The end of the weekend and what a great weekend I have had incorporating exercise into my mum life.

We went for a walk this morning to the local duck pond and went for a nice walk….until we got rained on and had to come home quickly.

Then this afternoon we trotted off to the playground this afternoon once the weather passed and the sun was back out again.

Life even 8 months ago was so different and we would have driven to the playground at the end of the street let alone walked to the playground that’s even further away.

I love that my sleeve is making me a better and more active mum and I am so beyond excited to think where am I going to be this time next year!

This sleeve has not changed my life…..my sleeve is a tool that has helped and supported me to make the lifestyle changes that I needed to become the best possible version of myself. This has not at all been an easy way out, nothing about what I have endured has been easy. There has been a lot of blood, sweat, tears and vomit involved but I am proud that I have completely change my life, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Not everything has been smooth sailing I have had to work hard to get to where I am now and every day I have another battle to deal with both big and small however there is not one regret or one doubt in my mind that aside from Lachlan this is the best decision I have ever made. I am becoming the person I have always wanted to become and have always deserve to be.

Actually, my only regret…..not doing it sooner!!! But I guess the universe works in mysterious ways and the reason my time is now is so that all the amazing sleeve sister and brothers that have come into my life wouldn’t have come into my life if I made this decision a lot earlier!

Honeycomb Mousse with Protein Crumble

Makes: 12

Mousse Ingredients:

• 1 cup thickened cream
• 1/2 cup natural yoghurt
• 2 scoops (60g) honeycomb protein powder
• 2 teaspoon gelatine
• 1/3 cup boiling water

Crumble Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 scoops (30g) chocolate protein powder
• 1 tablespoon cacao
• 2 tablespoons crushed nuts
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Method:

• To make the Mousse dissolve the gelatine into the boiling water and then set aside
• Using electric beater to whip the cream, fold through the yoghurt, protein powder and gelatine mix until well combined
• Divide the mixture evenly between 12 containers, jars or cupcake cakes
• To make the Crumble place the oats, protein powder and cacao into a blender and pulse a couple times to slightly chop the oats
• Add the crushed nuts and maple syrup and use your fingers to clump the mixture together to form a Crumble
• Sprinkle the Crumble evenly over the top of the Mousse.
• Place on the fridge to set for a minimum of 4 hours but preferably overnight.
• 

Nutritional Value per portion:

• Calories: 124
• Total fat: 7.7g
• Total carbohydrates: 5.1g
• Sugars: 3g
• Protein: 8.1g

Recipe Notes:

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 7 days
• This recipe is not suitable for the freezer
• Protein powder used in the recipe is Protein Supplies Australia WPI Fast Release protein powders
• You can buy online from www.proteinsuppliesaustralia.com.au
• Use the Discount code psafriendsofhollys at checkout to get a 10% discount

Disclaimer: C4K Kitchen does not hold any responsibility for the consumer using this recipe including the storage guidelines and time frames recommended in the recipe notes. The consumer holds all responsibilities to ensure that food hygiene and safety standards are adhered to.

Coffee Protein Up & Go Go Go

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 1 weetbix biscuit
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee
• 1 teaspoon low calorie sweetener
• 1/2 cup high protein milk
• 1/2 scoop (15g) vanilla protein powder

Method:

• Dissolve the coffee and sweetener is the boiling water and then crush the weetbix biscuit into the coffee mixture
• Place in the fridge to soak overnight
• Add the milk and protein powder then blend until smooth
• Serve and enjoy immediately.

Nutritional Value per serve:

• Calories: 160
• Total fat: 2.6g
• Total carbohydrates: 19.5g
• Sugars: 10.3g
• Protein: 22.8g

Recipe Notes:

• Best served fresh

Disclaimer: C4K Kitchen does not hold any responsibility for the consumer using this recipe including the storage guidelines and time frames recommended in the recipe notes. The consumer holds all responsibilities to ensure that food hygiene and safety standards are adhered to.

Beefy BBQ Sausage Rolls

Makes: 20 large, 40 small or 60 party size

Ingredients:

• 5 puff pastry sheets, defrosted
• 500g  beef mince
• 500g sausage mince
• 200g diced bacon
• 3/4 cup BBQ sauce
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, finely diced
• 3/4 cup breadcrumbs

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line a tray with baking paper
• Place all ingredients except the puff pastry in a mixing bowl and massage the mixture through your fingertips until well combined
• Divide the mixture into 10 even portions
• Cut the puff pastry sheets down the centre into half forming 2 rectangles
• Using 1 half of the pastry evenly spread 1 portion of the meat down the slightly off centre down the middle of the wrap in a sausage shape
• Fold the smaller portion over the meat
• Fold the other side over to complete the sausage roll and use the tip of a fork to fuse the layers of pastry together the entire way along the join
• Cut each log into your desired portion size. Half for large, 4 for small or 6 for party size then place on the baking tray with the seal side down
• Repeat with the remaining pastry and meat portions
• Brush the tops of the sausage rolls with egg wash
• Bake in the pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes on the tray before before enjoying or transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Notes:

• Store covered in the fridge for a maximum of 3 days
• This recipe is freezer friendly to be consumed within 6 months.
• Also delicious served hot or cold

Disclaimer: C4K Kitchen does not hold any responsibility for the consumer using this recipe including the storage guidelines and time frames recommended in the recipe notes. The consumer holds all responsibilities to ensure that food hygiene and safety standards are adhered to.

Last night before Lachlan went to bed I promised him that I would take him to the gym playroom in the morning. Oh man on man did I regret my decision to make that promise when I was tired and would have been happy to stay at home……but one little man was very excited to be “going to the play room while mummy exercised”.

My gym buddy really is my best motivation to be the best possible version of myself.

This afternoon I could up with a girlfriend and I had a pair of pants on that I had recently found in my wardrobe only to be told that looked like pyjamas and before we went to dinner and movies it would necessary to go and buy new pants! For the record size 20 pants!!

The girls at work have been giving me loveable grief about my old full length cardigan being way to big and engulfing me like a tent and I have so far resisted the urge to get a new one knowing we will soon be heading to warmer weather however today I was talked into getting a new one…..a size 18!!! I have not owned any size 18 clothes in over 15 years.

It’s safe to say my sizes are rapidly dropping and my 5 bags that are going off to good will have been extended to 7 bags….I seem to have skipped 24’a completely and it feels amazing!!!

Chicken Keema Kebabs

Makes: 4 large, 8 midi or 12 mini kebabs

Ingredients:

• 500g chicken mince
• 1/2 small onion, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 small green chilli, finely diced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala

Method:

• Place 4/8 full length or 12 short wooden skewers into a bowl of water so they are fully submerged and allow them to soak
• Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and massage the mixture through your finger tips until well combined
• Divide the mixture into even size portions 4, 8 or 12
• Flatten the portion into a rectangle and place the wooden skewer in the middle
• 
• Wrap the chicken mixture fully around compacting into an even size, a square shape will allow for even cooking
• 
• Place the prepare skewers gently on a silicon mat of a plate lined within baking paper into the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Chicken mince is very soft and this important step will make the cooking process easier in retaining the Kebabs shape
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius
• Bake then latke kebabs for 15 minutes, midi Kebabs for 12 minutes and mini Kebabs for 9 minutes
• Transfer to a hot heavy based frying pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray to brown the outsides.
• Serve with your choice of salad or vegetables

Nutritional Value per mini Kebab:

• Calories: 68
• Total fat: 2.9g
• Total carbohydrates: 1.6g
• Sugars: 0.1g
• Protein: 8.1g

Recipe Notes:

• Store covered in the fridge for a maximum of 2 days
• This recipe is freezer friendly to be consumed within 6 months.
• Picture shown is a mini Keema Kebab.

Disclaimer: C4K Kitchen does not hold any responsibility for the consumer using this recipe including the storage guidelines and time frames recommended in the recipe notes. The consumer holds all responsibilities to ensure that food hygiene and safety standards are adhered to.g

Today I reached another milestone in this crazy journey!

I very special person to me for the last six months has been nagging the crap out of me (with love) about my inability to accept a compliment and how I need to get over it and graciously say thank you in return and then actually believe it myself.

There must have been something in the air today as I received not one, not two but eleven that’s right count them eleven seperate people at work comment on how beautiful, phenomenal, gorgeous, thin, healthy, lovely I looked today.

Normally I would have laughed and made some kind of joke about people giving me a compliment like that. Today I simply said thank you!

Several people asked what the occasion was today and I just giggled saying isn’t debuting a new dress enough of an occasion?

Old negative habits still die hard though and I secretly did wonder to myself as I was receiving all these compliments today…..so I normally look that hideous that makes today so good? Hahaha

One step at a time so today I am celebrating the fact that I graciously and sincerely said thank you to received compliments…….without making a joke!

Today I’m feeling like I’m back in the game. My health is on the definitely improve and I’m feeling so much better and nearing back to being pain free completely. My head is in the best place it has been with my eyes actually seeing and believing the changes – even if I do feel like pinching myself occasionally to make sure I am not dreaming.

Today was a day to celebrate as it was the day I got to wear my second goal dress being a size 20 from the standard clothes range. It feels so good to meet these milestones and to stop and celebrate along the way. One of my gorgeous sleeve sisters sent me some before photos of me 1 week after I started Opti and wow I don’t ever remember being so big and uncomfortable looking so thought it was the perfect time to do another side by side comparison.

My belly no longer sticks out further than my boobs and I’m starting to have a defined waist and my shape is in the right ratios. And yes to those who have made comments on my new legs……I can see it now too 😳

After work tonight I got stuck back into the gym. The girls had a giggle as I walked in firstly welcoming me back into my nightly routines but also laughing at me that I am a real gym girl now as I was apparently wearing proper gym leggings with ventilation strips….couldn’t have fooled me, I just bought them because they were cheap, cute and small hahaha

I was in the ladies gym for the first 40 minutes and I had the entire room to myself!

It’s nice to get back into it and tonight I pushed myself more than I have since I have been back doing a mixture of cardio (cross trainer and bike) and weights pushing myself to go up another 5-10kg higher in weight on all the equipment and doing another 5 repetitions in each set.

I’m stuffed now and ready to crawl into bed!!

It’s weigh in Wednesday! This one I had no idea at all what to expect given I gained last week and given I’m well and truly into operational unblock…..but I can honestly say I WAS NOT at all expecting this result!!

This week – 3.1kg

Since surgery – 51.6kg

Total 70.5kg

Only 1.7kg of that is added to my progressive total after last weeks gain but I’m beyond elated with this outcome. Clearly I have managed to move on and evacuate some of my problems and pains as I’m feeling better and more myself everyday.

This week I have cracked two milestones within one week. 50kg since surgery and 70kg on total, I could not even fathom that I would ever be where I am now and be there as quick as I have arrived there. I am now the smallest I have ever been on the 7 years that I have been with Jamie.

Today I am proud of myself and content with where I am right now in life and I’m excited to find out where I will be in the next 1 month, 3 month, 6 months etc. the world is my oyster and I’m worth it.

Today was my first day completely pain relief free, a day without panadol! I still have pains and discomforts but I am able to cope with them.

I went to the shops this morning to get some school supplies for Lachlan I saw a clearance sale in the clothes section, which makes me like a red rag to a bull at the moment. A lot of it wasn’t winter clothes but clothes for when it starts to warm up a bit so I decided to get size 20 and didn’t even both frying them on as I know I’ll need them later down the track. I got them home and thought uni would try them on just for giggles. Well you could knock me down with a feather but they fit……every single one of them fit! They aren’t fit for public appearances yet but they will be in the near future.

Went to the gym again tonight but took it a lot steadier than last night doing 20 minutes light cardio and 30 minutes light weights.

Weigh in tomorrow, I am so very intrigued and nervous to see what the results are going to be!