Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Orzo – 526 calories

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This Creamy Chicken and Chorizo One-Pan Orzo has become a recent favourite in our house. I originally made it as a way of using up a packet of orzo that had been sitting in the cupboard for far too long, but it was such a success that it’s already earned a place on my regular meal rotation.

Packed with tender chicken, smoky chorizo, plenty of vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes and finished with grated Parmesan cheese, it’s one of those dishes that feels wonderfully indulgent whilst actually being surprisingly sensible. The orzo absorbs all the flavours as it cooks, creating a rich, creamy texture without the need for lots of extra ingredients. Best of all, everything cooks in one pan, making it quick to prepare and keeping the washing up to a minimum – always a bonus in my book!

Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Orzo – 526 calories

Extra Virgin Olive Oil                                                                            –     10ml
Onions, Raw                                                                                            –     100g
Carrots                                                                                                      –     60g
Celery                                                                                                        –     36g
Red Pepper                                                                                              –    120g
White Wine Stock Pot                                                                            –     1 Pot/28g
Chorizo, Spicy Spanish Ring                                                                 –     45g
Tomatoes, Sun-dried, Drained                                                            –     45g
Courgette                                                                                                  –     250g
Garlic, Raw                                                                                               –     4 Cloves/12g
Paprika                                                                                                      –     2 Tsps/4g
Thyme, Dried                                                                                           –     1 Tsp/1g
Water                                                                                                         –     400ml
Orzo Pasta                                                                                                –     150g
Chicken Breast, Roast, cooked without skin                                     –     260g
Parmesan Cheese                                                                                    –     30g

Preparation:

Peel and finely dice the onion. De-seed and cut the red pepper into bite-sized chunks. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Trim the courgette and cut into 1cm chunks. Peel and finely dice the carrot.  Wash anf finely dice the celery.

Cut the chorizo into slices about 4mm thick and then halve the slices.

Drain the sundried tomatoes and cut them into small pieces. Dice the cooked chicken into bite-sized chunks. Finely grate the Parmesan cheese.

Method:

Pour the oil into a pre-heated heavy pan. Add the onion, carrot, and celery, then turn the heat down.  Cook until softened and translucent, then add the chorizo and fry until lightly browned. Add the garlic, red pepper, and courgette. Continue to fry for a few moments.

Add the paprika, the water (boiling) and the stock pot. Add the orzo and the dried thyme.

Cook on a low simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Add the chicken and stir over the heat for around 5 minutes, just long enough to warm through.

Finally, just before serving, stir through the grated Parmesan cheese. It melts into the sauce, giving the dish a wonderfully creamy texture and rich, indulgent flavour. It’s amazing how such a simple addition can transform the whole meal, making it feel like a real treat whilst still being a satisfying one-pot dish.

 

Nutrition Data Per Serving

Calories (kcal)             516.0
Protein (g)                     37.8
Carbohydrate (g)           48.9
Fat (g)                           18.8
Fibre (g)                          4.6
Fruit & Veg                      2.0

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 55 (2.5mg every 5 days)

flidfit Healthy Swaps, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Sweet Treats, Titrating dose, Wegovy Pill

For those of you who didn’t see my blog post yesterday about my decision to try the Wegovy pill, do take a look.

This past week has felt particularly difficult when it comes to staying on track with my calories. It’s not so much about what I’m eating (I’m still making sensible choices) as the fact that I seem to feel hungry all the time. And, if I’m honest, I’m not enjoying it very much at all.

It’s taking a huge amount of willpower to stop myself from diving into the fridge and snuffling everything in sight. The return of hunger and food noise has really reminded me just how much Mounjaro was helping in the background.

What has become increasingly clear to me over the past few weeks is that the hunger isn’t easing as my dose reduces – if anything, it’s becoming more noticeable. Given that I’m continuing to taper down, I can only see this becoming more challenging over the coming months.

After spending a year enjoying the freedom from constant hunger and food noise, I’ve realised just how much mental energy it takes to battle those feelings day after day. While I have every intention of continuing with the healthy habits that have served me well for the past 14 years, I’m also realistic. I’m not prepared to spend the rest of my life feeling hungry all the time and relying solely on willpower to manage it.

That’s a big part of the reason I’ve decided to try the Wegovy pill. If it can provide even some of the appetite suppression and relief from food noise that I’ve experienced with Mounjaro, then it could prove to be a valuable long-term tool in helping me maintain both my weight and my quality of life.

The weather forecast certainly isn’t going to help matters. We’re expecting a very hot week ahead, and by Wednesday temperatures could be nudging 40°C. I don’t plan on moving very much at all. My intention is to stay indoors and keep as cool as possible. Thankfully, our house is quite old with lovely solid brick walls, so it stays surprisingly cool downstairs. We also have built-in air conditioning units in each of the two bedrooms, which is essential as they’re built into the roof space and can become unbearably hot during the summer.

I briefly considered driving down to the coast for the day, but the thought of sitting in a car, even one with air conditioning, just seems a little foolish in those sorts of temperatures. Instead, my sister is coming over to work this week, and I’ve hatched a plan to stay indoors. In exchange for keeping cool, I’m putting her to work painting part of the ceiling! She’s very practical and good at that sort of thing.

We’ll have all the fans running to keep the air circulating, and they actually do a pretty decent job. Another trick is to run both air conditioning units upstairs with the bedroom doors open, allowing the cooler air to drift down through the house. It usually knocks a few degrees off the temperature downstairs.

In food news, I’ve recently rediscovered orzo. I found a packet lurking in the back of the cupboard and have been making a delicious chicken-and-chorizo orzo dish. It includes sun-dried tomatoes, grated Parmesan cheese, plenty of vegetables, and, of course, the chicken and chorizo.  It’s one of those meals that tastes far more indulgent than it actually is. It’s wonderfully filling, so you don’t need a huge portion, and because it’s all cooked in one pot, it’s quick to prepare and creates very little washing up. Definitely a recipe that’s earned a place in my regular rotation and one that I plan to share later this week.

I’ve also been making good use of the fruit from the garden. I made two batches of fruit compote – one gooseberry and one blackcurrant. To keep the sugar content low, I used chia seeds to thicken the compotes rather than relying on lots of sugar. They worked brilliantly and created a lovely, thick texture. I had a little taste of both while washing up the saucepans; they were absolutely delicious.

Inspired by the success of the compotes, I came up with another little experiment. I filled some silicone muffin cases with 50g of Total 5% Greek yoghurt, then swirled a generous teaspoon of either gooseberry or blackcurrant compote through the yoghurt.

They’re currently sitting in the freezer, and I’m hoping the result will be a delicious homemade fruit ice cream. If it works, it could become one of my favourite summer treats. The combination of the creamy yoghurt and sharp fruit flavours sounds very promising indeed.

The best part is that each one works out at only around 70 calories, making them a refreshing and satisfying option for those moments when I fancy something sweet. I’ll report back once I’ve sampled them and let you know whether they’re a triumph or a complete disaster!  Hopefully, they will help cool us down during the coming heatwave.

There’s something especially satisfying about eating fruit that you’ve grown and harvested yourself.

Now, if I can just make it through this week without melting – or eating the contents of the fridge – I shall consider it a success!

Weight this week:  55.7kg (8st 11lbs)
Weight last week: 55.8kg (8st 11.2lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: -0.10kg (0.2lb)
100% – 4 months, 10 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

Why I’m Going to Try the New Wegovy Pill

flidfit Disability, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose, Wegovy Pill

After a lot of thought, I’ve signed up to try the new Wegovy weight-loss pill.

Many of you who regularly read or subscribe to my posts will know that I’ve been gradually reducing my Mounjaro dose since reaching my goal weight in January. The plan was always to see whether I could successfully maintain my weight on less medication, while continuing to rely on the habits and routines that have served me well for the past 14 years.

However, over the last few weeks I’ve noticed a definite change, and it’s been increasingly difficult to stick to my daily calorie allowance.

My appetite has increased considerably and, perhaps more significantly, the food noise has returned.

For those who have never experienced it, food noise is that constant chatter in your head about food. Thinking about what to eat, when to eat, whether to have a snack, counting down the time to the next meal and battling cravings that seem to appear out of nowhere. Mounjaro quietened all of that for me. As my dose has reduced, in the last 4 weeks, it has gradually started to creep back.

The reality is that my daily calorie allowance is incredibly low. At 4ft 8in, 63 years old and with very limited mobility due to my disability, my maintenance calories are only around 1,100 calories per day.  I don’t have the ability to earn additional calories through doing lots of calorie-burning activities or exercise.

What has surprised me is just how much I have come to appreciate the freedom that Mounjaro gave me. For the past seven or eight months, particularly when I was on the higher doses, sticking to my calorie allowance felt easy. The constant internal negotiation around food largely disappeared. I wasn’t fighting hunger all day, and I wasn’t endlessly thinking about what I could or couldn’t eat. Instead, I was able to eat sensible portions, stay within my calorie target and watch the weight come down gradually, week after week.

Looking back, I realise how much mental energy Mounjaro took out of the process. Weight loss still required planning, calorie awareness and making sensible choices, but it no longer felt like a daily battle against my own appetite. As the dose has reduced, I’ve become increasingly aware of just how much work the medication was doing behind the scenes.

In many ways, the return of hunger and food noise has been a reminder of what life was like before treatment. It has made me appreciate just how transformative Mounjaro has been for me, not simply in helping me lose weight, but in making it feel achievable and sustainable.

                         

What this experience has made me realise is that if I want to maintain my weight loss long-term and avoid regaining the weight, I may need some form of ongoing medical support. There is absolutely no shame in that.

I’ve joined the pre-order list with Pharmacy Online for the newly approved Wegovy pill and have paid £106 for 30 tablets at the 4mg dose. They’ve suggested that this is roughly equivalent to the level of appetite suppression I currently receive from my low-dose Mounjaro maintenance regime.

The tablets are expected to arrive sometime in July.

One of the attractions for me is the convenience. No injections, no sharps bin, no refrigeration and no travelling with injection pens. Instead, it’s simply one tablet first thing in the morning with a small amount of water, followed by a 30-minute wait before eating or drinking anything else. As someone who rarely eats breakfast anyway, that should fit quite easily into my daily routine.

Will it work as well as Mounjaro? I genuinely don’t know.

But I do know that the return of hunger and food noise has reminded me just how difficult life felt before I started treatment. It has also reinforced my belief that obesity and weight regain are not simply about willpower for many individuals.

For me, maintaining my weight isn’t about fitting into a particular dress size or about how I look in a bikini. It’s about preserving my mobility, reducing pain, protecting my independence and giving myself the best chance of remaining active and healthy as I get older.

I’ll continue documenting my experiences honestly and sharing exactly how I get on with the Wegovy pill, including any side effects, changes in appetite, effectiveness and, of course, whether it helps me maintain my weight.

If you’d like to hear more about why I’ve made this decision, I’ve also recorded a YouTube video where I talk through my reasoning in much more detail.

As always, I’d love to hear from anyone else considering the Wegovy pill or already planning to switch from Mounjaro.

Feel free to leave a comment and share your own experiences.

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 54 (2.75mg every 5 days)

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This week has been the culmination of several things coming together at once.

Firstly, my sister finally had her knee replacement surgery on Monday and is now on the road to recovery. It’s been a long-awaited operation, so we’re all relieved that it’s behind her and that she can now focus on healing, regaining her mobility and hopefully not limited by pain as she has been these past 8 or 9 months or so.

Sam is always saying how varied her job is, and Tuesday certainly proved her point. That morning, we took part in a Zoom presentation, discussing why some people with Thalidomide impairments may be reluctant to seek support and services until a crisis arises.  That was precisely my own experience in 2002, following a head on car crash in France.  Besides being faced with recovery from surgery for a broken leg, I also needed emergency support because I was unable to do anything for myself.  You can read more about that here

I spoke about my own experiences and views on support, while Sam was able to contribute from a completely different perspective, talking about what it’s like working alongside me and supporting someone with a disability, sharing examples of the sorts of things I ask for her to assist me with. I recognised afterwards, how an important part of what she is able to do for me is to assist me in supporting others, such as taking part in the call, accompanying me when I do community litter picks that I am responsible for organising, fixing floors for the charity I’m a Trustee for

Having both viewpoints represented felt particularly valuable, as it highlighted not only the practical aspects of support but also the importance of understanding, trust and independence.

On Saturday, my partner Mike and I went to see the results of a project that I have been involved in curating over the past few months. The exhibition focuses on the history of the immediate area around Christchurch Green and brings together photographs, memories and stories spanning more than a century.

The exhibition formed part of the annual Whiteknights Studio Trail, a wonderful local event that showcases the talents of artists, makers and community groups across the area. Exhibitions and displays can be found in all sorts of locations, including people’s homes, schools, community buildings and gardens.

Our first stop was one of the trail venues before heading to a beautiful horticultural therapy garden that was also participating

in the event. Refreshments were available there, and I happily enjoyed a generous slice of homemade carrot cake accompanied by a lovely cup of tea. Much as I am aware that cake is rarely calorie-friendly, sometimes something is simply worth the calories, and this was definitely one of those occasions. The cake was delicious, the setting was beautiful, and it felt like the perfect treat for a lovely afternoon out.

Part of the day’s pleasure was the journey between venues. We walked through the stunning grounds of the University of Reading, which looked particularly beautiful in the sunshine. We are incredibly fortunate to live right next door to such a wonderful green space, and even more fortunate that the university is so welcoming in allowing the public to enjoy it.

Finally, we arrived at the venue hosting the Christchurch Green exhibition.

Seeing all the boards displayed together for the first time was quite a special moment. I have to say, it looked incredible. After all the planning, designing, editing and organising, it was immensely satisfying to see the finished result.

What was especially rewarding was watching visitors engage with the exhibition. People weren’t simply glancing at the displays as they walked past; they were stopping to read the memories, study the photographs and chat about their own connections to the area. Several people took the time to compliment us on the exhibition, which was lovely to hear and made all the hard work worthwhile.

Part of the exhibition was stickers in the various shop windows – showing the parade of shops as they were through the decades.

Projects like this involve a huge amount of effort behind the scenes, much of which visitors never see. There are countless hours spent researching, gathering material, designing displays, checking facts and coordinating contributors. Seeing people enjoy the exhibition and hearing their positive feedback made every minute worthwhile.

Although the exhibition finishes today, I suspect this won’t be the end of the story. There is already interest in finding other opportunities to display the exhibition to local groups and community organisations, allowing an even wider audience to enjoy the photographs and memories. It would be wonderful if the stories of Christchurch Green could continue to be shared long after the Studio Trail has ended.

Part of the day’s pleasure was the journey between venues. We walked through the stunning grounds of the University of Reading, which looked particularly beautiful in the sunshine. We are incredibly fortunate to live right next door to such a wonderful green space, which includes a lake.   The university is welcoming and allows the public to enjoy its campus.

One of the nicest things about the Studio Trail is that it feels like a real community event.
As we wandered between venues, we kept bumping into friends, neighbours and familiar faces, stopping for chats and catching up on news. It all added to the relaxed and friendly atmosphere, making the afternoon feel as much about community as it was about art.

So, have my cake indulgences affected my weight?

The short answer is no.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the past 14 years is that weight management is about patterns, not individual foods. A slice of homemade carrot cake enjoyed in a beautiful garden with good company is not what causes weight gain. Repeated overindulgence day after day is a different matter entirely.

My weight remains comfortably within the range I’ve set for myself during maintenance, despite a week that included cake, eating out, socialising, and plenty of opportunities to consume more calories than usual.

What has changed over the years is my relationship with food. There was a time when I might have declined the cake because I was “on a diet”, only to feel deprived and then raid the biscuit tin later. These days, I make a conscious choice. If something looks truly enjoyable and worth it, I have it, enjoy every mouthful and then move on.

For me, successful maintenance isn’t about perfection. It’s about finding a balance that allows me to enjoy life while keeping my weight where I want it to be. This week has been a good reminder that life’s memorable moments rarely revolve around calorie counts. They revolve around family milestones, helping others, contributing to your community, spending time with people you care about and occasionally enjoying a rather excellent slice of carrot cake.

Weight this week: 55.85kg (8st 11.1lb)
Weight last week: 55.05kg (8st 9.4lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: +0.8kg (1.7lb)
100% – 4 months, 4 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 8lb – 8st 11lbs)

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 53 (2.75mg every 5 days)

flidfit Disability, Eating Out, Eating Out, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose, Travel, YouTube

It has been a very sociable week.

The week started with a day trip to visit a friend who lives in Shrivenham, Wiltshire, followed by a lunchtime visit from a friend over from Germany for a few weeks.

This was followed by an evening of gin and tonics with a neighbour, where peanuts and little savoury biscuits were on offer, but I was quite pleased with myself as I stopped at a single measure of gin and tonic. What affected me more than the drink was the late night! Having said that, I was still in bed by 10pm, but that’s late for me these days. My head was still buzzing from all the conversation and it took me a little while to drift off to sleep.

Later in the week, we enjoyed a day out in London to see Come Alive, the Greatest Showman-inspired spectacular. It was absolutely amazing in London at the Empress Theatre (built on the site of the former Earls Court conference centre).

We were attending the matinee performance, and I’d deliberately planned for us to arrive early enough to have lunch beforehand. The food options at the venue looked fairly uninspiring, and I imagined there would be lots of people all trying to eat at the same time. Instead, we found a lovely café in Brompton Cemetery, just a five-minute walk from the venue.

Brompton Cemetery and Park

I’d never visited Brompton Cemetery before (or indeed any Cemetery in London!) and was struck by how beautiful it was. As part of the Royal Parks, it’s enormous and feels like a peaceful oasis in the middle of London. I was particularly pleased to learn that it is the final resting place of Emmeline Pankhurst, who led the suffragette movement. Many of the graves date back to the 1800s, and some of the monuments and mausoleums are incredibly impressive, clearly belonging to notable and wealthy families of the time.

Emmeline Pankhurst’s grave

The show itself was spectacular. It combined singing, dancing, acrobatics, magic and even fire-eating, all performed within a circus setting. The talent on display was incredible, and we were fortunate enough to have seats right at the very front.

The access team also deserve a special mention. The care and attention they provided throughout the show was exceptional. They checked in with us regularly, explained what would happen and when, ensured we were seated before the main rush of people arrived, and even escorted us through a priority entrance so we could avoid the queues. It made the whole experience so much easier and more enjoyable.

After the show, we met up with one of our friends. She had spent a week in London after travelling from the Isle of Man and joined us for the journey back to Reading and dinner before flying home the following day. We had parked at a hotel for the day and, somehow, managed to secure free parking, saving ourselves £18 in the process.

So, all in all, it has been a week filled with friendship, days out and plenty of socialising.

On the weight-loss and Mounjaro front, my dosage is now down to 2.75mg every five days. I’m also pleased to report that my weight has returned to its pre-holiday level. Given the extra food, reduced activity and all the temptations that came with being away, followed by another busy week packed with socialising, meals out and disrupted routines, I’m very happy with that outcome. It reassures me that the habits I’ve built over the past 14 years are becoming deeply ingrained and can continue to support me, even as I gradually reduce my medication.

Maybe the years of weighing, logging, planning and preparing really are paying off.

I’m just in the process of uploading a video about the holiday, my return to maintenance, and how things are changing as my Mounjaro dose continues to reduce. If you’d like to take a little peek, it’s now live on my YouTube channel.

 

Weight this week: 55.05kg (8st 9.4lbs)
Weight last week: 55.7kg (8st 10.8lbs)
Weekly loss/gain: -0.65kg (-1.4lbs)
100% – 3 months, 26 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 8lb – 8st 11lbs)

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Weeks 51 & 52 (3mg every 5 days)

flidfit Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose, Travel, Travel & Holidays

I’ve been missing for a couple of weeks because I’ve been away on holiday. We couldn’t have chosen a better week to relax in the sunshine, with temperatures reaching the high twenties and even nudging into the early thirties.

I spent the week with my 91-year-old mum and my two younger sisters, both in their early sixties, at a lovely place called Hallow, just outside Worcester. We’ve stayed there twice before and always choose the last week in May to coincide with Mum’s birthday. It’s become something of a tradition – a girls-only holiday, leaving the boys to fend for themselves at home!

The accommodation is a single cabin situated in a small orchard on a working farm. The farm itself is about half a mile down the lane, and the cabin has no neighbours, making it wonderfully peaceful and secluded.

In previous years, we’ve explored the surrounding area, visiting gardens, stately homes, picturesque villages, Worcester city centre and the cathedral. This year was rather different. Three of us were mobility-compromised for various reasons. I use a powered wheelchair when I’m out and about because of my disability. Mum, at 91, can only get around using a rollator or wheelchair, and one of my sisters is awaiting knee replacement surgery in the next couple of weeks and is struggling with significant pain when walking.

To be honest, the weather was so hot that none of us really fancied spending time in the car travelling around. Instead, we decided to stay put and simply enjoy the peace and quiet.  My sister had thoughtfully packed a paddling pool, so in the afternoons, we’d sit in the shade and splash our feet in the cool water….

It turned out to be exactly what we all needed.

We slept incredibly well and settled into a gentle daily routine. After breakfast and showers, we’d spend the mornings reading, chatting, or taking short strolls along the nearby lanes. We made a couple of trips to a large Sainsbury’s and to a lovely farm shop a few miles away to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, but otherwise we barely left the orchard.  Mum and my sisters went to watch the sheep shearing, but I stayed behind in the peace and quiet and stayed cool.

Because I can’t easily cook when away from home — my kitchen is specially adapted for me — I prepared and packed a selection of meals before we left. These included ingredients for my sticky chilli beef and mushrooms, a potato-topped fish pie made with smoked haddock, cod and jumbo prawns in a creamy leek sauce, a batch of my carrot salad, and a Middle Eastern-inspired butternut squash and bulgur wheat salad.

I’d also packed ingredients to make pizza one evening and took my bread machine along to make a malted fruit loaf for us to enjoy with cups of tea.

I thought I’d only prepared enough food for the first couple of days, but most of it lasted the entire week! As a result, I found myself eating very similar lunches each day, but I was perfectly happy with that. The food was delicious, nutritious and, most importantly, already planned and prepared.

Of course, there were plenty of temptations around. Iced buns, toasted teacakes, ice cream, double cream, biscuits and chocolate all made appearances during the week. I managed to avoid most of them, although I certainly didn’t feel deprived.

I enjoyed a small portion of cappuccino ice cream and also created a rather lovely dessert consisting of chopped fresh strawberries, crushed corn cakes and Greek yoghurt, topped with a sprinkle of toasted mixed seeds and a drizzle of maple syrup. If that sounds delicious, I can confirm that it absolutely was!

I also took my Mounjaro medication with me and had one injection during the holiday. I’m now down to 2.75mg every five days. My appetite is no longer significantly suppressed, and I’ve become increasingly aware that cravings for sweet foods — particularly in the evenings — are returning.

The difference now is that I recognise what’s happening. Rather than testing myself unnecessarily, I simply avoid temptation wherever possible. I know that once certain foods start creeping back into my routine, they can quickly become habits again.

Awareness, planning and preparation continue to be my most valuable tools.

So, how did my weight fare after a week away?

Well, here’s my report…

The scales showed a gain of 1kg, but honestly, I’m not too concerned about that.

When I look at the bigger picture, it was a week where I was far less active than I am at home, spending long periods sitting and reading rather than following my normal daily routine. I was also eating more than I usually would, simply because food was a bigger part of our holiday experience, and I was surrounded by plenty of tempting treats throughout the week, most of which were successfully swerved.

Given all of that, I actually feel quite positive about the outcome. I enjoyed myself, I relaxed, I had some treats, and I didn’t spend the week feeling deprived. At the same time, I continued to make sensible choices, stuck largely to the meals I had planned and prepared, and remained mindful of my eating.

A 1kg fluctuation after a week away is hardly surprising and is likely to be influenced by many factors, including changes in routine, food choices, hydration levels and the sheer heat of the weather. What matters far more to me is that I came home feeling refreshed, having thoroughly enjoyed the holiday, and confident that I can simply return to my normal routine.

If maintaining my weight long term means occasionally gaining a kilogram after a holiday and then gently bringing things back into balance afterwards, that feels entirely realistic and sustainable to me. That’s real life, after all.

Weight this week: 55.7kg (8st 10lbs)
Two weeks ago: 54.7kg (about 8st 8lbs)
Weekly loss/gain: +1kg (2lbs)
100% – 3 months, 19 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 8lb – 8st 11lbs)

Courgette, Feta, pea and mint savoury cake – 212 calories

flidfit Healthy Swaps, Recipes, Salads, Salads, Vegeterian

I think I may have saved the best until last.

I describe this as a savoury cake, although it could just as easily be called a quiche – just rather less eggy, with the courgette giving it structure, texture and substance.

The combination of peas and mint works so beautifully together, bringing freshness and sweetness, whilst the feta adds little bursts of salty tanginess throughout. The tomatoes on top not only add colour, but once roasted, their flavour becomes wonderfully rich and intense too.

I nearly always make the larger version because it freezes so well. Individual slices can be taken out and defrosted in just a few moments, making it incredibly handy to have on standby for days when you are tired, busy, or simply not feeling your best. Served with salad, it is practically a meal in itself.

Over the years, I have made many different versions of this courgette savoury cake, experimenting with all sorts of flavour combinations, but this pea, mint and feta version remains my absolute favourite.

Courgette, Feta, pea and mint savoury cake – 212 calories

Preparation Time:        10 mins

Cooking Time:              35 mins

Serves:                            12

Calories per serving:   212.3

 

Ingredients

Courgette                                                              –  500g

Eggs, Free Range, Medium                                    –  6 Eggs/310.2g

Cherry Tomatoes                                                   –  6 Tomatoes/90g

Baking Powder                                                      –  1 Tsp/2g

Extra Virgin Olive Oil                                              –  110ml

Spelt Wholegrain Flour                                           –  120g

Feta Cheese                                                          –  200g

Frozen peas                                                          –  100g

Mint leaves                                                            –  3 Tbsps/4.8g

 

Method

Heat oven to 180 degrees.

Trim and coarsely grate the courgette – no need to drain. Halve the baby tomatoes. Wash and roughly chop the mint. In a large bowl, beat the eggs.

Add the flour (sifted) and baking powder to the eggs.

Add Feta cheese (chopped or crumbled).

Add the remaining ingredients (except courgette and mint) and mix well. Add grated courgette – mix well into the mixture.

Pour into a very well-greased shallow baking dish.  You may wish to line the tin or baking dish with greaseproof paper, which makes removing individual slices much easier.

Halve the tomatoes and use these to garnish the top.

Cook for 30-35 minutes (until firm to the touch in the centre).

 

Nutrition Data Per Serving

Calories (kcal)              212.3

Protein (g)                        8.4

Carbohydrate (g)            8.2

Fat (g)                             16.3

Fibre (g)                           1.9

Fruit & Veg                     0.8

Roasted butternut squash & Bulgar Salad – 120 calories

flidfit Recipes, Salads, Salads, Vegan / Plant based

This is another go-to recipe that I make often, and it always goes down well when I serve it for lunch with friends. It’s also ideal for preparing in advance, as it transports easily and keeps well in the fridge for several days in a sealed container.

The flavours in this dish work really well together. I can’t actually remember how I first came up with the combination, but like many of my recipes, it has gradually evolved over time through experimenting with different ingredients and quantities. I’ve also added aubergine, mushrooms and green beans at different times, and they all worked really well. You can also crumble some Feta over the salad once it has cooled.

Sumac brings a distinctive sharpness and freshness — a tangy, lemony flavour that instantly brightens salads and savoury dishes. Made from dried and ground berries, it has a beautiful, deep reddish-purple colour that adds warmth and vibrancy to the finished dish.

The tamarind adds a different flavour again. It has a sweet-and-sour taste with a slight richness that works really well in dressings. It also gives the dressing a darker colour and helps coat the ingredients evenly, bringing all the flavours together nicely.

Now, at the risk of sounding like a bit of a foodie snob, I do think the quality of the tamarind paste makes a real difference here. I use a particular variety from Steenbergs, which I’ve only ever seen once in a shop and usually buy via Amazon. It is quite pricey, but a little goes a long way.

Once you’ve tried this recipe, I am sure it will become a firm favourite for you too!  A proper “rinse and repeat” in our house.

Let me know what you think!

Roasted butternut squash & Bulgar Salad – 120 calories

Preparation Time:              25 mins

Cooking Time:                    45 mins

Serves:                                   7

Calories per serving:          120

 

Ingredients

Red Onion                                                                  –    180g

Butternut Squash, Raw                                          –    800g

Red pepper                                                               –    One whole

Sumac Spice Mix                                                     –    6g

Bulgur Wheat, Dry Weight                                   –    100g

Olive Oil, Extra Virgin                                           –    12ml

Concentrated Tamarind Paste,
Concentrated, Steenbergs                                    –    3 tsps/6g

Fresh mint leaves, chopped                                 –    4 tbsps/6.4g

Method

Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees.

Peel and chop the butternut squash into 1.5cm cubes.

Remove the stalk and core, and cut the red pepper into 1.5cm cubes. Peel chop the onion into chunks.

Put 15ml of the oil into a roasting dish and place in the oven to heat. After 10 minutes, add the chopped butternut. Stir until coated with the oil. Place into the centre of the oven for 15 minutes. Then add the onion and pepper, sprinkle over the sumac, and stir to ensure everything is coated in the oil. Continue roasting for 10-15 minutes.

Once the oven roasted vegetables are cooked (softened and beginning to char) remove from the oven and add the tamarind paste – stir through to combine.

Cook the bulgar wheat according to the packet instructions. I cook mine in a microwave rice steamer for around 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.  When cooked, drain thoroughly.

Once the bulgar wheat has cooled slightly, add it to the roasted vegetable mix and stir through, combining evenly.

Chop the fresh mint (place leaves in a shallow cup and chop with kitchen scissors – makes it very quick and easy!) Sprinkle onto the salad and stir through.

This can be eaten warm or cold as a salad. Filling and very tasty!

Nutrition Data Per Serving

Calories (kcal)       120.9

Protein (g)             2.8

Carbohydrate (g)   23.1

Fat (g)                  2.2

Fibre (g)                3.6

Fruit & Veg            1.6

Carrot, apple, date, pecan and lime salad – 73 calories

flidfit Recipes, Salads, Salads, Vegan / Plant based, Vegeterian

I mentioned in my last blog post that I’d be sharing some salad ideas.  Over the coming weeks, I plan to share some of my favourite salad recipes. From quick everyday lunches to more substantial salads that make a complete meal, these are the kinds of dishes I never seem to tire of.

This first salad is a carrot, apple, date, pecan and lime salad. It’s refreshing, colourful and has a whole lot of flavour and texture going on. The natural sweetness of the carrot, combined with a small quantity of chopped dates, works beautifully, whilst the coconut and lime juice add an almost tropical flavour. The pecans add a lovely crunch to the dish.

I tend to make a batch of this and serve a small portion alongside other salad dishes I prepare, along with a regular green salad. When I say “green” salad, that usually consists of lettuce, cucumber, celery, red onion, red pepper, radish, apple, tomatoes and coriander.

The beauty of salads is that they can be prepared in advance, are easy to transport for a day out, and take quite a while to munch and crunch through, which somehow makes lunch feel like a much more leisurely occasion.

Carrot, apple, date, pecan and lime salad

Preparation Time:      10 minutes

Serves:                        8

Calories per serving:  72.3

 

Ingredients

Raw Carrots, Peeled        –  500g

Dates, Dried                     –  35g

Pecan Nuts, Halved        –  25g

Desiccated Coconut        –  15g

Lime Juice, Fresh           –  1 Lime Juiced/50ml

Eating Apple, Fresh       –  1 Apple /120g

Fresh Coriander             –  1 Bunch/20g

 

Method

Peel and coarsely grate the carrot. Core the apple, cut into bite-sized pieces.

Roughly chop the dates and pecans. Juice the lime. Chop the coriander.

Combine all the ingredients and mix thoroughly to ensure everything is evenly coated with lime juice.

Store in a sealed container in the fridge.  This will store for around 5 to 6 days.

Nutrition Data Per Serving

Calories (kcal)            73

Protein (g)                  1.1

Carbohydrate (g)         9.0

Fat (g)                         3.6

Fibre (g)                      2.5

Fruit & Veg                 1.3

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 50 (3.25 every 5 days)

flidfit Eating Out, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose

It’s been a very busy — but productive — week here.

On Monday morning, we made a trip to Bournemouth Airport to drop somebody off for a flight, but took the opportunity afterwards to visit nearby Mudeford, a small fishing quay on a river estuary, for a fish and chip lunch.

Although it was quite cold, it stayed dry and there was plenty going on to watch — fishermen, crabbers, a fresh fish stall doing brisk business, lots of dog walkers, and even some hardy people swimming in the sea!

We drove back home through the New Forest, where the ponies were out in force and the rhododendrons were looking absolutely beautiful in full flower. Best of all, we somehow managed to avoid any traffic hold-ups, which made the whole day feel pretty perfect.

It was a really lovely way to start the week.

One of the main things I’ve been working on recently, has been helping to plan and preparr an exhibition taking place at the start of June. The theme is a celebration of Christchurch Green — a small area close to where I live, centred around its much-loved parade of shops.

A huge amount of work has gone into it behind the scenes. We’ve been sorting through old photographs, newspaper cuttings and written memories that local people have shared with us, trying to curate everything into something that tells the story of the area and the people connected to it over many decades. It’s been fascinating, but also incredibly time-consuming, especially with looming deadlines to get everything over to the designer by Friday.

There was a lot of last-minute rejigging and, sadly, a few of my social plans had to be cancelled along the way. Still, it feels worthwhile seeing it all gradually come together. Once everything is live and available, I’ll share a link.

Over the weekend, we also spent two days enjoying the centenary celebrations for the University of Reading, which is practically on our doorstep.

Saturday was a big community festival. It was my first time attending – because in previous years I’ve always been away when it’s taken place. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere was fantastic, with so many activities and organisations involved — drum workshops, circus skills, a children’s cycling course, live music, food stalls and countless community groups showcasing the support and services they offer locally. It was lovely to see so many people out in force to enjoy the event. I was there for well over four hours and could easily have stayed longer, although by late afternoon the temperature had dropped dramatically and I came home absolutely freezing!

Sunday couldn’t have been more different. The weather was beautiful — blue skies, sunshine and warm. We walked into town to watch the revived Rag Parade, originally organised by students around 50 years ago and brought back specially for the centenary celebrations. It was lovely seeing the procession make its way through the town centre before finishing in Forbury Gardens.

We took a packed lunch — something I was extremely grateful for after seeing the queues and prices at the food stalls! We spent several hours relaxing in the sunshine, watching Ukrainian dancers, listening to a steel band and chatting to all sorts of lovely people. One particularly moving conversation was with a young Afghan refugee who has lived in the UK for the past five years. He was only 23, yet shared with us the unimaginable atrocities he’d witnessed, losing members of his family and his experiences of coming to the UK five years previously. It was deeply humbling listening to his story and he has, and still is, making great progress in educating himself and becoming a fine young man.

You may recall the horrors of the knife attack which took place in the Forbury Gardens in June 2020, when three men lost their lives. One couldn’t help but recall the awful horror of what happened as families innocently enjoyed the day – just as we were.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I packed quite so much into a single weekend, but it was wonderful to spend so much time outdoors, to bump into friends and neighbours and to feel part of the community around me.

I’ve been enjoying some amazing salads this week — honestly, I could never get bored of salad!

Over the course of this week, I’m planning to share a couple of salad ideas and recipes, so watch this space.

For me, the perfect salad is all about variety, colour, flavour and texture — and when you can create something really satisfying without too many calories, even better!

We’ve also been enjoying regular visits from a small vixen who is clearly nursing cubs somewhere nearby.

On Saturday morning, we woke up to find her curled up asleep on the lawn, which was rather special. Poor thing looks absolutely shattered, so we’ve been leaving food out for her each evening, and she’s been returning to carry huge mouthfuls back to the den.

She’s obviously at the stage of trying to wean the cubs, and I can only imagine how exhausting it must be trying to feed both herself and a hungry family at the same time. Nature can be both beautiful and incredibly hard work!

Food-wise, I’ve been doing my best, although with such a hectic schedule, fish and chips and ice cream – it hasn’t been the easiest week. Weight-wise… here are my scores!

Weight this week: 54.7kg (8st 8lbs)
Last week: 55.15kg (about 8st 9.5lbs)
Weekly loss/gain: -0.5kg (1.1lbs)
100% – 3 months, 5 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 8lb – 8st 11lbs)