Just like Shakira, my hips don't lie

And my hips are seven inches smaller than when I started Slimming World - if that's not the proof you need to show that this plan works, I don't know what is.

Since starting Slimming World on 11th November last year, I have lost two inches from under my bust, eight inches from my waist and seven inches from my hips!!!

I've lost two and a half stone, have dropped from a size 12-14 to a size 8-10 and feel fantastic!

It was touch and go as to whether I would reach target tonight. When I weighed in the scales told me I'd maintained. NOOOOO.

But, thanks to a fab fellow member and friend who marched me up to the gym, I lost the half a pound I needed in 15 minutes and reached my target! The target I set in November that I thought would be an age away.

I did have a bit of help to lose my pound. I took off my bra. And pants. My ring. My earrings. And even my socks. I swear, if I didn't lose that pesky half I'd have definitely lost it in tears!

So there we have it, I'm at target. And I'm sure the hard work is about to really begin now as I try and maintain it ready for our wedding next May.

I'm absolutely ecstatic to have reached my target and I'm determined not to put the weight back on. I'd ideally like to lose a little bit more this week, drop to the bottom of my target range, then have more pounds to play with over Easter and stuff my face with chocolate eggs. Mmmmm.

I suspect I'll probably have a gain this week, though, as I'm currently sat here waiting for a celebratory pizza & chips to cook in the oven. I am sharing it with Tom, and I will have a salad, but it's still naughty. I also won't lie, I have some pick n mix for afters.

I'm not going to fib, that's not what this is about. I like sharing every step of my journey on here and don't want to mislead anyone.

Slimming World is one of the best things that has happened to me (obviously aside from the obvious things like Tom and my best friend and amazing family etc). When I walked into that room on the first night I was shy, reserved and absolutely bloody terrified. Tonight, I was like a totally new person. I was myself. Confident, happy and outgoing.

I would not be where I am today without my amazing consultant, Beth, and the support of the group. I will definitely still go to group not just because it's free now and I want to stay where I am, but because I'll miss everyone if I don't go.

I also wouldn't have got here in this time without the support of my family and friends. They've stuck with it with me, understood when I couldn't have cake Friday's every week in the office, and pushed me to go to the gym and spinning even when I couldn't be arsed.

Anyway, enough soppy stuff. I'm happy, you've probably gathered.

About this week, though. I had a naughty Thursday and Friday after a couple of meals out but have been on plan since Saturday. I even went for a pigging run!!

Then did five hours of gardening which left me crippled. Muscles ached that I didn't even know could ache! I then did spinning on Tuesday followed by a pre- weigh in gym session tonight. I think the gardening and two hour long squat that I held increased my booty and was the reason that half a pound wasn't so forthcoming. But it's fine.

I've also tried some bloody amazing new recipes this week - the links for which are in the food diary. Mainly, the KFC style chicken which was like an actual foodgasm. By far my favourite Slimming World meal to date.

So there we have it, I'm two and a half stone lighter and 100 times happier, more body confident and content with myself.

I've tried all the fad diets out there - Bootea, Actiderm wraps and shakes and pills, weight loss tablets - but none of them ever had the sort of sustainable results that this does. And none of them meant I could enjoy food this much.

Thank you so much Slimming World, Beth, the group and my family and friends for giving me back my mojo!

I'd better wrap it up now, my pizza is ready hehe!

*probably better make that just six inches off my hips now haha!

Week 18 food diary

Day One:

Breakfast: Eggy bread (HEB) with bacon, poached eggs, beans and a stack of spinach on the side
Dinner: Homemade roasted tomato and chilli soup
Tea: *Meal out* Pate (7 syns), gammon and egg with broccoli, carrots and sugar snap peas, and sticky toffee pudding (20 syns).
Syns for the day: 27

Day Two:

Breakfast: Apple and two pears
Dinner: Tuna, pasta, red onion, rocket, lettuce and peppers
Snack: Two clementines
Snack: Two ginger biscuits (5 syns)
Tea: *Meal out* Pizza Express dough balls (16 syns) and a Legerra Pollo ad Astra pizza (21 syns)
Syns for the day: 42

Day Three:

Breakfast: Bacon and eggs sandwich on two slices of wholemeal bread (HEB) with baked beans and lots of spinach
Dinner: *None as I was busy gardening*
Tea: KFC-style chicken with homemade chips and a big salad
Snack: Three champagne truffles (7.5 syns)
Syns for the day: 7.5

Day Four:

Breakfast: Baked oats with raspberries and strawberries
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Homemade tomato and chill soup
Snack: Two clementines
Snack: Three ginger biscuits (7.5 syns)
Tea: SW syn-free lasagne (HEA) with lettuce, spinach and rocket on the side
Drink: A glass of prosecco (4.5 syns)
Syns for the day: 12

Day Five:

Breakfast: Melon
Snack: Strawberries
Dinner: Homemade speed vegetable soup
Snack: Apple and pear
Tea: Spaghetti carbonara (HEA) with a side salad
Syns for the day: 0

Day Six:

Breakfast: Poached eggs with vegetable 'couscous' (carrot, beetroot, broccoli, and onion all blitzed in the food processor)
Snack: Apple and pear
Dinner: Homemade tomato and chilli soup
Tea: Swede-topped cottage pie with broccoli and green beans
Snack: Two rocky road Hi-Fi Light bars (HEB)
Syns for the day: 0

Day Seven:

Breakfast: Overnight oats with raspberries
Dinner: Homemade speed vegetable soup
Snack: Apple and orange
Tea: *Had tea after I was weighed*
Syns for the day:


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