Calories - 31st May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk and water.
Elevenses - 215 calories
crisps and apple juice
Lunch - 200 calories
Bread and houmous with cherry tomatoes, lettuce, olives followed by strawberries and a decaff tea
Afternoon - 430 calories
cheese sandwich and Cadburys highlights bar
Evening Meal - 275 calories
Sweet potato, onion, green bean, pea and carrot curry with rice and decaff tea
Evening Snack - 300
Breaded mushrooms and mayonnaise and decaff tea
TOTAL CALORIES - 1700

EXERCISE :

Weight Up Again

My weight was back up to above 11 stone again this morning. I am not sure why. Hopefully next week I will eel up to doing aerobics again which should help.

Calories - 30th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk and green tea.
Elevenses - 75 calories
cashew nuts and green tea
Lunch - 170 calories
Quorn fahita pieces with cherry tomatoes and green tea
Afternoon - 25 calories
grapes and green tea
Evening Meal - 475 calories
Sweet potato, onion, green bean, pea and carrot curry with rice and breadcrumbed mushrooms
Evening Snack - 100
Bread and jam with red grape, cherry and raspberry juice
TOTAL CALORIES - 1025

EXERCISE :
60 minute slow walk

Cholesterol result

I telephoned by surgery for my cholesterol test results and was told that they were 'normal'. I was told by the receptionist that if I wanted the actual figures I would need to speak to the doctor. I would like to know what the figures were but I don't feel that I can disturb the doctor for such a trivial thing so I will probably just leave it.

I Lost that Pound!

I lost that pound so I am now back below 11 stone!! Very exciting! I am feeling fully recovered today too so I will be going out for a walk later which should help things too.

Calories - 29th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk and green tea.
Elevenses - 100 calories
banana and green tea
Lunch - 175 calories
Quorn fahita pieces with red pepper. Followed by blueberries and green tea
Afternoon - 100 calories
Dried Apricots and green tea
Evening Meal - 285 calories
Baked Potato, fish fingers, peas, sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and decaff tea
Evening Snack - 8-
Bread and jam
TOTAL CALORIES - 920

EXERCISE :

Oh Dear!

Unfortunately I put on a pound in weight yesterday, taking me back up to 11 stone and half a pound. I am really disappointed. I didn't do the aerobics this morning either as I have a cold and low blood sugar from my starvation yesterday and felt it just was not wise. I am hoping that I can stick to eating sensibly and still manage to get my blood sugar up today.

I Reached Another Target

This morning I weighed 10 stone and 13.8 pounds and I am thrilled! I was at my Mum's today and having not had breakfast due to starving for my cholesterol test this morning I had a banana on the way and my Mum fed me toast. Then I had a cheese toastie for lunch and cauliflower cheese, veggie sausages and vegetables with strawberries to follow. I resisted many temptations and really hope that I have not gone back above 11 stone, especially considering I only had a very short walk. I am planning on doing aerobics first thing tomorrow, before I weigh so hopefully that might help a bit!

Calories - 27th may

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk and green tea.
Elevenses - 100 calories
half a wallaby bar
Lunch - 225 calories
Lettuce, tomato and cucumber with falafels and houmous and green tea
Afternoon - 100 calories
half a wallaby bar and decaff tea
Evening Meal - 250 calories
Pasta with red pepper, onion and courgette sauce, carrots and soya beans and decaff tea
Evening Snack - 250
falafel sandwich with mayonnaise
TOTAL CALORIES - 1105

EXERCISE :
60 minute slow walk

A Great Bank Holiday!

I went out to my mother in laws for lunch yesterday and ate loads! For lunch there was Mediterranean vegetable tart (I had a small slice), salad (with oily dressing), asparagus and I had a small spoonful of mash (made with cream and butter). I avoided the fried potatoes and put no butter on my asparagus. When offered seconds I had more salad and asparagus. My Mother-in-Law had served out pudding for the children which they did not want so my husband and I politely ate it - jelly, cream with some strawberries and raspberries. I was then offered more soft fruit and melon which I declined.

For afternoon tea there was a pile of butter fruit bread and chocolate biscuits and I was given a bag of crisps. I fed the crisps to the children and had a slice of the fruit bread.

When we got home we were really hungry so I made some bubble and squeak using some left over carrots and cabbage and adding in some onion and peas and made some mash. It was not a huge amount of food. I had a few grapes afterwards.

And this morning....how was my weight? I had lost another pound taking my weight to 11 stone and half a pound!! My husband said he lost 2 pounds. Unbelievable as we didn't even go for a walk.

Success!

I did well yesterday in losing the half pound I put on the day before and another half pound too. This takes me to a weight of 11 stone 1.5 pounds. I have now decided that once I reach 11 stone I want my next target to be 10 stone 10 pounds. This is what my sister weighs and it would be so good to be less than her!

I am out for lunch today at my Mother-in-Laws so I do not know how well I will do. It is unlikely we will have a walk as it is raining and she always serves plenty of butter, cheese and cream as well as salty and sweet foods. Fortunately she lets us help ourselves so there is no chance of the plate being piled too high and I should be able to avoid the butter, cheese and cream if I am strong willed enough.

Calories - 25th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk and green tea.
Elevenses - 50 calories
half a banana
Lunch - 150 calories
Houmous with toast, cucumber sticks, carrot sticks and tomatoes and decaff tea
Afternoon - 50 calories
Grapes and decaff tea
Evening Meal - 380 calories
Baked potato, fish fingers, carrots, peas and cabbage with decaff tea
Evening Snack - 150
25g mixed nuts
TOTAL CALORIES - 910

EXERCISE :
30 mins aerobics

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News for Today

Well this morning I weighed just over 11 stone 2 pounds which was fantastic. Unfortunately I did not eat too well today. I started off with porridge followed by yoghurt. Then for lunch I are at Frankie and Benny's and had a Mediterranean vegetable risotto with apple juice and followed by a latte. I then had tea at my parents house and my Mum had bought some butter and a quiche especially for us so I had quiche, pizza, brad and butter, an avocado sandwich and some salad - red pepper, cucumber, tomatoes and olives. I did help them with some gardening and have a walk so hopefully that helped a bit I shall find out tomorrow what impact it had on my weight.

Calories - 23rd May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk and green tea.
Elevenses - 50 calories
oatcake and green tea
Lunch - 250 calories
Tuna salad (tinned tuna, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, grated carrot and houmous) and green tea
Afternoon - 0 calories
nothing
Evening Meal - 500 calories
Home made chips, chicken style dippers, battered mushrooms peas, French beans and carrots, pomegranate juice and decaff tea with milk
Evening Snack - 150
Avocado with worcestershire sauce and ketchup
TOTAL CALORIES - 1130

EXERCISE :
60 min slow walk
30 mins aerobics

Wrinkles....

Why do I always lose weight from my face first! My tummy is still flabby and my bum is big but my face is thin. Having a thin face may not seem that bad, but it means that my wrinkles are more visible. I am only 35 and I do not really want them yet! I have one laughter line by my mouth and two frown lines on my forehead at the top of my nose.

I have got to thinking about my age and my health. I see my Mother and my Mother in law who are both over 60, who are both overweight and as a result cannot walk that well, they are both on water tablets and my Mum is on blood pressure tablets, cholesterol medication and has type 2 diabetes. I do not want to be like that at their age. I want to be able to run around with my grand children. Hopefully this will be enough to motivate me to stay healthy now.

More Weight Gone!

I have lost another 1.5 pounds taking my weight to 11 stone and 2.5 pounds. I am so pleased! I feel even better today as I started off the morning with some aerobics and feel like I am really on the way towards getting below 11 stone now. My doctor telling me that my cholesterol wasn't that high has made me feel a bit better too but I have decided to still be very careful with the fats that I am eating.

Calories - 22nd May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk and green tea.
Elevenses - 100 calories
banana
Lunch - 400 calories
Pasta with tuna
Afternoon - 75 calories
Oatcakes
Evening Meal - 250 calories
Lettuce, tomato, cucumber and avocado sandwich with a carrot
Evening Snack - 150
an apple with a kids strawberry yoghurt
TOTAL CALORIES - 1155

EXERCISE :
60 min slow walk

Cholesterol Test

My doctor said that my cholesterol level was not something that I should worry about but she was more than happy to let me have a test to put my mind at rest. That will be done next Wednesday, so still more waiting.

Recipe : Pasta with tuna

I have never put tuna in pasta before but decided to give it a go. It was really nice so I thought I would share the recipe :

50g wholemeal pasta
65g tinned tuna in brine
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 red pepper
a small red onion
a medium tomato
1/2 tbsp Hellmans mayonnaise (optional)
salt and pepper to taste (optional)

Cook the pasta in boiling water for 10 minutes. Finely chop the onion and peppers and fry gently in the olive oil. Chop the tomato and add once the onion is see through. Turn the heat down and season. Add the tuna and warm through. Stir into the cooked, drained pasta and add mayonnaise if required.

Approximate calories : 400
Approximate calories without mayonnaise : 350

I am Celebrating!

I am so happy - I have at last got below 11 stone 4 pounds. Only just below but it is great to have at last reached my target. I just hope that I do not put any back on over the weekend as I will be eating out for lunch on Saturday and then out for tea as well. Then on Monday I will also be out for lunch. I will have to make sure I am very careful and will probably do some aerobics on Sunday to hopefully limit the damage!

Calories - 21st May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk and green tea.
Elevenses - 150 calories
Apple crumble
Lunch - 150 calories
Bread with salad (lettuce, tomato, red pepper, carrot, cucumber), oxo drink
Afternoon - 100 calories
Dried apricots
Evening Meal - 400 calories
baked potato, roasted vegetables (sweet potato, courgettes, red pepper, red onion, balsamic vinegar, agave syrup), Quorn sausage, soya beans and carrots.
Evening Snack - 100
tinned pears
TOTAL CALORIES - 980

EXERCISE :
60 min slow walk

The Same Weight

Yet again I am the same weight as yesterday. I know that I worked hard yesterday doing a lot of exercise and I am very pleased with myself. I did have an enormous lunch as I was entertaining my parents, but I did try to eat very little afterwards to make up for it. This may have caused my blood sugar to get to low and possible was the cause for me not losing weight - I suffer from hypoglycaemia and if my blood sugar gets low I tend to not be able to lose weight. I also wonder if the theory that muscle weighs more than fat is true. I can definitely see a change in my body shape, which I am really pleased with.

Calories - 20th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 180 calories
Porridge cooked with milk, a glass of water and green tea.
Elevenses - 100 calories
banana and green tea
Lunch - 750 calories
Balsamic onion and cheese tart, new potatoes, carrots, cabbage and peas.
Apple crumble (cooked apple with sultanas and topping of oats, spice and mixed nuts) and custard
pomegranate and raspberry fruitiser and green tea
Afternoon - 0 calories
green tea
Evening Meal - 120 calories
Houmous, lettuce and cucumber sandwich with cherry tomatoes. Decaff coffee with milk.
Evening Snack -

TOTAL CALORIES - 1150

EXERCISE :
60 min slow walk
30 mins aerobics
100 calories burned on exercise machine

My weight stayed the same

I lost a few tenths of a pound but really my weight was pretty much the same as yesterday. I still feel good though as I know that I am doing the right things, being healthy and exercising.

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Chargrilled Vegetables

Sometimes I find that it gets boring having boiled vegetables all of the time. I like stir fry and sometimes fry them dry or make a sauce to cook them in using soy sauce and agave syrup (sweet and sour style). However for a change you could consider having chargrilled vegetables. As long as you turn them regularly there is no need to use any oil and it is great for cooking courgettes, peppers, aubergines, onions and mushrooms.

Calories - 19th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 140 calories
Porridge cooked with water and milk, green tea.
Elevenses - 100 calories
banana, dried apricot and green tea
Lunch - 200 calories
Toasted Quorn sandwich with ketchup and mustard and a side salad of avocado, tomato and cucumber, green tea
Afternoon - 150 calories
Mixed nuts and green tea
Evening Meal - 400 calories
Pasta with homemade vegetable sauce, Quorn sausages, peas, sweetcorn and green tea.
Evening Snack - 150
Oatcakes
TOTAL CALORIES - 1140

EXERCISE :
30 min slow walk
300 calories burned on exercise machine

My weight stayed the same

I am happy today even though my weight stayed the same. I feel very virtuous having done my aerobics yesterday and I can certainly feel my muscles today! I know that I ate healthily and aim to do the same today but do a different exercise.

Calories - 18th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 120 calories
Porridge cooked with water and strawberry jam. Green tea.
Elevenses - 100 calories
banana and water
Lunch - 380 calories
Vegetable and lentil stew - lentils, red onion, potato, carrot, peas, cabbage, stock powder and water
Afternoon - 50 calories
sugar snap peas and green tea
Evening Meal - 250 calories
Fish fingers, lettuce and tomato sandwich with decaff tea
Evening Snack - 225
Oat cakes with houmous and apple and mango juice
TOTAL CALORIES - 1125

EXERCISE :
30 min aerobic video
50 minute brisk walk

Weight Loss

I lost a pound yesterday taking my weight to 11 stone 4.5 - I am now tantalisingly close to my first target of 11 stone 4 pounds! My husband has taken the children out for the day and I am having a lovely time on my own at home. I have just done a workout video which was fantastic and plan on going for a walk and maybe doing some exercise machine work later. I know I shouldn't overdo it but with my cholesterol test results and my opportunity to do things by myself - I cannot resist taking advantage!

Cholesterol Test Results

I did the test this morning and so did my husband. My results were not good - my level was 225 which is borderline high. I thought that it might be good because I was a vegan from the age of 18-30 an have been a vegetarian since. However, I have been eating too much butter and junk food and am not not doing that so I hope that will help.

I was cross about my husbands result. He is a meat eater, he is overweight and doesn't have a healthy diet unyet his level was 175 which is absolutely fine. I am assuming the genetics pay some part and he is very lucky but I must forget my jealousy of his result and work on mine. I am going to make an appointment with the doctor to have a follow up test and to discuss it with her to find out exactly what I need to be doing to help myself.

Cholesterol Test

I decided to do a cholesterol test and so I need to do a 12 hour fast. This means that the 150 calories that I saved for this evenings snack, I will not be able to use as I cannot eat or drink anything. I am aware that I should be having more calories than I had today but I felt this cholesterol test was important to be done as soon as possible. I have a family history of high cholesterol and my twin sister, who is a vegan, recently had a test and was told that her normal cholesterol level was due to her diet as her risk was so high with her family history. I am a vegetarian so do have more saturated fats so want to know how it has effected me.

Calories - 17th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 109 calories
Shredded Wheat and green tea
Elevenses - 123 calories
salt and vinegar rice cakes
Lunch - 150 calories
Quorn ham, lettuce, and houmous sandwich with carrot sticks, cucumber, red peppers and green tea
Afternoon - 75 calories
banana and apple
Evening Meal - 400 calories
Baked potato topped with mushrooms and red onion in a home made sauce, with carrots, cabbage and peas, kids yoghurt and green tea
Evening Snack -
none
TOTAL CALORIES - 857

EXERCISE :
slow 75 minute walk

Breakfast Cereal Calories

I compared certain cereals for 100g of the product. It was really interesting to see the difference in calories. I compared the top brand and as shop own brand for Tesco.

Kelloggs Cornflakes - 372
Tesco Cornflakes - 380

Weetabix - 339
Tesco low calorie weetabix - 340

Bitesize Shredded Wheat - 354

Sugar Free Museli Alpen - 355
Tesco Sugar Free Museli - 355

Ready Brek - 360
Tesco Instant Hot Oat Cereal - 360

Quaker Oats - 360
Tesco Own Oats - 360

What interested me was that there was really not a great deal of difference in calories. I always thought that museli was very high in calories but I think because the ingredients are dense and heavy you have to eat what looks like less in the bowl for the same calories of other cereals.

I Put on Weight

I put on half a pound yesterday. I didn't do the exercise that I had intended to which would have made a difference. I also think that my evening Ready Brek was too much - my husband made it for me and I would have made half of what he did - but it was very kind of him to do it! I am going to research breakfast cereals at the supermarket today to find out which is the best, calorie wise and also price wise. I will put my findings on here. My weight is now 11 stone 5.5 pounds

Calories - 16th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 109 calories
Shredded Wheat and green tea
Elevenses - 100 calories
banana and grapes and alphabet biscuits, green tea
Lunch - 150 calories
Quorn ham, lettuce, cucumber and houmous sandwich with carrot sticks and green tea
Afternoon - 150 calories
25g mixed nuts and green tea
Evening Meal - 490 calories
Stir fry vegetables (courgette, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, white onion, green beans) with rice, quorn popcorn, sweetcorn
Evening Snack - 200
Ready Brek with Jam
TOTAL CALORIES - 1199

EXERCISE :
slow 60 minute walk

I Lost a Pound

I lost another pound and now weight 11 stone 5 pounds. I am now just one pound off reaching my first target of 11 stone 4 pounds. I will be doing some extra exercise later and hopefully that will help me to lose another pound today so that I reach my target when I weigh tomorrow morning. I will let you know tomorrow!

Calories - 15th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 109 calories
Shredded Wheat and decaff tea
Elevenses - 75 calories
apple and grapes and decaff tea
Lunch - 160 calories
Quorn ham toastie with carrot, red pepper, yellow pepper and cucumber sticks, decaffeinated tea with milk
Afternoon - 150 calories
25g mixed nuts and detox tea
Evening Meal - 450 calories
Stir fry vegetables (courgette, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, white onion, green beans) with rice and Quorn burger and a Cappuccino.
Evening Snack - 85
tinned peaches
TOTAL CALORIES - 1029

EXERCISE :
slow 45 minute walk
100 step-ups
200 calories burned on exercise machine

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Increasing my Exercise

I really started this campaign in order to lose some weight. But watching a program about the fattest man in the world last night, I got to thinking about exercise. Although I walk daily, I do not get any aerobic exercise and I probably haven't done any for years. Now I have turned 35 I really need to start looking after myself and so I am going to think of some ways to do some aerobic exercise - even if it is just running up and down the stairs a few times to start with.

My weight stayed the same

My weight was exactly the same when I weighed this morning. I am wondering whether it may be due to the fact that I did not drink as much green tea yesterday - I have run out. I know that people say that it can help weight loss, but I just drink it because I do not have milk in it so it is lower in calories than normal tea and I really like it!

Calories - 14th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 109 calories
Shredded Wheat and decaff tea
Elevenses - 74 calories
2 digestive biscuits
Lunch - 147 calories
1 egg scrambled on toast, decaffeinated tea with milk
Afternoon - 80 calories
blueberries and glass of water
Evening Meal - 489 calories
homemade chips, lentil and sweet potato bake, peas, carrots
Fruit and yoghurt - apple, banana, grapes
decaff tea with milk and a glass of water with lemon
Evening Snack - 129
Mini Cheddars
TOTAL CALORIES - 1028

EXERCISE :
slow 60 minute walk

How I Combat Cravings

I often get cravings for sweet things and salty things. In order to combat these craving I have a few tricks that I thought it might be useful to share. If I want something savoury I make myself a savoury drink either by pouring hot water over a vegetarian Oxo cube or a teaspoon of Marmite. Sweet cravings are harder as they are usually for chocolate. I know that some people keep a bar of dark chocolate in the fridge and have one square but my will power isn't good enough for me to keep it in the house. Some people have a hot chocolate drink but I am yet to find a nice, sugar free one which is low in calories. What I tend to do is have a cup of coffee, I will even add some sweetener if I want something very sweet.

Another pound gone!

I have lost another pound so I am now 11 stone 6 pounds. I cannot wait until I am back to the weight I was before my birthday week (11 stone 4 pounds) and then I can really start working towards getting under 11 stone. These are my next milestones :

To reach 11 stone 4 as soon as possible
To get below 11 stone before 26th May
To get to my maximum weight for my height - 10 stone 10 pounds by 9th June
Then decide what weight to target next.

Calories - 13th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 109 calories
Shredded Wheat and green tea
Elevenses - 80 calories
small banana and some fruit juice
Lunch - 175 calories
Avocado sandwich with cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks, decaffeinated tea with milk
Afternoon - 125 calories
humzinger fruit bar, mini cheddars and water
Evening Meal - 450 calories
Quorn popcorn chicken style pieces, brown rice and sweet and sour stir fry veg (carrot, courgette, red onion, French beans with olive oil, soya sauce and agave syrup) and 3 cups decaffeinated tea with milk
Evening Snack - 130
Crisps
TOTAL CALORIES - 1069

EXERCISE :
slow 60 minute walk

I lost half a pound

So getting back to controlling what I am eating has been worthwhile. Yesterday I lost half a pound and so I now weight 11 stone 8 pounds. I am a bit cross with myself at being so naughty over the weekend and putting on so much weight that I had worked so hard to take off. I am feeling self concious now that the weather is warmer and I cannot hide under a coat or jumper. Hopefully that will motivate me to keep at it.

Calories - 12th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 109 calories
Shredded Wheat and green tea
Elevenses - 120 calories
Small orange juice with some grapes and blueberries
Green tea
Lunch - 250 calories
Warm asparagus salad (asparagus, salad leaves, cherry tomatoes, avocado, red pepper, cucumber), 25g mixed nuts and green tea
Afternoon - 85 calories
half a small banana, glass of water and a digestive biscuit
Evening Meal - 497 calories
vegetable stew (kale, red onion, carrot, chick peas, potato, peas, stock powder), a kids strawberry yoghurt and green tea
Evening Snack - 130
crisps
TOTAL CALORIES - 1191

EXERCISE :
slow 60 minute walk

Weight Gain

After sticking to low calories on the 7th May my weight stayed the same. However, I have been eating whatever I like since then because of it being my birthday and I now weight 11 stone 8.5 pounds. It just proves to me that I will need to always be very careful how much I eat - I cannot get away with even a few days of eating too much or else the weight will pile back on. Back to it today.

Calories - 7th May

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 95 calories
Weetabix and green tea
Elevenses - 90 calories
Small banana
Lunch - 175 calories
Avocado sandwich with cucumber, carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes
Decaffeinated Tea with milk
Afternoon - 130 calories
2 glasses water,a biscuit and an apple
Evening Meal - 535 calories
Quorn dippers with stir fry vegetables (red pepper, courgette, red onion, brown onion, carrot, kale) in a black bean sauce
Green Tea
Evening Snack - 118
Mini Pringles
TOTAL CALORIES - 1133

EXERCISE :
slow 60 minute walk

Oh dear!

Well although I walked for 2 hours yesterday I was right in thinking that I would be likely to put on weight. I put on half a pound and so a total of one pound over Monday and Tuesday. This means that I now weight 11 stone 5. As I am at home today I decided to count calories again.

My First Week - Results

I weighed this morning at the end of my first week. I weight 11 stone 4pounds which means that I have lost 7 pounds this week - that is half a stone - WOW. It just shows that you do not need to exercise madly, have an unbalanced diet or take supplements to lose weight. I just reduced my portion size, cut down considerably on my fat and increased my portions of vegetables and fruit.

This week I will be going out and about with the family so I am not sure how well things will do. I will not be noting everything I am eating as I will not have time but I will post regularly about my progress.

Recipe : Chips

750g Potatoes

2 tbsp Olive Oil

a pinch of Salt



Peel the potatoes and chop them into chip shapes - you can cut them into wedges or slices instead if you would rather. Place in a saucepan and cover with boiling water and bring back to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees. Prepare a baking tray by brushing it with the oil and then lightly sprinkle with salt. Once the potatoes are ready, strain them and leave them to steam for a few minutes. Then tip them onto the baking tray and use the excess oil to brush over them. Then cook in the oven for 30-45 minutes until golden brown.
Serves 3 people at about 280 calories per portion.

Day Seven

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 109 calories
Shredded wheat and green tea
Elevenses - 130 calories
Mini Cheddars
Lunch - 150 calories
Houmous and cucumber sandwich with cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks
2 cups of green tea
Afternoon - 198 calories
Pringles and apple and mango juice
Evening Meal - 516 calories
50g pasta with sweetcorn, peas and quorn dippershomemade sauce
Evening Snack - 90
Small banana
TOTAL CALORIES - 1193

EXERCISE :
slow 60 minute walk

Another half a Pound

I have lost another half a pound. I have now lost a total of 6.5 pounds. I am sure that it is not healthy to lose weight this quickly but I feel that I am following a healthy balanced diet and am not eating too few calories according to what slimming clubs etc usually advise people to stick to.

How Did I do it?

I love chocolate. I usually buy it at least once a week. I have been thinking this week that I would quite like some. However, I have managed to resist buying any. I walked past the sweet shop today, without going in. I went in a shop that sold one of my favourite chocolate bars and looked at it but wasn't even tempted to buy it.

It may have something to do with the fact that I have 100g of Belgium chocolates for my birthday present from my husband. My birthday is on the 10th May so I know that I will be getting some sweets soon.

maybe I am just really focussed on losing weight at the moment. I guess the real test will be when I am given the chocolates. Will I be able to stick to eating just one a day or will I scoff them all for breakfast!

Day Six

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 240 calories
Museli
Green Tea
Elevenses - 80 calories
Small banana
Lunch - 150 calories
Houmous and cucumber sandwich with cherry tomatoes
Green tea
Afternoon - 50 calories
Small carrot and 6 grapes
home made cup-a-soup
Evening Meal - 520 calories
scrambled egg, chips, broccoli, carrots, French beans
Cup of decaffeinated tea with milk
Evening Snack - 130
Mini chedders and green tea
TOTAL CALORIES - 1170

EXERCISE :
90 minute slow walk

I Lost More Weight

I lost another 1.5 pounds and now weight 11 stone 5 pounds. This is a great achievement. I need to be below 10 stone to be in the recommended BMI range for my height but I this has been a great start.

I am a little concerned about next week as it is likely that I will be eating out and although I will be walking more, I am not sure that it will be enough to counteract the effects of the meals. I will be as careful as I can and it will be an interesting experiment in restraint and what low calorie and healthy options restaurants can offer.

Day Five

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 110 calories
Shredded Wheat with semi-skimmed milk
Green Tea
Elevenses - 90 calories
Small banana and green tea
Lunch - 250 calories
2 egg omelette with Quorn ham and cucumber
Decaffeinated tea with milk
Afternoon - 50 calories
1 digestive biscuit, one quarter of an apple, 2 grapes
green tea
Evening Meal - 500 calories
homemade chips, fish fingers, sweetcorn, broccoli, carrots
Evening Snack - 118
Pringles minis
cup of decaffeinated tea with semi skimmed milk
TOTAL CALORIES - 1158

EXERCISE :
60 minute slow walk

My weight stayed the same

Well my weight is the same - 11 stone 6.5 pounds today. I think because I had a large evening snack it may have had something to do with it. the problem was that by the time I got to the evening I had only eaten 850 calories and I needed to make sure that I had at least 1000. I am still pleased with my loss so far 4.5 pounds in 4 days is very impressive I think and it is bound to slow down a bit anyway as time goes on.

Day Four

FOOD AND DRINK :

Breakfast - 109 calories
Shredded Wheat with semi-skimmed milk
Green Tea
Elevenses - 120 calories
half a macademia and ginger wallaby bar and half a banana
Lunch - 140 calories
Small pot of Heinz baked beans
Green Tea
Afternoon - 106 calories
6 dried apricots and a glass of water
Evening Meal - 381 calories
vegetable stew (potato, carrots, onion, soya beans, peas, stock)
Red grape, raspberry and cherry juice
Green tea
Evening Snack - 165
Quorn ham and mustard sandwich
TOTAL CALORIES - 1019

EXERCISE :
70 minute slow walk
100 calories burnt on exercise machine

Recipe : Pasta in vegetable sauce

This is the pasta dish that I had last night. It serves 3 adults.


150g pasta
1 red pepper
1 courgette
1 onion
1 tbsp olive oil
30g tomato ketchup
1 tsp stock powder


Chop the vegetables into small pieces and fry in the olive oil until soft. Blend them with the ketchup and stock powder. I tend to add several tbsp water, this will depend on how thick you want the sauce. When the pasta is cooked, just pour over the top.

One serving (one third of the food) is approximately 250 calories. So you have enough calories left to add extra vegetables and some protein such as fish, meat or a vegetarian alternative.

I lost weight again!

I lost another 1.5 pounds which means that my weight today is 11 stone 6.5 pounds. I cannot believe I am losing it so quickly. My husband is worried and has said that I am starving myself. However, I know that the only way I can lose weight is to eat less food and so that is what I am doing.