Bam!, and it's done.....

It's no secret that losing weight is hard, in fact, it's BLOODY hard.  For me, it is really, really damn hard!!

For the past six weeks I have been dragging my sorry lardy butt down to the gym, it has not been easy, I am not a natural at motivating myself into any form of self-punishment.  But, when I think about it I have in a way.  I have allowed myself to become fat, unfit, unhealthy, frumpy and if I am honest down right miserable.  Is that not a form of self-punishment?

There has not been an excuse either, as I have access to a 24-hour gym!

But it's SO HARD!

So, yes I am rather chuffed with myself that I am now managing to workout twice a week.  And a big change is how it makes me feel about what I eat.  Now, when I look at those evil tempting Sweet Tai Chilli Crisps, I realise that it equates to 30 mins of hard slog on the exercise bike.  I can feel the pain in my thighs even thinking about it!

And cake, those who know me well know how much I flipping love cake!  So to have to cut back takes a humongous amount of willpower.

As I wait for the fizz sticks to kick in for that lift of energy to keep my legs pumping, to keep my arms pulling and pushing those weights, feeling the strain as those bingo wings fights to wobble on!

Am I feeling better, you bet I am!

Whilst I have not lost a biggest loser scale of weight, in fact, it has come off, gone back on, come off over the past six weeks.  I can now run up the stairs without keeling over.  Can wash my hair without getting arm ache (Yes I have been THAT unfit) and can even hike up to Helman Tour without getting all red in the face and heart palpitations :-) go me!

Now, I have not had a gym workout buddy so to speak of, but I have had someone motivating me and making me think twice about not going into the gym, or skiving off for a week.  Mike, who owns Mike Munds Gym has been fantastic.  We go back a long way in terms of me getting fit and healthy, back to the days of step aerobics at the squash court.  So he knows how easy I can be swayed to sit on my arse!  And I have to say the thought of now letting him down after he has made a plan and made me stick to it, is something that motivates my oversized derriere into gear!

So, as I was getting into the last 15 mins of random hell on the bike today, a thought came to me of Bam! and the workout is done! And I smiled and thought, thank goodness for that......

Bargain buys.....

So, for the past year things have been quite tight in the household due to my decision to go back into Self-Employment and return to college.  BUT, I am always one for a markdown bargain food section. It is the reason that I bought a freezer (well, my wonderful parents bought me it as a present)

So, delighted I was to last night have some bacon for just 9p :-) and also some of the loin steaks for 45p.  Now, my motto with food lately, to make a meal out of nothing is 'What would Ruth do?'  So, instead of just grilling the steaks I thought I would make them into a kind of casserole.  I had seen a post online (yup, can I nail it?) regarding breakfast casseroles, not something that I had come across before.  This recipe is kinda adapted from one of those.  Also, I had some dubious potatoes from a September markdown to use up and a manky onion.  Waste not want not.....

Here's the obligatory foodie picture....

So, in the dish:

4 sprouting potatoes peeled and cubed
1 medium sweet potato, also peeled and cubed
half a manky onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped in with the onion
1 medium sweet pepper diced
1 wilted celery stalk finely chopped
Then I found a half noodled courgette, so I chopped that up and tossed it in
2 Bacon Loin Steaks cubed
Sprinkle of Mrs Dash (bloody awesome stuff and yes it's American!)
Sprinkle of Seasoned Salt

toss all this around with 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil, or whatever equivalent you have in the store cupboard.

Willingly chuck this into your preheated oven (about 200) for about 35 mins, check it about a third of the way through to see how the spuds are cooking, and give it a regular stir.

Now for the casserole bit!

5 Large Eggs
125ml of Cream, or Milk
250g of cheese
pinch black pepper

Pour this over the potato dish and return to the oven for about 8 mins, or until the eggs are nearly set. At this point sprinkle on the cheese, when the cheese is brown and bubbling (nom a nom a nom) remove and serve.  If you are feeling artistic, you can garnish with some greenery.

So lets recap, it's basically Bacon and cheese.......and it was mightly delicious!  Not bad for out of date food, including the cream as I didn't have any milk.

Am still not sure why this mix has been referred to as a casserole, ass it is more like a frittata, so maybe that is an American thing as well

Have you had any store cupboard triumphs?

http://www.thereciperebel.com/no-dishes-grilled-breakfast-casserole/