Is OS bad for me?

[boo81]

Hi

The more OS I get the more weight I seem to put on and I really dont know why!

Someone please tell me what is wrong with my diet, I eat the following on a typical weekday:

Breakfast: sugar free organic apple and sultana muesli no added sugar but add about 1/2 tsp with skimmed milk
Mid morning: 250ml fresh orange juice
Lunch: 1 slice wholemeal bread (no butter) with either cheese and pickle or tuna mayo and lettuce. Cho rice crispie cake or nectarine compot with fat free natural yoghurt and handful muesli
Dinner: normally during the week - pasta with tomato sauce and cheese, spag bol, veggy curry, brown rice and small naan, roasted veg and salmon fillet. Sometimes desert of fruit and cream but prob only once or twice a week.

At weekends I dont normally have breakfast and often have a treat or two of something sweet like a cake or icr cream, often have one meal out of filled baguette, burger etc per weekend. I am more liekly to have things like pastry but 2/3 evening meals will be substantial.

I only drink water at other times or sugar free cordial at weekends and I dont think im a big eater. If I have pasta its normally 4oz portion.

I think my diet is pretty good, what would you suggest for me? The OS routine seems to be bad for me. I dont want to feel deprived and never have treats

[allIcouldwishfor]

I know what you mean, I've put on a stone since I got my breadmaker after advice on this website!!!

Do you drink alcohol at all? Wine is my big downfall and not only is it "empty calories", once I've had a glass all my resolve goes out the window and I start raiding the cupboards for nuts, etc. :o The breakdown of alcohol by your liver also produces chemicals that tell your body to stop burning fat and start storing it.:eek:

Other than that it might be worth checking your portion sizes? They can creep up without you realising.

[scuzz]

I've always been told it doesn't matter what you eat as long as you do some exercise. If you have a desk you at work (like me) and you eat lunch at the pc then those calories are going to stay put. Try and make an effort to move about as much as you can.

Your diet sounds sensible, (much more so than mine) but maybe join a sports club or go for walks with family and friends

Please don't think I'm being rude and assuming you don't exercise, I'm going on my lifestyle

I know you're under a lot of stress personally, which could be adding to the weight gain.

[newlywed]

I found that baking and cake making has crept most of it up.

But also portion size. Try dishing up a large spoonful less than normal and see if you are still hungry (freeze the extra for lunch of course ;) )

I have been doing this and me and OH haven't been hungry so we have definitely been overeating due to my portion sizes :o

If you think of a size of a microwaved "ready meal" for one - how does it compare to the quantity you put on your plate each meal? Obviously the quality doesn't compare but maybe it is quantity.

[boo81]

Well alcohol is certainly not an issue for me as I drink probably once every few months.

Im not the most active person I will admit, I walk to and fro the bus every day and walk most weekend but apart from that at the moment not much. I have joined a gym and im waiting for the card, im a bit worried though as my osteopath has told me that he is not really keen on me doing anything as my back may flare up. Im hoping the opposite!

Its hard to say with portion size, I know my lunch is very small compared with others and my weekday meals are not big (I neither feel uncomfortably full or hungry).

Maybe I should just accept im not supposed to be the svelt size 10 I used to be!

[overlykeensaver]

your weekly menu looks pretty healthy to me but maybe your weekend is where it is creeping up. Perhaps you could reduce your cake treats to just one at the weekend and opt for something slightly more healthier when you treat yourself to take-away?

As for exercise, if you take the bus, would it be possible to get off one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way? If you work in an office block - take the stairs instead of the lift, not just on thh way in and at the end of the day but even when you go to see people on other floors (that is if your office is like that of course! Try to think of easy ways to incorporate a bit more walking into your day - perhaps a ten minute walk at lunchtime? It does us all good to get some fresh air!

[MrsTine]

When you go to the gym make sure you tell them about your back and they should be able to give you a program that shouldn't cause you too many problems - but to tell them! They need to know so they can factor this in!
Also worth investing in some good shoes to help you support your back when walking :)
And it might be worth checking with your GP that there isn't a medical reason for your weight gain... you're not on the depo injection are you? (I gained 2 stone on that and still struggling to shift it!) or it might be thyroid etc - you seem to be eating balanced so I would definitely check with your GP as well as doing some more excercise :)

[Plum Pie]

I discovered last autumn after an exciting half hour with the kitchen scales, that in guessing by eye rather than weighing out portions of ingredients like rice and pasta, I was eating about 50% more than I thought I was. Yikes! I'm more 'portion-savvy' now.

My mum is totally old style including doing and eating lots of baking. She does this by 1. v small portions, esp at lunch 2. almost no protein foods 3. Tons of exercise (esp gardening and walking). She's a little too concerned with her weight for my liking, but I offer it up as an example of being OS and slim.

[patchwork cat]

Hi
Weigh your food and do a calorie check. If you are eating about 2000 calories and still gaining weight - see your dr.

[thriftlady]

Home baking is definitely responsible for my weight problem, but I don't have to make biscuits and muffins, no one is forcing me to eat them :rolleyes: I'm trying to scale down my baking and just concentrate on bread. I don't find this as hard to resist as a biscuit, and the kids were as pleased as punch to have bread and hm blackcurrant jam for their snack this morning.

I think it is a bit of a myth that you only get fat if you eat processed junk, I'm living proof of that :rotfl:

[boo81]

To be honest im scared of going to the dr, I went a few years ago and I should have complained at the time because he was so horrible to me.

I went regarding my knee hurting (had got back from snowboarding and was suffering months later) and he gave me a halfhearted once over without even checking my records when I have had past problems diagnosed. He then prodded my little fat roll over my jeans and said "well THAT wont help the situation will it?". Then we got into my eating habits which were still not exactly bad at the time and he told me the only way I could lose weight would be to cut calories by about 200.

To be honest I tried counting calories but found it absolutely impossible to do.

I make it sound like im huge but im a size 14, all my clothes are a 12 and hardly anything fits me which is so depressing, also I cant afford to buy new ones!

[dannahaz]

Avoid cheese if you are trying to lose weight. Following Weightwatchers where you can have "18 points" a day, I learnt that 1 oz of cheddar (which is a tiny amount) takes up 4 points. So almost a quarter of a day's allowance, on enough cheese for one cracker.

Curry sauces are also notoriously bad. Again, using Weightwatchers as a guide, your whole daily allowance is more than taken up on a portion of curry...and that's without counting the points for rice and anything else you may have.

Finally, as others have said, look at your portion size. We used to have huge portions. DH still does, I now halve mine and fill up on steamed veggies instead.

[sexymouse]

Do you eat lunch at home? Maybe try switching your dinner and lunch around, as you are more likely to burn off the calories from your largest meal throughout the rest of the day, rather than storing them while you sleep. It is something my OH was told when he was trying to lose weight.

[Fay]

I know that counting calories is a chore but it can really help. When I went on a health kick a couple of years ago I thought I was eating the right amount for my height and weight but when I used the calorie counter on here http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/lostart.htm?gclid=CJDx_KmWxY0CFSQXEAodNE5ngw I realised that what I was eating was not going to lead to me loosing weight.
I cut my calories down using it and started to exercise more efficiently at the gym. I only wanted to lose half a stone, which I did, but toning up made a huge difference to how I look and feel.
You could also try cutting down on the carbs. I have IBS and when I have cut the carbs down I have noticed a massive difference. But a tip, if you do decide to cut down carbs, start drinking the squash with sugar in it-the sweatner they use contains loads of carbs.

[boo81]

Cant change round meals, though at weekends that may be more plausible.

I do make everything myself, my curry is tomatoes, spices and coconut milk and doesnt have the butter pastes etc that others have so I doubt its too bad.

Ive actually done slimming world before but back then I was a student and eating quite badly purely out of circumstance (no kitchen at uni!). I thought I had learnt how to manage my weight but it seems its crept back on over the past year.

[freyasmum]

Hiya, the coconut milk in your curry, even if it's low fat will still be really high. Could you find some kind of alternative, sorry I can't think of anything.

I bake lots (not so much bread now, as I love it - especially when it's straight out of the oven and steaming hot) and cook my own meals (unless I get an excellent deal). I have almost halved my portions for dinner and if I'm still a bit hungry I eat more veggies. I also eat more fruit and soup is a great, filling (not to mention cheap and nutritious) lunch. Also good for using up any left over veg. I've lost 4 1/2 stone since January :eek:

Linzi x

[boo81]

wow that is fantastic freyasmum! :T

I would like to start eating more soup but im a real novice with cooking it. Im not sure what to do with it and should do some research really. I do have a microwave at work so would be convenient.

Well one tin of coconut milk does 5 or 6 portions, maybe I could substitute half for yoghurt or something?

[lil_me]

Rather than discussing it with your GP you could do as I did, walk in and just asked to be referred to a dietician. If you're eating healthy stuff could be just about portion sizes and/or exercise.

Well done FreyasMum, maybe in a while I'll be able to say the same :)

[freyasmum]

wow that is fantastic freyasmum! :T

I would like to start eating more soup but im a real novice with cooking it. Im not sure what to do with it and should do some research really. I do have a microwave at work so would be convenient.

Well one tin of coconut milk does 5 or 6 portions, maybe I could substitute half for yoghurt or something?

Thank you :)

Yea substituting the yoghurt would cut down the fat and calories quite significantly. It's just trying to find substitutes. Also, remember that you should never deny yourself anything. I had some chocolate at lunch and I've had some millionaire shortbread (well, I halved a bit with my mum), but the important thing is that I've had a bit and I enjoyed every bit of it, probably even more so than before. The chocolate that I had was G&B maya gold.

My point is, you eat less of the stuff that satisfies you (the plain chocolate) rather than, for example eating a full bar of milk chocolate, and you don't feel hard done by.

I hope I make sense.

Lx

[belfastgirl23]

I blame two things for my OS weight gain.

First of all I hate to see waste now so I try to make a point of using things up. Problem is I don't always do this by making a meal round something, sometimes it's done by snacking (not good!) Relatedly, the food I make tastes better so it's nicer to eat more of :) And cooking from scratch I haven't yet really figured out portion control properly. I find it's also easy to kid myself that OS food is lower cal - lentils are low cal but if I add a nice salad dressing they're not low cal any more!

Secondly though I'm so busy focusing on costs that I'm not thinking about calories at all. And thinking about calories is what helps me to lose weight.

Good luck, just to say you're not the only one!

[boo81]

Thats always been my theory too and I dont have a huge amount of sweet stuff, there isnt any choclate, biscuits or cakes in the house. Though now im craving something nice! lol

My treat used to be Ben and Jerrys but the richness seems to now make me sick which is a shame

[angelavdavis]

Hi Boo,

I fully sympathise as I have also put on weight in the last year or so and desperately need to lose some weight before my wedding in September so OH and I are on an eating plan/diet.

Many years ago I bought an eating plan when I lived in the US and its the only thing that really helps me lose weight by speeding up my metabolism. Have tried other diets like weightwatchers and Slimming World but always put the weight back on!

I need to be quite strict with myself and what I have found is that on this eating plan, if I have a couple of naughty days, I get away with it (provided I go back on the plan after).

The diet stops me eating the following as all are conducive to slowing down the metabolism:

-Sugar (of any sort)
-Fruit juices (pure sugar)
-watermelon and oranges (pure sugar)
-grapes/cherries (pure sugar)
-Bread -see complex carbs below (I know, BM is in hiding at the moment!)
-Red meat (mainly during the initial 6 weeks as it is higher in fat)
-Milk/cream/cheese
-Alcohol (allowed for cooking)
-Diet drinks (many contain high levels of sodium that retains water)
-Salt or any salty foods
-Complex carbs that take longer to digest - eg pasta (sadly!), wheat noodles
-Cooking Oils
-Pulses and red kidney beans (slow to digest)
-Egg yolks (high in Cholesterol and fats)
-Sweetcorn (sugar)

Allowed:
-White meats and fish (obviously not fried with oils)
-Strawberries, yellow melons, grapefruit (good for metabolism), blueberries (good for metabolism), raspberries, peaches, lemons, limes,
-egg whites
-Onions, celery, courgettes, spinach, other greens, peppers, peas
-sprouted beans (such as beansprouts)
-Tea and coffee (no milk, although I can't drink team without milk so I have to cheat and limit myself!)
-seafood (limit due to being high cholesterol)
-Tomatoes, puree (salt-free only), passata, tinned toms
-Mushrooms
-herbs and spices
-Rice of any type
-Rice noodles
-fresh pineapple

The meal plan allows you 6 meals a day(!). Meat portions though are allowed four times a day but only 2-3oz portions each time.

Example of daily menu:

Rapid results Breakfast - half grapefruit, three egg whites (either hard boiled and eaten or whipped and cooked as omelette)
Snack - 3oz turkey breast and 1-2 cups of greens
Lunch - 2 oz chicken breast, half cup rice and 1-2 cups mixed veg
Snack - 3oz fresh tuna and 1-2 cups of greens
Dinner - chicken sauteed in white wine, steamed asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes
Snack - half cup of mixed berries

I have been doing this (as I have been living in hotels through working away and piled the weight on) for 6 weeks and have lost a stone. Once I reach my required weight, I then do this 3 days a week to maintain the weight and eat whatever I like the rest of the week.

Exercise is important too in ensuring your metabolism doesn't slow down, but this is a scientific diet as all the foods allowed are foods that speed up metabolism.

Obviously, it goes without saying, you need to be careful when doing any diets if you have any other health issues and check with your GP.

OH's portions are bigger too because he needs more calories.

I have managed to continue this eating plan using OS principles (although must admit I am lacking enthusiasm for dinner tonight!)

I found to curb my sweet cravings that I could make some apple sauce using a little sweetener and had that as a treat.

[patchwork cat]

HI
I do understand where you are coming from with the Dr. I have had sciatica for years and the best one could offer me was to lose weight. Yes it does help, but as it stops me walking losing weight ain't easy! Don't take it - as if you are only eating 2000 cals then it may be an underactive thyroid or other such problem.That is why I say weigh everything and keep an accurate food diary for a week and check your calories consumed - if they aren't bad and you are still gaining then maybe a visit to doc is in order. But be accurate - you would be amazed how little 1 oz of muesli is!

[boo81]

I wonder if it might be better to eat less cereal in the morning and plan a more substantial mid morning break. I feel maybe I eat too much in the mornings as im preparing myself for not getting hungry before lunch, wondering if this doesnt help!

Angeladavis, that sounds great in theory but very bland. Im not sure how to exist without using oil in anything for starters and I imagine my meusli would certainly be off the menu as its wheat. I could maybe follow that for a few days a week at a push, I would lose enthusiasm I think.

There are lots of things not mentioned though the main ones being aubergine, lettuce and potatoes. Also is pork a white or red meat, seems to depend who you ask!

Im thinking maybe the answer is to have a couple of mega healthy days per week, a couple like normal and try and cut down on treats. I dont have scales I just go by how things fit me. I find that my weight yoyos naturally a lot and ive been know to gain 1/2 stone in a week!

[Gingham Ribbon]

Can't give advice because I'm a roly poly pudding but I just wanted to sympathise!

[Lucie]

OH & I have been on a healthy eating kick since Christmas, here's some of our main changes:

Check the calories content of your breakfast cereal. Some, especially muesli etc are huge. OH found that crunchy nut cornflakes had one of the lowest calorie counts per portion, and don't need any extra sugar.

Fill up on fruit & low fat yoghurts. OH likes the muller rice type as they are quite filling, but I prefer the muller lite yoghurts.

Opt for low/reduced fat options, ie reduced fat coconut milk, half fat mozzarella, fat free campbells soups etc. It does make a difference.

Sweet treat is a lemonade sparkle lolly - something ridiculous like 47 cals per lolly.

We have no cakes, crisps, biscuits, chocolate, alcohol, ice cream or cream.

We've also been going to the gym at least 3 times per week for 30-60 minutes cardiovascular exercise.

Make sure you are eating enough. If you starve your body it will "hoard" calories for later. I'm a big fan of eating small & often, like every 2 hours.

Is 4oz pasta dried or cooked weight? I work on approx 2oz uncooked pasta per person as a portion.

Watch out that you're not undoing all your good work during the week by "relaxing" the rules too much at the weekend. It's recognised as a form of yo-yo dieting.

We're doing pretty well, OH has lost 12kg and I've lost 8kg.

[boo81]

Well I would like to know the calories in my cereal but its from abel and cole and I dont think its printed on it, what is an ideal calorie intake for breakfast?

Im not good with snacks strangely or not healthy ones! I dont eat fruit in any form on its own (can with cream, or in things) or raw veg really and dont really like nuts of anything healthy like that so this is where I have problems.

4oz is uncooked, I tried having 3oz and found myself unable to sleep from hunger. I could maybe cut it down 1/2 oz at the most.

[sammy_kaye18]

you're not on the depo injection are you? (I gained 2 stone on that and still struggling to shift it!)

Oh good god that EVIL thing!!!!! Tine - I was on the depo injection for a year exactly - before i had the injection i was a nice size 12 and weighed 10.5 - 11st. I was happy. I went on the b@stard thing and here i am 2 years on 4 STONE HEAVIER and 3 dress sizes bigger. Its only now startign to come off me. The injection made me severely depressed, my hair was falling out and i mean in clumps not strands, i didnt even want to look at my boyfriend in the romantic sense, i was moody, and no matter how much i dieted/worked out i still gained weight. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone - dont get me wrong it worked (ie no babies) but my god i was a biatch to live with

[lil_me]

Click on the i next to the one you buy, then on dietary info to find out the calories etc.

No specific calorie intake for each meal as long as it balances out, my diet sheet states 25g of museli with 1/4 pint skimmed milk from daily allowance. When you weigh it it does look very small but I find a smaller bowl helps make it look better, been using the little plastic ikea ones I got years ago for the kids.

[scuzz]

Take up figiting. I heard you burn lots of calories if you just keep moving. Try finger druming, chair dancing. All will probably annoy others, but it passes the time!!!

[boo81]

LOL, im already a really bad figit. I sit at meetings and wonder why everyones water had T-rex style tremors going through them and realise its me and my annoying leg jiggling!

[bluemoon]

I wonder if it might be better to eat less cereal in the morning and plan a more substantial mid morning break. I feel maybe I eat too much in the mornings as im preparing myself for not getting hungry before lunch, wondering if this doesnt help!

Angeladavis, that sounds great in theory but very bland. Im not sure how to exist without using oil in anything for starters and I imagine my meusli would certainly be off the menu as its wheat. I could maybe follow that for a few days a week at a push, I would lose enthusiasm I think.

There are lots of things not mentioned though the main ones being aubergine, lettuce and potatoes. Also is pork a white or red meat, seems to depend who you ask!

Im thinking maybe the answer is to have a couple of mega healthy days per week, a couple like normal and try and cut down on treats. I dont have scales I just go by how things fit me. I find that my weight yoyos naturally a lot and ive been know to gain 1/2 stone in a week!

I wonder if you'd like the book 'French Women Don't Get Fat'. I got it from the library on a whim and the approach to food really struck a chord with me, more so than the more structured diets with 'good' and 'bad' foods. A lot of it is really common sense things that we all know, but somehow ignore or forget. I ignored her 'leek soup' bit (seemed like another fad diet to me), but otherwise it's all about figuring out your own balance and how to manage and enjoy those foods that cause you problems (for me it's bread - I now only eat it as a planned part of a meal, for example HM pizza dough or a HM naan with a curry).

The reason I mention it is that the last paragraph you wrote could have been written by me, so it might suit you too. :) I don't have scales either, but since I read this book in May my clothes are starting to become noticeably baggy in places and I'm bloated less often. And I eat chocolate every day and chips from the chip shop on occasion, with only residual guilt. :p I'm hopeful that this is teaching me a way to eat with balance and enjoyment while managing my weight for the rest of my life - it seems that way so far.

[angelavdavis]

Sorry not to check on this thread sooner - my weekend took over early!

I understand the thinking about the blandness. I have found it hard to cut back on oils (and salt!).

I use a lot of white wine for cooking chicken in for example, lots and lots of herbs and spices and lemon/lime juice.

It has challenged the way I cook.

I do have muesli but mix my own - using porridge oats, pumpkin seeds, millet, sunflower seeds (all for omega 3 which I think is important for women) and fruit (which are allowed too - forgot about them!) I have also pm'd you more information on meals. I also cook my version of curry on the diet - I don't use fat (cook meat in its own juices or in stock) and use tinned tomatoes to produce the curry sauce.

I will be completely honest here - when I weighed myself after a week and discovered I had lost 4 Lbs after never losing on weightwatchers and having never felt hungry - I was delighted - I soon got over the diet coke/alcohol/salt withdrawal symptoms!

I can eat aubergine, lettuce and potatoes (just missed them off my memory list!) Although I think (would need to check) that aubergine would have to replace potatoes because they are carbs(? not sure)

Like bluemoon and yourself, my weight yoyos - I think that's the joy of hormones! I am not a huge pork eater and its definitely not on my eating list.

As mentioned though, once you have lost the weight - you can indeed do exactly what you have suggested and just eat different for a couple of days a week. The reason you do the eating plan is to increase the metabolism, so its critical do follow it to the letter initially at least.

Hope that makes sense? For anyone interested, check out http://www.podfeed.net/podcast/Michael+Thurmonds+6+Week+Body+Makeover+Podcast/4562# or http://www.mybodymakeover.com/.

[sianb84]

I follow Slimming World and love it. When I stick to it I have really good weight loses.

I bake but these are for OH, I may have the odd bit but am careful so that I don't go overboard.

I am never hungry as I just snack when I need to (on good things though).

I can eat anything I want as long as I am careful and factor that into my food for the rest of the day for example if I want chippy chips I have them but cut out my syns for the rest of the day and don't use my usual amount the next day to make up for it.

I am planning to stick at slimming world and when I get to target I will still go to class so that I don't put all the weight back on again (class is free when you reach target and stay within 3 lbs of it)

[boo81]

I actually used to do slimming world ut I understand it has changed since I joined as you dont need to have green and red days as you can mix. How does that work then?

I did lose a lot but found it hard to incorparte in the long term.

I wish I could get my head round the paul mckenna thing but its hard thinking of every mouthful you have and constantly assessing how hungry to are, to me its not natural and so I forget about it.

Maybe I should try hypnotherapy, my next door neighbour listened to a tape and suddenly stopped drinking beer and wine and has lost so much weight and is fitter than me!

[Pink-winged]

Hi,

As this thread has moved from Old Style eating to different methods of slimming I'm going to move it over to the Health and Beauty board to see if you can get some more suggestions.

Also don't forget the Lose Weight 13 (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=490789) thread on the I wanna board which is great source of support for anyone trying to lose weight.

Good Luck. :)

Pink

[angelavdavis]

Thanks Pink!

[Justie]

4oz is uncooked, I tried having 3oz and found myself unable to sleep from hunger. I could maybe cut it down 1/2 oz at the most.
if you're not eating enough protein then the carbs will have already been used by the time you go to bed and so you will be hungy - also if reducing portion size it will take your body a little while for your habitual hunger (as opposed to real hunger) to calm down.

What you're eating doesn't look too bad in itself and if you watch the portion sizes and up the exercise then you'd see results. One thing you may want to do is add soup in as a meal - use lots of veg and some meat or pulses for protein and you'll find if you make it nice and chunky it'll keep you feeling full for longer.

Personally I wouldn't cut out anything including the weekend treats just try to watch the portion size of the things you know are likely to be higher fat.

[Katmc2k]

I would like to start eating more soup but im a real novice with cooking it. Im not sure what to do with it and should do some research really. I do have a microwave at work so would be convenient.



I have a theory that everyone can cook soup, based on the simple fact that I can cook it, so it must be easy.... :D

I usually make thick creamy-ish vegetable soup (i'm not keen on chunky unless its potato and leek) by boiling a selection of chopped vegetable in a big pot (usually onion, garlic, sweet potato, turnip, potato, leek, carrot, anything i've got actually) Then when its really soft spoon some veg + liquid into a jug and whizz it up so its a thick paste. Once its all done put it back in the pot and add some veg stock and loads of water and some herbs and spices to taste. I don't usually add salt because there is enough stock. then reduce it to a nice consistency, and if you're like me and can't ever eat soup without some kind of milk/cream add some now (I usually add semi-skimmed milk and its fine)

With some veg you are supposed to do that thing where you put them in a hot pot with melted butter until they are soft but obviously thats no good for the calorie counting and I think boiling them is just as good. A massive pot lasts ages and is a great snack instead of crisps etc, only trouble is I never fancy soup in the summer time...

Hope this helps a bit... x :confused:

[boo81]

Thanks thats a great reply!

Well currently I have muchrooms, potatoes, carrots, courgette, onions, tomatoes and small red pepper. Do you think this would make a nice soup with these ingredients?

In the freezer I have green beans, peas and brocolli that I would also add. Anyone got any ideas on a combination here I could use?

Well ive started small and cut down my breakfast meusli from 70g to 50g. Ive got my gym card through though im not going til sunday. Im planning to maybe cook some extra food some nights and have leftovers for lunch instead of sandwichs to give a bit of variation too.

[Justie]

potatoes will always give a creaminess to soup as they're starchy so good for thickening, especially if you put it all in the blender. Generally root veg and things like onions work well in soups but there's no reason not to try other things - in summer pea and mint is really nice. Broccoli soup is lovely too. If you do a google search you'll find loads of soup recipes and once you're used to the general idea you can easily adapt it to whatever you have to hand.

I tend to chop everything up put it in a big pan with stock and let it simmer away for anything from 20 minutes to an hour depending on what I'm doing. I also tend to add a drained tin of beans, chickpeas or lentils for some protein and sometimes a small handful of small pasta so it's a full on meal. You can get good stock cubes (Kallo I prefer) or bottles of concentrated stock so if you like lots of flavour invest in some of these and it's fine to use chicken stock as a base if you want a deeper flavour too.

It's nice to vary it so that sometimes you have broth with lumps in and sometimes it's blended into a thick and creamy soup. There are many diets that suggest making a broth and then taking out the veg and drinking the liquor as a mid morning snack etc...

[Katmc2k]

Yeah if its the creamy kind of soup you're after I would stick to root veg or what I would call winter veg. Sometimes simple ones like potato and onion are just as nice as more exotic ones like roast pepper and sweet potato.

with the: "mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, courgette, onions, tomatoes and small red pepper" I would use everything except the mushrooms-they make a lovely soup of their own.

Justie has given good advice for making broth type soup which I'm not good at, so you could use the beans and peas etc in that. It's really trial and error though, you'll soon learn what works and what doesn't and the ones that don't work so well will probably still be edible. One tip is-I ALWAYS add fresh garlic because its very good for you-just add a pinch of parsley to combat the breath issues :D

And Justie's right about Kallo stock cubes they are excellent, despite being Organic they are often the cheapest-I first discovered them in Aldi or Lidl. Oh, and if the soup isn't for a vegetarian remember you could add chicken or ham stock to make it more flavoursome.

I feel just like Delia Smith. How those who have eaten my cooking would laugh... :D

[boo81]

I wonder if you'd like the book 'French Women Don't Get Fat'. I got it from the library on a whim and the approach to food really struck a chord with me, more so than the more structured diets with 'good' and 'bad' foods. A lot of it is really common sense things that we all know, but somehow ignore or forget.

Thanks so much for the recommendation bluemoon, I found the book for £3 on ebay and decided to buy. Ive now finished it and although it is common sense it does give some great advice and recipes in a non patronising way. Basically it highlights the fact you can eat well and enjoy it but to think about your food and make compensations because you cant expect to have everything and still lose weight!

It has made me feel better and not so guilty about my choices, ive started at the gym 3 times a week and when im woth my boyfriend I really push myself. I found myself wandering around the supermarket at the choclate and cakes out of habit but not really wanting anything. Ive taken on the advice of the author and switched to darker chocolate too, ive never liked the 70% stuff but bournville dark (the new one in the really dark brown packaging) is 60% and is really nice. You dont want to scoff the lot and just staves off that sweet craving.

I feel my outlook has changed thanks to advice on here. I weigh my breakfast each morning and have cut down my portions filling up with more veg sometimes, I keep very low cal snacks in the car so im not tempted by buying food on the way home, I go to the gym and really enjoy it, I think more about what is going in and keep a mental tally of my "compensations". My next step is using the stairs at work every morning and changing some of my lunch items next week after ive been shopping.

Thanks guys, no big changes in weight yet but ill be patient as I already feel better and more hopeful that I can get rid of some of my excess wobbly bits!

[Toots]

Have you taken a look at people's experiences on the Cambridge Diet thread?

It's a nutritionally balanced low carb diet that has been around for over 20 years.

[boo81]

I have heard about it toots, thank you. Its not for me as I dont need to lose a huge amount and want to learn to find the balance so im not yoyo-ing all the time.

Im feeling the effect of the gym and really just concentrating on whats important and how to make little compensations. The cambridge diet is very strict and really doesnt appeal though im sure it works for people its just not my kind of thing.

[Toots]

I have heard about it toots, thank you. Its not for me as I dont need to lose a huge amount and want to learn to find the balance so im not yoyo-ing all the time.

Im feeling the effect of the gym and really just concentrating on whats important and how to make little compensations. The cambridge diet is very strict and really doesnt appeal though im sure it works for people its just not my kind of thing.

Yes - each to their own. It is strict and some will like it and some won't. You do have to find a diet that you are comfortable with.

BTW - the person who started the thread talks about OS - I don't actually know what OS is - anyone enlighten me?

[boo81]

This was posted on the Moneysaving Old Style forum and because it went off topic to talking about diets it got moved here by a moderator!

Old style refers to cooking from scratch really

[Toots]

This was posted on the Moneysaving Old Style forum and because it went off topic to talking about diets it got moved here by a moderator!

Old style refers to cooking from scratch really

Thanks - I thought it was an abbreviation for a new diet that I hadn't heard of.

[melancholly]

my 'diet' tip is to make sure that your house isn't too warm!! i'm not saying live in a freezer, but i'm in an old house that gets chilly in the winter and i swear just keeping my temperature up burns off calories. i eat a lot of pasta (and a lot more than 2oz a portion:$) and once a month there are a few chocolate filled days! luckily, my weight is quite stable these days - i used to yo-yo a lot when i did a lot more exercise because if i missed it for a week then i'd gain weight! i'm not advocating being lazy btw - i was doing stupid (unhealthy!) levels of exercise (13ish times a week) and stopped to regain a life outside of the gym.