Lets loose some weight together

[Maz1963]

Day two of no sugar here (well, I gave in to two Rich Tea biscuits last night, so have to admit to that!!). MM's book has not arrived yet, but I feel better already, even without his help! I'm trying not to snack in between the three main meals, which is the hardest thing. I'm not sure I'll be giving up potatoes completely, but am definitely aiming to reduce the amount I eat (which wasn't masses anyway). I also need to think about bread and reduce that, or make my own, or find someone in the UK who sells a decent loaf of rye bread (any ideas anyone?).

So far so good. I'm also going to quickly order a diary and keep a record of what I eat/lose.

I can't exercise as I don't have a 'window' to leave mum alone. Might have to start doing push ups!!!

[susieq]

I can't exercise as I don't have a 'window' to leave mum alone. Might have to start doing push ups!!!

You don't have to go to a gym to exercise; being 'energetic' with the housework should give you a reasonable workout, or do like I do and dance along to the radio whilst dusting/vacuuming/making the beds etc. Get a skipping rope and have a 10 minute session in the garden - plus gardening is a good way to exercise too, mowing the lawn uses up quite a few calories !

[MrsAverage]

I'm going the 'eat less, move more' route. The latter is the easier bit as have more time as my work hours have been cut.
The eat less isnt going so well as boss brought in more xmas chocs today.

Just caught up on one of the diet programmes today, so many weird diets still out there, but for me as soon as someone says I can't have something I immediately crave it so just to have smaller portions works better. Off for my nightly ferrero rocher (which spell checker changed to ferrets richer ) now, but just the one. I could easily do 6 or 7 but am determined to stick to 1.

[Sometimes]

I used an app called FatSecret. It allows you to record what you eat and what you do daily, and shows what calories you've eaten compared to those used.
Works well if you're honest with yourself, and aim to lose weight gradually.
It shows what all the snacks add to your total , as a disincentive.

[susieq]

forget 'fad' diets ! they never work in the long term, as soon as you go back to 'normal' eating the weight just piles back on plus more besides

Aim to lose just a 1lb to a 1.5lb a half a week and you'll find that it will stay off As the old saying goes "slowly, slowly catchee monkey"

[Maz1963]

My MM books arrived yesterday. I've only had a chance to flick through them but the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet looks like a great read, and some of the ideas and recipes in the other book look very nice. I think for me it's all about using the 'right' food in an interesting and appetising way, and having a regime that is sustainable.

I'm two pounds lighter since Monday. No sweet stuff at all since then, apart from about six Rich Tea biscuits. I loved the 5:2 but it was hard to get to the end of the day on just 500 calories. My new regime seems more sustainable, and as yet, I haven't been hungry! Can't wait to try the recipes 'with a twist' and I love the fact that diary, cheese and meat, are OK.

Susie - do you avoid bread completely? I do like a bit of bread now and again, maybe I'll try to find my own recipe to make some, at least then I can avoid the sugar.

The other thing is potatoes - don't think I want to cut them out completely, but am happy to reduce the load!

[Violet]

"The 8-week Blood Sugar Diet" arrived today. When I was doing on line Tesco order the suggestion that "you might also be interested in" popped up so I ordered the book. I have not done that before - ordered a book on line from Tesco. Not sure what the normal shop price is but it just cost me £4.00 postage free from Tesco. Just mentioning it in case anyone is interested - cheap at that price. I haven't had time to read any of it but noticed there's approx fifty pages of recipes.

I do think that you are right Susie about fad diets. I intend to concentrate on smaller portions and awareness of sugar content.

[susieq]

Susie - do you avoid bread completely? I do like a bit of bread now and again, maybe I'll try to find my own recipe to make some, at least then I can avoid the sugar.

The other thing is potatoes - don't think I want to cut them out completely, but am happy to reduce the load!

No I don't avoid bread completely, but I do check the labels for carbohydrate and sugar content. I've found the Warburton "thins" are low in both so often have one of those with lots of filling for lunch - maybe a slice of ham and loads of salad. As I'm diabetic I've found that potatoes,most root vegetables, pasta and rice (all favourites previously) send my blood sugars soaring so avoid them completely. Instead of rice I 'rice' cauliflower; use 'spiralised' courgettes instead of pasta and celeriac instead of potatoes (it can be mashed, roasted in chunks or made into oven chips).

and as yet, I haven't been hungry

if you do feel hungry instead of reaching for a snack try having a drink first. Oft times we mistake hunger for being thirsty ! It's one tip that's stood me in good stead

[Henrietta]

Susie- I agree-catch your monkey and all that. I remember watching a tv program a year or so back when they compared all the current diets . I think it was probably ww that won but the conclusion was that all the others worked, basicly because they meant your overall calorie intake went down for one reason or another.
I'm still writing things down daily and today for the first day I know I will be over due to a pasta thing for lunch and another for dinner but it is still less than I would have eaten normally. I know overall I have been quite good for 6 days so I am optimistic for my 1- 2 lbs loss in week one and then as you say 1 or even half is good every future week. I'm not depriving myself of personal treats and have had 1 Christmas biscuit a day and 3 bags of crisps this week but am counting them in.
Next week-some exercise---------- ( I have had bad cold this week)

[Maz1963]

I think we should appoint Susie as our diet 'guru' - she's obviously very knowledgeable! I've tried the 'thins' before and liked them, so will get some more in, plus will continue to search for rye bread, which I love. I don't like the very dense (German?) rye bread, thinly sliced, that you can get in some supermarkets, I just don't find it appetising. I want the kind of rye bread I eat when I visit my friend in Finland - but you just can't get it here (or maybe you can via some Scandi club/shop - must search on line).

I don't think I have ever tried celeriac, but will get some when next out shopping. I still have a few spuds to use up from over the 'festive period', but have already started to cut down on quantity.

Violet - that was a good deal on the book in Tesco. I got mine on Amazon - £3.49, and the recipe book was £7. I like that in both the calorie content is clearly stated for the recipes. Have started the book and the 'science' makes a lot of sense so far.

Mum and I had a fry up this morning - two slices of black pudding and two fried eggs each. I think it's allowed - fat, but no sugar. Black pudding is such a strange thing to eat, if you think about it, but for some odd reason I love it! We rarely have such fry ups, usually it's eggs or porridge for breakfast, will have to see what MM says about fry ups.