It was cheat night last night and I had a few wines and a Chinese. I feel horrific this morning, really bloated and sick! I usually live for cheat day whilst dieting, but think I'll be giving it a miss from now on. Or at least just making it a bit of an extra snack rather than a proper takeaway!

Hope you're feeling better soon!

Thanks hun! Did some yoga and had some toast and I feel miles better! It's really made me think again about cheat days though.

I've decided I suck at dieting. I want my cake and am going to eat it ... maybe even with cream It strikes me Chinese cookery has to be some of the healthiest food on earth. Loads of lightly cooked vegis, good natural grains and small portions of meat treated well and mostly cooked with care and respect. Am wondering if it would be a good idea to get a post together where people post there naughty takeaway favorites and we post healthier versions that actually taste good? I have a few books where they try to do this in a series called Cook Yourself Thin. Kebabs, curries, comfort food etc...I reckon it might save us all on our binges and make cheat days more normal days with good food.

I never feel good the day after a takeaway chinese but the last time we had it I felt ill for it within an hour. I like making my own although just a basic list I might explore. I'd love to make some sweet and sour sauce nom!

My cheat days have just turned into days I relax but I eat good and how much I drink has reduced so much. I like it this way ... if I'm out and about I'm also going to enjoy it without feeling guilty. None of this over indulging any more x

There's a really nice Sweet & Sour recipe in one of the SW recipe books, but I can't find it on the website. I'll try remember to post it tomorrow...

I did learn this week...slightly I was better with the Chinese, but still drank far too much! I've started thinking more of relax days than cheat days too and it really does work. I did overeat this weekend, but made good choices along with the bad and feel so much better for it!

My favourite Sweet & Sour recipe...

800g chicken thighs (I normally use chicken breasts, and less than 800g... usually 1 breast per person)
1 garlic clove, crushed
4 spring onions, thinly sliced, plus extra to garnish
1 green pepper and 1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks
200 fresh pineapple cut into bitesize pieces
pinch of salt

Sauce
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
6 tbsp light soy sauce
4 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp rice vingear
6 tbsp unsweetened orange juice
100ml chicken stock
1-2tsp sweetner
1 level tbsp cornflour

Method
Mix sauce ingredients together thoroughly & set aside.

Spray wok with fry light and place on high heat. Add the chicken when it gets hot and stir-fry for 6-7 mintues until cooked through.

Add the garlic, spring onions and peppers and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Pour the sauce into the pan and stir continuously for 1 minute until it thickens and everything is well covered with the sauce.

Remove from the heat and add the pineapple. Season with salt and garnich with spring onions. Serve with noodles or rice.

Thank you Sarah x

I don't really understand the concept of cheat days myself - I just don't think I have the self control to not go crazy

I do second how horrid you feel after eating 'treat' food that I used to have on a regular basis. I have an absolute favourite chinese takeaway, but now when I have it - the fact it is cooked all in oil when the majority of my diet is oil free and low fat - just does not agree with me one bit.

It's amazing really how our bodies adjust and get offended when you change the fuel :P