers and cardigans which, to be honest, haven't kept me warm at all.

I always get a really bad cold or flu as I'm never wrapped up enough. I can't stand being cold either. I thought having lost so much weight, I was sure to be able to get one this year. How wrong was I?

I went into every shop possible that does the plus sizes and not one coat would go anywhere near me. I sat and broke my heart in one shop. The assistants weren't overly pleasant with me either which made me feel like a waste of space.

I told them I'd lost over 4 and a half stone, but they still looked at me as if to say, you shouldn't have got so big then should you. There's just no caring customer service to be found anymore. It made me feel as if all the weight I'd lost had been for nothing. I was totally deflated and heartbroken.

How can you lose that amount of weight and still have to freeze and open yourself up to catching pneumonia at the same time. It's not the best scenario when you have a low immune system, as I do due to my M.E., or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as they like to call it these days.

So with red swollen eyes from all the crying, for the second year running, I have bought some thick jumpers and cardigans, but no coat. To say I was devastated was an understatement.

I think my tears, if they'd been stored, could have stopped the drought we're told will happen next summer. I'm even in tears as I type this as I know how well I've done and yet I can't see any differences.

It hasn't helped me this week when someone I know said, "Well done on your weight loss. You can't really tell though as your face is still very round." I just smiled and replied, "Maybe when I lose a bit more." It's like adding salt to an already open wound.

People can be so cruel without realising or meaning it. It just sent me off the edge of my weight loss wagon and I ate some biscuits we had left from the church Christmas fayre to comfort myself.

I'd lost the plot and was going back to my old habits of comfort eating. It's what I've always done when I feel hurt and sad and, to be honest, very alone. People can sympathise with you but unless they've been there, they haven't got a clue.

It was thanks to my husband and Mum, that I got back on track with my weight loss.

It took a lot of straight talking and getting me to see that although I've lost so much weight, it will come off in different places. By next year, I'll have my pick of shops to go to for coats and the people who have been cruel with comments, won't even recognise me.

It's a bit like the film Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts is given a hard time because she doesn't dress the way people expect. Yet when she does, those who were cruel to her, don't recognise her. She can avoid those who were cruel to her or even show them what they missed out on getting to know.

None of us are perfect and it would be boring if we were, but it also takes all kinds of people to make a world.

After "Operation Coat" was abandoned, and "self destruct" terminated, it was time to get myself back on track. Operation weight loss was back on the agenda. I still had the tears but wasn't going to throw away what I'd done over a winter coat. I might even buy 2 next year to make up for it.

I spoke to a friend this week who has lost an amazing amount of weight and has inspired me to take action. He made me promise to always be honest about how I feel when writing this blog. I did promise and am so glad I did.

I went to my Slimming World group on Wednesday morning, not expecting a great loss if any. I'd had the night where I ate the biscuits and although I'd been good the rest of the week and stuck to my healthy eating, I still had a doubt. I have to say, I was over the moon to find I'd lost another 5lb.Just 1lb off my 5st award.

I wasn't expecting that at all. I knew I'd been lucky that I'd got back on track so quickly otherwise it could have been disastrous.

My group were amazing and all rallied round when I broke down telling them about the trauma of buying a winter coat. It just goes to show that having that support makes all the difference.

In the past, I would never have gone to get weighed, thinking I'd had a bad week. That would have given me an excuse to eat more and in the long run, I'd have given up and put the weight and more back on. This time I want to break that vicious circle of bad week, comfort eating and giving up.

If you have a bad week, please don't give up. Think of how far you've come and be proud of that. Don't let life's little dramas get in the way of your success. It might seem like a major stumbling block but think of it as a small hurdle to jump, climb over or even crawl under if that's how you want to deal with it. Don't let it become an excuse to give up. Get that strong support network around you that you know will get you back on track. Don't give in.

Last week, I promised to show you a picture of one of the meals I've enjoyed this week. It's Turkey Burgers with Slimming World Chips and a big Salad with Pickled Onions.

For the Burgers
Using lean turkey mince mix onions, herbs, salt and black pepper together.
Shape into burgers and grill until cooked right through.

For the chips
Peel potatoes and cut into thick finger-like chunks. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add the potatoes. Boil for 4-5 minutes. Drain in a colander, and leave to dry for 10 minutes. Return the chips to the dry saucepan, cover with a lid and shake to ‘rough-up’ the edges – doing this will help make the chips really crispy.

Place the chips in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Spray with low calorie cooking spray and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden, turning occasionally.

Serve with a big salad of chopped tomato, peppers, cucumber and red onion, with grated carrot. Plus three large pickled onions.

(You can use beef, pork or lamb but make sure it's lean or extra lean meat) See attached pic

I also promised a recipe to impress those guests. How many of us like mince pies? I know my Husband loves them. With this recipe, you can stay on track but still be the perfect host to your guests who come to share the festive cheer.

Slimming World Mince Pies (makes 32 pies)

Ingredients
Fry Light for spraying
227g/8oz plain flour
pinch of salt
113g/4oz margarine or butter
cold water, for mixing
16 level tbsp mincemeat
1 level tbsp icing sugar for dusting

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5. Lightly spray some bun trays with Fry Light.
2. Make the pastry. Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the fat, cut up into little pieces. Gently rub it in with your fingertips. Add sufficient cold water to mix to a ball that leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
3. Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface. Cut out 32 rounds with a 7½cm/3in fluted cutter. Use to line the prepared bun tins.
4. Divide the mincemeat between the pastry cases. Roll out the remaining pastry trimmings and make some little stars with a small star cutter. Use to decorate the tops of the tarts.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, until the pastry is crisp and lightly coloured. Cool on a wire rack and dust lightly with sifted icing sugar.

THERE'S no reason why you can't enjoy Christmas with all the healthy recipes that taste fabulous. In the run up to Christmas we're all bound to be be out for parties and buffets. We can still enjoy these events by choosing wisely or by planning ahead for the rest of the week. Dawn, our consultant always says, "In one week you have 21 meals. One meal out shouldn't stop us losing the weight, it's what we do with the other 20 meals that counts." Losing weight doesn't have to be a chore. We can make it as easy or as difficult as we want. Which way do you choose?

Keep adding your comments below as I need to hear your feedback too especially after a tough week.

See you lighter next week,

Love Wendy xxx