Easy Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne Recipe - My Beautiful Mess

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sclmPaSubIY

Before (eg from 15/7/14 I started to change) 120.7kg
http://i.imgur.com/3tyO7Qh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HFPlkfn.jpg

After 15/12/15 79.8kg

http://i.imgur.com/WSLstWS.jpg

Height 171cm

Body Fat Before ~50% according to bodyfat scales After – 15.8%
Diet - I kept it simple, 500 below maintenance using whole unprocessed foods.
A typical day would look like this
Meal 1 - Home made protein bar
Meal 2 - Tuna Protein Roll
Meal 3 - Fruit/salad smoothie with a scoop of protein
Meal 4 - Cous cous with tuna
Meal 5 - Beef curry with stir fried veg
http://i.imgur.com/4cdDieA.jpg
On other days when I haven't done 1000 calories worth of exercise like I had that day it would be more like
http://i.imgur.com/DklLbxs.jpg
Meal 1 - Home made protein bar
Meal 2 - Tuna protein roll
Meal 3 - Chilli con carne, stir fried veg and 6 eggs
I make a few meals up in advance, all can be done in a slow cooker, all super simple. Chilli, bolognese type sauce, curry, savoury mince etc. I then portion them up and freeze. That way when I come home after a hard day all i have to do is basically put my own version of a microwave meal in the microwave and prepare my fresh veggies to go with. On days when I can afford the extra calories I will sling a load of eggs in as well.
Its nothing out of the norm, just good, minimally processed whole foods to make everything and then conveniently portioned up.
Exercise - Varied over the 18 months, started out with 5x5 and a bunch of walking now I destroy myself on the stairmill and lift upper lower split.
Specifics around routine.
First 6 months was the traditional 5x5 model
StrongLifts 5x5 Week 1 Monday - Squat 5x5, Bench 5x5, Barbell row 5x5 Wednesday - Squat 5x5, OHP 5x5, Deadlift 1x5 Friday - Squat 5x5, Bench 5x5, Barbell row 5x5
Week 2 Monday - Squat 5x5, OHP 5x5, Deadlift 1x5 Wednesday - Squat 5x5, Bench 5x5, Barbell row 5x5 Friday - Squat 5x5, OHP 5x5, Deadlift 1x5
I would also do 15 minutes of HIIT cardio after every lifting session and more often than not I would swim on the off days Tuesday and Thursday. However it was very gentle swimming more for stretching and recovery than additional cardio as such.
After the first 6 months I ran the same above but I adapted it a little and added in some accessories, curls and ab work mostly as they were the parts that seemed to be lacking.
Now I run something of my own design that I've slowly developed and tweaked over the last 4 months or so. Its a heavy workload but I've found it works for me so far, strength and mass is up and bodyfat has remained around the same. I've called it Strypertrophy LUCLU because its both strength and hypertrophy based on following the uppelower protocol different days. I use my Wednesday for stretching and intense cardio. You'll notice the lack of deadlifts, I do do them on my second lower day fairly often, however I squat more so...
http://i.imgur.com/7qbQXti.jpg
As for me and my story the video is obviously above but further to that....
Crikey, where to start. In July 2014 I landed up in hospital with severe abdominal pains after vomiting some blood. My body, ravaged from alcoholism and drug addiction that got progressively worse over a 15 year period decided to push back. When I got into hospital my resting hr was rarely below 100, I weighed 120kg + and my cholesterol was measured at 21, yes 21, it should be less than 5. I would get out of breath just walking across the room. Hell I basically didn't leave my bed there in those last few weeks to do anything but visit the toilet and that was literally a huge challenge everyday. I was drinking upwards of 6000 calories a day and as many as 60-80 units and the weight and misery kept piling on.
I was broken, physically, mentally and spiritually broken. Lying in that hospital that night I realised that I didn't want to die, that no matter how bad a person I thought I was or how bad a person I thought I had been, nobody deserved to die on their knees. It was 2 days later after a rough couple of days detox before I could even face food but when I did I entered it into a popular fitness app for the first time. I had made the decision whilst lying there in fear of death for some time that I had to change and the best way I know to change is to get up and do something about it there and then, not next month, not next week, right now.
I left hospital a few days later practically detoxed from alcohol, I was still suffering some sweats and shakes occasionally but for all intents and purposes just being mindful over my food choices in those early days, in a hospital setting, had me feeling better.
It was strange really, I had come to a place in my life many times where I resolved to quit, I made grand promises and I really believed them. One more try though was always rapidly followed by one more failure. This time though something just felt different and I think it was because I really believed myself when I told myself I wanted to change. You see I would lie to myself all the time and everyone else for that matter. I was dishonest, cowardly, manipulative, malicious and vile on a daily basis and it was all for the stupidest of reasons, because I thought that was who I was supposed to be.
It’s been more than just the weight loss for me as you can probably tell. I have fundamentally changed as a person, I’ve found help from a local addiction service, a fellowship community and my self awareness has been dialled in. I try to treat everybody the best I can, not judge, be honest and remember where I came from everyday now and life is infinitely easier. Anxiety is down, self confidence is up.
So I was out of hospital, all set with my goal in mind of getting to 15% bodyfat and itching to go running or any number of things. However I had strict instructions from the doctors when leaving the hospital to take it slowly, I was told no more than 1 mile a day walking for at least a month to start with such was the physical trauma I’d put my body through it would have been ill advised to run before I could walk so to speak. So that’s what I did, I started out walking ramping it up week on week, towards the end of the month I was doing about 5 miles a day and hiked up a local landmark without pause something I couldn’t have done for at least 5 years prior when I attempted to get sober. 2 months in I did a 21 mile walk for meningitis.
After about 6 weeks I was down about 10kilos already. I joined a gym and started out using 5x5 on my phone, I had dipped in and out of weight rooms at times but never taken it seriously at all so I dropped all of my ego about the place and started with a beginner strength program. I felt getting the basics right before anything else was the way for me to go. I ran that for about 6 months in which time I got myself below 100 kilos for the first time in a little over ten years. The next 6 months I ran a variation of 5x5, just a few lifts added into the mix for all intents and purposes rather than anything radical. During these 6 months my weight began to fall off a lot slower, it seemed my body was pretty sweet with being around 97 kilos, even more so around 80kg when I hit that. I guess that change in pace was a hurdle for me. I was so used to seeing the weight come off in greater increments it shook me for a while, I started to doubt myself and my choices became sloppy again. Nevertheless I kept up my training throughout and when I haven’t lost weight I’ve seemed to gain muscle, sometimes I just stay the same and then one week it all seems to come at once.
These days I don’t monitor the scale so closely, I use it as a rough guide but the mirror and photos tell me more now. However I am aboute to strip right down to 10% or less and see just how bad my loose skin situation is going to be. Ultimately I am not finished, not by a long shot, I feel I will always seek to gradually improve every aspect of my being, this is who I am now, its who I always was deep down.
My life now is infinitely improved, my resting heart rate is in the mid 40's, my cholesterol was 2 point something on the last check, my cardio health has improved dramatically, I'm stronger, faster than I have ever been and all my bloods have returned to safe ranges. The mental shift has probably been the bigger one though, I can hand on heart say I am trying every day to be a better man and I am eternally grateful to all those who helped me and ever more pleased to be able to give something back. I have a debt I owe for where I am today and I intend to repay it in full.
I guess to summarise its been more than the weight loss, I have fundamentally changed as a person and I no longer despise myself. The weight room has been a reminder for me that the more I put into anything the more I get out and that’s how I start my day. In the weight room pushing myself to the absolute limit because I tend to find whatever comes at me later in the day, after a hard workout its somehow more manageable.
If this video reaches even 1 other person trapped as I was then it will have served its primary purpose.

My no heart disease, cheap ass, still tastes good, #dontgiveadamnaboutinstagram compilation

24 Pieces Of Essential Advice That Every New Student Should Follow

"Learn to cook. Even if it's just pasta and pesto and frozen veggies. I lived off pizza and ramen noodles the first year and it was the worst both for my weight and overall health."
"Don't buy a cookbook, even though you'll have countless student cookbooks marketed at you. Waste of money and lugging energy. Everything you need is online, and often the comments posted are very useful!"
"Invest in a slow cooker (Tesco Direct do one for £14) and learn to cook a few basic cheap meals. My go-to uni meal was a simple chilli con carne that consisted of mince, onions, tinned chopped tomatoes, tinned beans, and chilli powder served with baked potatoes or boiled rice. It would feed four of us for just a couple of pounds."
"Make sure you get the top shelf in the fridge! If you have a flatmate that never throws away rotting food, you won't want their fridge juice dripping on yours!"
"If you're a scruncher, learn how to be a folder, because no one likes the dick who clogs the toilet and uses up all the toilet roll – that shit's expensive."
"DON’T BUY BOOKS! Most universities have a massive library and will have multiple copies of core textbooks for each course/module. If you REALLY want to buy a book, have a look at the ones suggested by lecturers in the library first."
"If you're commuting, photocopy the pages from a book you'll need so you don't have to lug too many everywhere you go!"
"Don't feel like you have to throw yourself into every social event that your new friends/roomies are attending. If you don't feel comfortable or up for an event, there is no rule demanding you to attend."
"As corny as it sounds, college is a time to take risks. Be brave, and you won't regret it, I promise."
"Join societies! These are extremely important as they are a great way to meet people that genuinely share the same interests as you, as well as provide evidence to future employers that you actually spent time developing skills outside of study."
"Honestly, and it will sound so lame, but do your assignments/projects when you're actually set-up them, because time creeps up on you and trust me, leaving it to the last minute is just the worst."
"Call your loved ones, even if you don't feel the need. The transition to college can be harder on your family than you, as was the case with mine."
"Laundry: Learn. How. To. Do. Your. Own. Yours sincerely, Your Mom Xxx"
"Use protection. Every single time. STIs suck."
"If staying in halls, get a good mattress protector – uni mattresses are never very comfortable."
"A tip from a university administrator: Be friendly and polite to us. We will always help you no matter what, but we will go that extra mile for a student who is nice to us. And talk to us if you need help. We get it – most of us have been students, and we know sometimes you need a helping hand."
"Don't go home every weekend if you go to college close to home. It will make you miserable and hate college because you're not getting involved because you aren't doing social things on the weekends. Stay focused on being in college and adapting to a new life."
"You are going to want to quit about once a term, and that's OK. Just don't actually do it. Rant or cry about it to family or friends then carry on."
"You don’t have to force yourself to be friends with your flatmates. I felt like a failure because I didn’t get on with them, but in reality they were horrible and discriminative people. I coped more when I distanced myself from them."
"Don't put any pressure on yourself – you cannot will yourself to enjoy things you don't, you can't do everything, and you can only do your best, so just do you and you'll have a blast."
"Remember you are only at uni for limited time so fuck it if anyone has anything negative to say to you."
"Remember that everyone is in the exact same position. Everyone is new and nervous and doesn't know their way around."
"Don't worry if university isn't immediately the 'best time of your life' that everyone promised it would be! I really struggled with anxiety and depression, and it was a really hard time for me. But stick with it: My final year of university was by far the best because I finally found the people I was meant to be with all along, and I would do all of it again for that final year."
"Making friends doesn't happen immediately. I know this is where you're supposed to make your best friends, but don't worry if it takes you a little time to make some friends. Everyone is lonely at first, but your real friends will show up eventually."

Link to article

Contemplating buying my first slow cooker. Thoughts? Also any good slow cooking resources/recipies?

So i'm thinking about buying a slow cooker to make lunches for work (software developer, so typical desk job, with 30 mins for lunch so something to go in the microwave is ideal here) as well as evening meals and have found a well rated 6.5L one on amazon for about £20. Basically i am getting board of lunches and am looking for easier ways to switch up my lunches on a weekly basis... after about 2 weeks of eating something every day i get bored and end up not wanting to eat it on the 2nd Friday and gorging on cashews instead (I know, I know!). previous lunches have included vegetable, bean, chorizo and chicken soup... chilli con carne with extra beans... salmon salads with eggs (got caught out with pre cooked tomato and chilli coated salmon for convenience that had like 30g more carbs per portion than plain salmon once I read the packet).
So my question has a few parts really:
1) Does anyone know of any good resources in terms recipes (preferably slow carb or near enough to just remove/replace one or 2 ingredients) or slow cooker tips? i'm fairly accomplished when it comes to cooking and can make pretty much anything without a recipe on a stove or in an oven, but i've never even seen a slow cooker in real life so its kind of alien to me... I know slow cookers take a lot longer but i don't want to end up slow cooking a chicken for 4 hours when it should take 12 or something like that and equally i don't want to be left with a week of dry chicken because i cooked it 4 hours longer than i needed to. Plus they tend to have "low" and "high" settings, not actual temperatures, like what's up with that?
2) Are they safe to leave on all day? i.e can i put it on in the morning, go out for the day and then still have a standing home and food to come back to?
3) Are there any foods you wouldn't put in a slow cooker?
Thanks in advance, and sorry for the slightly long winded, multi part question.

Eating seasonally: Short ribs get us snug for winter

Here at Mr Pickles, no sooner than one meet the producer event is over, we’re planning the next one. And, on Saturday November 19, we’ll be opening up our shop to lots of Yorkshire producers to show off just some of our fantastic range of Christmas food and drink. We’ll also be taking orders for our bespoke hampers and Christmas meat, so it’s the perfect time to get a head start on Christmas this year.Having said that, we’re not all turkey and sprouts quite yet and we’re still enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) this season has to offer. But, as certain dishes suit one season better than others, we think seasonality can apply to some meat cuts too.Take short ribs for instance. Although they’re great on the barbecue, they’re especially popular in winter because they require a slow and low cook. Something that isn’t always welcome on a hot summer’s day.And, although short ribs do take longer to cook, they’re low maintenance and require very little input. After some initial prep, short ribs will happily sit in a low oven or, better still, a slow cooker whilst you go about your day as normal. Which, considering we’re entering the busy festive season, may be music to your ears.Short ribs come from the lower rib cage of the cow. We butcher them in the traditional English method which means they are sliced into individual ribs. Depending on which section your ribs come from they can each weigh anything from 400g to over a kilo. But, as they’re generally cooked until the meat falls off the bone, you won’t be serving one per person and you’ll just need to make sure you have enough meat for the number of people you are serving.We like to cook short ribs in a chilli con carne, especially if we’re having people round for a Christmas house party. It’s ready for serving once the meat has fallen off the bone and the fat has melted into the sauce, but transfer it to a slow cooker to keep warm and your guests will be able to help themselves throughout the night.Short ribs also work braised in a tomato based sauce with lots of fresh rosemary and thyme and we’ve just posted a recipe on our blog for anyone who would like to try it. We add a little balsamic vinegar to add a little sweetness as well as a rich depth of flavour that wouldn’t be obtained by using sugar. Try serving with creamy mash with lots of horseradish stirred in for a bit of a kick.We hope to see you on the 19th for our Christmas meet the producer event, but do pop into our Abbeydale Road shop at any time for your Christmas orders and delicious wintry meat cuts.
from Sheffield Telegraph Feed http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/whats-on/eating-out/eating-seasonally-short-ribs-get-us-snug-for-winter-1-8230735
via Sheffield

can you make chilli con carne in a slow cooker video

Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne Slow cooker chilli con carne is a perfect recipe for the whole family to enjoy. It is mild enough for children to enjoy, or it can be spiced up a bit by easily adjusting the chilli levels. It’s also an easy slow cooker meal to set off quickly in the morning, and return to at the end of a busy day. The best chilli con carnes take their time to bubble away on a low heat, so a slow cooker is perfect for letting all those savoury flavours mix, mingle and develop. The low temperature keeps the... With deeper, even more complex flavours than classic Chilli Con Carne, beef is slow cooked in a rich, heavily spiced sauce until it’s fall apart tender, then gently teased apart before being tossed back into the sauce. Make this in your slow cooker – OR pressure cooker, stove or oven. Directions provided for all! This chili is so easy to make, the slow cooker does most of the work! Here’s how you’ll prepare it: Saute aromatics, add to slow cooker: Heat olive oil in a large and deep non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute 3 minutes, then add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer. Pour onions into a 6 or 7 quart slow cooker (I have several and prefer this one HERE). Your chili will be ready to eat in 4 hours, but you can cook it longer if you want. That’s part of the beauty of a slow cooker. In fact, it’s probably better if you cook it for 6 hours. I enjoy eating my chili con carne topped with sour cream, plain yogurt, cheese, or nothing. Slow cooker Chilli con Carne can be stored in the fridge for two days or batched up and placed in the freezer for three months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, reheat ensuring it’s piping hot all the way through – and enjoy! Slow Cooker Chilli con Carne Slow Cooker Chilli con Carne, a delicious spicy beef stew packed full of flavour. You can't stir once the slow cooker has started. Set your slow cooker on low for 10-12 hours. Serve immediately when done or store in the fridge or freezer. Chilli con carne slow cooker recipe instructions Brown ground beef in frying pan and place drained cooked beef in the crockpot. 2. Add chili beans, tomato paste, tomato sauce, salt & pepper. Heat 1½ tbsp oil in a large, non-stick pan over a high heat and fry the mince for 10-12 mins or until evenly browned. Tip into the slow cooker. STEP 2 Heat the remaining oil in the pan. The slow cooker is a great way to make chilli. This beefy chilli is packed with beans, veggies and spices. Serve on its own, and use leftovers to top jacket potatoes.

can you make chilli con carne in a slow cooker top

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