Gemma's 'Must have' items to stay on track

I've been following the Weight Watchers plan for just under two years now and I'm in a pretty good routine when it comes to what I eat. I know exactly what to avoid in the shops because they are far too high in points and I've always got my freezer stocked up with all the essentials I need to create a filling and healthy meal.

Here are my items that I just can't live without:

1.Weight Watcher Toffee Popcorn bar and porridge sachets.
I always carry these around in my handbag as I like to be prepared for any occasion. If I meet friends for coffee and cake I can have one of these bars for just 2 propoints instead of the insane 14 propoints that a muffin from somewhere like Costa would be. The porridge sachets are also great for me if I stay at someones house so I don't indulge in buttery toast.

2. Low Low cheese slices.
One thing I really miss on Weight Watchers is cheese. I could eat my own body weight in cheese every day but now I don't keep any in the house. These Low Low slices are only 1 propoint each and are great with nimble bread, slice of ham and some onion to make a speedy but tasty toastie for lunch. I get a little taste of cheese that is already portioned out for me so I don't lose control.

3. Weetabix and a banana

I have this for breakfast on most days. I find it hard to eat in the morning, I get a little queasy but weetabix are plain and filling so perfect for me. I eat the banana on the commute to work and find that I'm full until my tea break or lunch. I love that I don't need to weigh weetabix like you would have to with other cereal, it's all about convenience for me.

4. Fry light spray

A must have for all dieters, great to use when frying or to spray veg if you are roasting them. Be careful though, one spray is 0 point but four sprays are 1 propoint.

5. Soup

I always have soup in the fridge. I take it to work for lunch because all the salads and sandwiches available in the work cafe are super high in points. I also eat a small bowl when I get in from work before I make my main meal so I don't pick while preparing it.

6. Ready Baked Jacket Potato

Again, these are just so convenient. I don't need to weigh them, they are always 5 pro points.Great to have when I get in from work because they only take five minutes and I  can eat them with a huge salad and tuna for a low point meal.

7. My Weight Watcher cookbooks

These stop me from going off track due to boredom with the plan. I try and make a new dish every week and keep things exciting. These are designed with the Weight Watcher plan in mind so I don't need to adapt any of them like I do when using recipes from the Good Food website.

8.Light creme fraiche
I used this to make all my delicious creamy sauces for things like cabonara, it still feels really indulgent but for a fraction of the points. I also use this with fruit and meringues to make a low point dessert and I always have a tub in the fridge.

9. Frozen Meals
I know its lazy but sometimes I just don't want to cook. I have a long commute and don't get home until 7pm. When I get in I just want to see my dog and catch up on trashy TV. The Weight watcher ones are so low in points and I top them up with loads of fresh vegetables to make them into a filling meal.

What are your essential store cupboard items that help you stay on track?

Sunday Summary 75

Rosie - I was thrilled to discover when I stepped on the scales yesterday and found that I have lost 3lbs this week.  My target is to be at 129 lbs by the end of our 10 week challenge (I am a short person so that would make me a 10-12) and I'm currently at 133 lbs so well on the way! This week was another week of lots of healthy eating and a few early morning runs - very much looking forward to the lighter mornings now the clocks have gone back; running in the pitch black is not fun!

Lauren - I lost another 1lb this week which I'm really pleased about. I've had a few rubbish days since weigh-in on Thursday so now its all about eating properly again. I'm away from Tuesday-Saturday this week but staying with a friend who also does Weight Watchers so I know food won't be as huge an issue as it would if I was staying with someone else! I'm hoping to stay the same at weigh-in this week as I'll be weighing in two days earlier. I really need to focus on upping the exercise now too - I had a free personal trainer taster session at the gym and the trainer worked up a program for me to really focus on toning up and building strength so I'm looking forward to getting started on that.

Gemma - I couldn't attend class this week, my brother had an interview and I'm dependant on him for lifts. I weighed at home and had maintained weight but I'm pretty sure I will get better results at the scales this week. I'm not doing as well with the 10 week pledge as I would like but it's going in the right direction. I have so many events coming up in the next few weeks it is going to be important to be as good as I can in the day so I can enjoy the bubbly and nibbles at the events. I'm going to Manchester with my best friend next week and that is going to be one big three day bender of eating cake and drinking cocktails. I'm a little worried but I'm taking my Weight Watcher Eating Out Guide with me so I can make good choices.

Guest Post - Elinor from You Haven't Failed Until You Quit Trying

Today's guest post comes from the lovely Elinor of You Haven't Failed Until You Quit Trying. Pop on over and say hello :)

First of all can I just say how lovely it was to have been asked to guest post for Where Are My Knees? :)

I'm Elle and I'm a 21 year old graduate (still in denial I'm no longer a student!), weight watchers lover & half marathon runner!! Too date I've currently lost 80.5lbs (5st 10lbs).

My story began when I joined Weight Watchers back in May 2009 weighing 16stone 12.5lbs and a size 20-22. Having always struggled with my weight, seeing dietitians, and half heartedly attempting to lose weight, something on that Monday clicked in my head. It was time to lose weight for good & more than anything I'd be doing it for myself. If I was to give anyone some advice it would be that losing weight has to be for you, you can't be pressured into it because you'll try it for 2 weeks and then give up. 

I knew the Weight Watchers plan and knew that it would fit in with student lifestyle; although I never imagined I'd be where I am today. My first week I lost 3lbs as was amazed [I still didn't think that I'd ever get to the point that goal would be in reach], I hadn't been hungry, hadn't done much exercise and had still been out getting drunk with my friends! The weight started dropping off & before I knew it people were commenting on how well I was looking. These comments are things that keep you going when you feel like throwing in the towel! Which trust me I have done, a million times!

When you get to a certain point in your weight loss journey the inevitable plateau hits, it's times like this that I just wanted to give up, and to be "normal" and not have to care about what I was eating; resisting a dominoes take away when that's what everyone is eating is SO hard! But then friends & family around me would remind me just how far I'd come, how good I was looking and remind me that the cycle of gaining & losing the same 2lbs would eventually break and that those small gains were nothing compared to what I had lost. Surrounding yourself with friends and family who will encourage & support you is another thing that will keep you going. 

Exercise, unfortunately becomes a must in order to keep up your weight loss, and also to tone up. But I've found once I get into a routine I can actually start to like exercise, although I will never love it. People that do are just a bit strange! But yet I found myself, with 2 friends,signing up to Bristol Half Marathon  Running is great because it's free, you can do it at your own pace and build it up depending on your own abilities. However if you're anything like myself I used to hate, actually despise, running in public! Convinced people were always staring at me because I was the fat person who was attempting to run. Yup even after losing almost 6 stone I still see myself as fat. But I soon got over that fear of everyone watching me and learnt to enjoy running, it gave me so much more energy, was a great de-stresser and having signed up for the half marathon I had something to aim for so I couldn't just stop! I'm not going to lie there were days where it would take me a good couple of hours to convince myself that going for a run would make me feel better, and once I'd got out there I felt so much better. The feeling once I'd got back of how much I'd pushed myself & looking back at how far I'd come was such a confidence booster! 

The half marathon itself was such an emotional day! The nervousness before starting of thinking "oh god I've got to run 13.1 miles" but yet the anticipation of crossing the finishing line knowing how far I'd come is something that kept me going, especially around miles 10-11 when I almost cried! Not sure if it was due to pain in my legs or realising that I didn't have far left to go! Seeing 2 of my best friends at the side of the road shouting our names was such a boost and exactly what I needed! And yes I had a small tear in my eye as I crossed the line! My official time came in as 2:19:41 and I've already signed up to my next half! I'm not going to preach about how you should all go out and sign up for a half marathon but if you want to build exercise into your life then I would definatley recommend running! 

Something it took me a while to get my head around is that losing weight isn't just about the number on the scales. And something you should all bear in mind when having a bad week or a STS or a gain. Taking your measurements is a vital ingredient to monitoring weight loss & something I would advise you all to do if you don't already. I have photo's of myself that are only abut a 5-7lb difference but I'm wearing 2 totally different size clothes in them, just because I've been exercising & losing inches rather than pounds!

Support comes from anywhere whether it be friends, family, facebook, twitter, blogging or weight watchers boards. There have been days where everything is going wrong but someone will say something and you'll re focus on why you are doing this. I still have days where I eat everything & anything in sight (sometimes my inner fat girl just wins!) but the next day I'll draw a line. There's a quote that I often see floating around something like "you wouldn't smash your phone up having dropped it, so why let one bad day ruin a good week". I would also recommend comparing pictures of yourself; I do this quite regularly & I'm sure my Facebook friends & twitter followers get fed up of it sometimes but seeing the comments and encouragement from people is sometimes the boost you need to get your head back in it.

Joining Weight Watchers was the best thing I have ever done, whilst I've physically lost so much, I have also gained so much in terms of confidence in myself, pride in who I and my abilities and some fabulous friends along the way! To date I am 11st 2lbs and a size 10-12! It still shocks me that I have achieved this, but have faith in yourself and confidence in how far you can go.

"You haven't failed until you quit trying" - A quote that keeps me going at times I want to throw in the towel, I may not be at goal yet but I am still working on my journey!

Lots of Love 

Elle

xx

Chinese Prawns and Broccoli

This recipe is from the Weight Watchers Cooking for One recipe book that Gem, Sarah and I were lucky enough to receive in our latest hamper. I've made this a couple of times already - its really quick and easy and perfect for the nights when the rest of the family are doing their own thing and I'm left to fend for myself. I tweaked the recipe the second time I made it and it was just as nice.

You will need:

• 1 teaspoon cornflour
• a pinch of cayenne pepper (I added quite a bit more, but then I like spicy food)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 100g raw peeled tiger or king prawns
• low fat cooking spray
• 25g unsalted cashews (I didn't use these the second time I made it as they account for half the total ProPoints value of the total recipe...they're yummy, but they're not that yummy)
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh root ginger
• 100g broccoli, trimmed
• 50g mushrooms (the recipe calls for shiitake but I couldn't get them so I used chestnut)
• 2 tablespoons rice wine or dry sherry
• 1 spring onion, sliced finely at an angle

• Mix together the cornflour, cayenne pepper and soy sauce. Add the prawns and mix well. Set aside in the fridge for half an hour.

• Heat a non stick frying pan or wok until hot and spray with cooking spray. Add the cashews and stir fry for about 30 seconds, or until they start to colour, then remove and set aside. If you're not using cashews then skip this step. Obviously.
• Spray the pan again and add the garlic and ginger. Cook for a few seconds and then add the broccoli and mushrooms. Stir fry over a high heat for 2-3 minutes.

• Add the rice wine or sherry, the prawns and 5 tablespoons of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for a couple of minutes until the prawns turn pink. Add the cashews (if thats you're thing) and half the spring onion and cook for another minute or so.
• Sprinkle over the remaining spring onion. The ProPoints value for this recipe is 8, but without the cashew nuts its 4. Serve with 150g cooked white rice or fresh egg noodles for an additional 6 ProPoints. (I was low on points, so I had stir fried peppers, onion and baby corn instead for an extra ProPoints value of 0)

Enjoy!