weight loss Archives - One Girl and her Thermie

Fit Farms Life Long Living

I’ve recently spent a week at FitFarms Derbyshire.

The company, FitFarms specialises in non Fitness and Weight Loss Boot Camp style programmes allowing people of different fitness levels, shapes, sizes, and medical conditions to join and feel comfortable in a retreat environment. Their tailored programmes provide a holistic approach without the fat camp or fitness boot camp regime guaranteeing you lose body fat, tone up, and kick start a healthy new lifestyle with the support of an aftercare programme. The FitFarms course is scientifically proven and has appeared on The BBC and Channel 4 helping the NHS with new fitness and lifestyle initiatives. The success of these courses is based on creating an educational lifestyle retreat as opposed to the traditional fat camp.

I originally booked this during lockdown when my sister and I were so frustrated with staying home that a reset and restart week away (read, away from the husbands and children) was exactly what we were looking for. Yes, I could lose a little weight but when I booked I was more looking forward to the retreat part of it. Yoga, meditation, talks etc.

Well, now that I’m back, how different things are. I did lose weight, 4lbs in 4 days after the relaxing and rigorous exercise, from gentle walking in the Dales to HIIT sessions, a plant-based meal planning, and intermittent fasting.

The plant-based menu was to die for and given that I am a Thermomix owner and Advisor, watch out for me converting Justin Lord‘s recipes into a Thermomix version. Every meal I ate during my time way could be re-engineered to a TM-way, so I’m excited and raring to go. Justin gave an amazing program of fitness classes but what I loved more than anything was the mindset classes and science behind it all. I’m a scientist, I like medical evidence. For example, having the science behind stuff and seeing the chart on how your blood sugar remains high throughout the day with snacking means that I’m now a no-snack girl.

I won’t lie though. For those who know me, I do like a sweet treat, so I’m going to follow the FitFarms philosophy and reward myself with a treat at the end of the meal. It means I still get that hit of sweet but I’m eating at the right time. So my current regime is IF for 16-18 hours, black coffee and a walk, following by breaking fast with a smoothie or breakfast bowl, light lunch and dinner before 7pm.

So, join me as I continue this fitness and weight loss journey and experimentation into plant-based nutrition. I’ll be reblogging some of the FitFarms recipes which I know are easily converted to Thermomix.

SW Cauliflower Couscous

Leave a Comment / Salads, Snacks, Vegan & Vegetarian

Cauliflower couscous? That was my first thought when my colleague first introduced me to this recipe. Of course nothing beats wheat couscous, steamed and flavoured to perfection but when avoiding wheat or trying to eat more speed foods, this is an amazing addition to your side dish repertoire; mock cauliflower couscous.

Making cauliflower couscous in your Thermomix is super easy. You just grind up fresh cauliflower florets in your until they resemble couscous. Add some other vegetables such as red and yellow peppers for colour, onion and dates for flavour, a bit of white wine vinegar and olive oil and then serve.

Credit: This recipe has been slightly adapted from the Cookidoo Platform Collection Alternative Sides. Link to this recipe on Cookidoo for guided cooking is here.

SW Coleslaw

Leave a Comment / Dairy, Salads, Snacks, Vegan & Vegetarian

Coleslaw is a classic dish to accompany many meals including BBQ, jacket potatoes and perfect both in the summer and winter. This Slimming World (SW) coleslaw is full of their ‘free’ food and therefore in SW-speak, syn-free.

I have to admit, I’ve recently joined Slimming World. My son is nearly 7 years old and I just haven’t haven’t lost the baby weight. It’s got to do with a combination of things; working too hard, eating all the recipes that I cook for my Thermomix business and way too many cakes/ desserts that my children love and not exercising as much as I need to, to keep the weight off. In fairness, I do go to the gym and a have a personal trainer and whilst I feel fitter and healthier, I feel big.

When we’re in our teens and twenties, losing weight is often as simple as turning down that extra scoop of ice cream or adding some occasional exercise to our routines. However, as our age increases, our metabolic rate has a tendency to plummet, turning what used to be an effective diet and exercise plan into a recipe for serious weight gain. For women in particular, hormonal changes after age 40, including menopause, can make it harder to lose weight and keep it off.

So I’ve decided to do something about this and whilst I make home cooked food daily, incorporating Slimming World (SW) recipes into my daily routine shouldn’t be so bad, should it? Well, having joined on a whim just this lunchtime, with BBQ ribs marinating for dinner, while the rest of the family enjoy ribs with fries, I’ll be having mine with delicious homemade SW coleslaw.

NOTE: Everyone really enjoyed this recipe, including my fussy Thermo-hubby. Syn-free but super tasty too.