Getting it off and keeping it off

Those of you who know me will know that I’ve lost a lot of weight over the past few years. I was talking to someone last night about how I’ve kept it off, and was trying to convince them that quick fixes are never the answer. I did Weightwatchers, I did Slimming World, all they do is make you talk about nothing but points or sins, plus put the weight back on as soon as you stop following their plan. Healthy eating and exercise is the only way to do it. Or at least the only way that I’ve kept off the 5 1/2 stone that I’ve now lost.

One of the changes I’ve made is to always take my lunch into work, and my colleagues laugh when I have the same lunch as the day before, however I’m just about to knock up a batch of my super-high protein fat-free chilli, so I thought I’d share the recipe with you. It’s dead easy and really good for you.

What you need:

- 2 large onions plus some garlic – chop it up into reasonably small pieces

-handful of dried chillies; crush them and DON’T wipe your eyes afterwards

- 4-5 tins of various beans, usually whatever Sainsburys have on offer, I like kidney, haricot, aduki, black eyed and butter beans, but use whatever you fancy

- 2 tins of chopped tomatoes plus some tomato puree or passatta

- some veggie mince if there’s any in the freezer, it’s not essential

- some mushrooms and red peppers if there are any in the fridge

It couldn’t be simpler:

Throw the onions, garlic and chillies in a massive pan with either some olive oil or water, depending on how completely fat free you want it. Cook until soft and see though.

Add the tomato puree. Give it a stir.

Add all the cans of beans, plus the tins of chopped tomatoes. Cover and leave for an hour. Turn the heat down to low-medium heat.

Give it a good stir every 20 minutes or so (usually during the commercial break). I sometimes throw in some black pepper and paprika at this point but it’s up to you.

Throw in the veggie mince and diced red pepper. Cover and leave for half an hour.

Give it a good stir. Throw in the chopped mushrooms. Leave for another half an hour.

Turn off and let sit for a couple of hours. Turn the heat back on low for another hour. Repeat.

And bob’s your uncle. Super high-protein fat free chilli. Freezes really well so perfect for taking to the office. Simples.

And as a treat for reading all the way to the bottom, you get treated to a photo of me at my heaviest, a size 18 and pushing 15 1/2 stone, and a photo of me now, and yes I am holding a home made chocolate cheesecake...