Weight Loss the Old Style Way! Part 8. Please read posts 1 and 2 before posting.

YORKSHIRELASS

Yes you can do it. We have been on a really strict budget for the last couple of years and we are all fit and healthy and none of us are overweight. In fact not being able to afford alcohol, chocolate, crisps and ready meals on a regular basis can only be a good thing for your health even if its a bit boring sometimes!

Fruit is expensive, and to be honest I dont eat loads of fruit because I tend to leave it for the kids but veggies are cheap and most home made meals are a lot better for you than the pre-cooked versions. Bulking meals out with veg makes meat go further and is good for you too. Like Lizzyb I love my evening meal and make sure I fill up so I dont want to snack later. Its never done me any harm.

I also think its a myth that cheap foods are automatically bad for you. I am sure thats what the supermarkets would like us to think but I dont believe it!

terra_ferma

https://www.myfitnesspal.com
is a popular free website that can help you with counting calories
no need to pay money to follow fancy diets or buying fancy foods, unless there is a medical need

jayII

Evening all, I hope all are well. Well done all the losers and STS, commiserations to all the gainers.

Thanks so much to ragz for all your hard work. :T

Today:
B: Porridge made with water and raisins, herb tea.
L: ham sandwich, green salad and a small apple
slow cooker chicken curry, rice and peas.
S: nuts and dried fruit.

I probably ate too many nuts as snacks, but I'm trying to break my serious crisp and sugar addictions, so I'm trying to be forgiving with myself. I haven't had crisps, sweets or chocolate for a week now, but it's early days.

Once I break the addiction, I'll probably eat these things occasionally or have a weekly 'treat' day. Does anyone know if this is this a good idea?

Bronnie

terra_ferma wrote: »

www.myfitnesspal.com
is a popular free website that can help you with counting calories
no need to pay money to follow fancy diets or buying fancy foods, unless there is a medical need

I am counting calories atm, I started with a free trial the Boots website.

I agree with terra firma, it really is the most MS way to eat! I have 1400 calories a day of normal food.

It is far more economical than diets that encourage you to eat masses of "free" food, unlimited amounts of fruit and Mullerlite yogurts till they're coming out of your ears! It really teaches you to moderate your portions and balance what you eat, which in the long term is what you need to do to maintain a healthy weight.


I calorie count my recipes (well the Boots site does the work!) then divide into portions and freeze so I always have a healthy "ready meal" to hand. I sometimes double up on cooking veg, so I've got some ready to nuke with my lunch the next day.

I agree having dessert later, as a snack is a good idea.

I make a lot of vegetable soups, which I freeze in portions, they are very low cal ( about 35 cals for leek or celery) and a mug-full is great for taking the edge off my appetite and very wholesome!

I keep a medium sliced wholemeal loaf in the freezer ( almost always whoopsied for 15p in Sainsbury's) and a piece of toast ( in the toaster from frozen) and a scrape of fruit spread is another filling snack around 100 cals with a cup of tea or coffee.

If I've really got the munchies, I make a big bowl of porridge with water in a jug in the microwave and a splash of milk and tsp of sugar, about 220 calories but really fills me up.

A portion of fruit is only about 80 grams, we tend to eat more than we need. Half a large apple or banana is a portion or a medium satsuma. Make up the rest with veg.

I do also find, especially in the evening that 2 or 3 mugs of hot tea, do make me feel quite warm inside and sort of full!!

Good luck!

positivelypurple

Hello everyone,

I have been following the thread since the beginning of the year and despite my decision to lose some weight this year, haven't been able to get myself into gear. Reading through this thread again this morning has been so inspirational and I wonder if I'm not too late to join in the fun As I'm a bit behind everyone else (and if there's room a not so little one), I'll aim for 10lb before Easter.

Thanks so much

spotdogkez

STS FOR ME this week but still feeling motivated. Have cut down portion sizes so hopefully this will begin to show next week.

vgstar44

Well after a really rough few days i am happy to say i have lost 2lbs this week!!! so glad its heading in the right direction to get those christmas lbs off only another 7lb to go till im back to normal. So glad i joined here as writing my daily meals down has been helping soo much!!!:j

My youngest has had me up last night and the night before with a D&V bug so i thought i would have been too tired to resist the bicces at work but in actual fact i was too tired to even attempt to stuff my face!!!

yesterday meal plan was

B : porridge and 2 coffees
L : chicken and salad wrap with a yog
D : 2 small slices of pizza
Snack : 2 glasses white wine :beer:

Been up pretty early again as the wee one was up again barfing over my bed so trying to hold off having brekky to a more normal time but making my first coffee last a bit longer

plan for today

B : 2 coffees and porridge
L : Ham sandwich with french mustard and a yog
D : garlic chicken with veg
Snack : 2 glasses of white wine (would be rude to not finish the bottle :eek: )

Hope everyone has a lovley weekend

Dragoncry

jayII wrote: »

Once I break the addiction, I'll probably eat these things occasionally or have a weekly 'treat' day. Does anyone know if this is this a good idea?

Hi Jay
A weekly treat day should be a good idea in theory because if you eat the same every day your body will get used to it and it needs to be kept guessing to shift the weight and keep your metabolism moving.

Also you can have nice treats which will give you a boost like a small piece of rich fruit cake (full of iron,fibre and vitamin e) or have a slice of dark choc cheesecake (antioxidants + calcium).
Lots of people have 2 chunks of dark choc daily which you could use as a treat when you had a good day eating wise. Kiwi fruit is also a great snack as it is meant to reduce food cravings, so if you feel stressed and want to comfort eat, try one of those.

There's no need to stop having the 'naughty' foods, just keep in moderation and enjoy

DC xx

ragz_2

Positively Purple - welcome to the thread, never too late to join the challenge, even if you only lose a few pounds it's still all going in the right direction.

Vgstar44 - did you want to be added to the challenge? I seem to have missed your first post, if so can you post your target and total so far and I will add you on. Well done on the 2lb loss.

I WI this morning at 11st9lb so 2lb lighter than yesterday which has made me feel very good, if that can be the same next WI day I will be very pleased. I am trying to talk myself into going for a jog, it is minues temperatures out there!

JBD

jayII wrote: »

I probably ate too many nuts as snacks, but I'm trying to break my serious crisp and sugar addictions, so I'm trying to be forgiving with myself. I haven't had crisps, sweets or chocolate for a week now, but it's early days.

Once I break the addiction, I'll probably eat these things occasionally or have a weekly 'treat' day. Does anyone know if this is this a good idea?

I had a very serious crisp addiction. I broke it by only buying the kids ones that I don't like or eat. That way they aren't sitting in the cupboard to tempt me. As regards nuts, they are a useful source of protein and 'good fats', but you need to look at the unsalted variety. I could easily hoover up a whole packet of salted peanuts or cashews, but that isn't really any better for me than eating crisps. I usually have 4 brazil nuts a day [for the selenium which helps protect against cancer].
I think a treat day is fine if you only have a couple of treats, rather than going overboard. I usually have a small treat each day [I'm thinking 100-150 calories].
I find it easier to control cravings by not buying 'treats' in bulk [better to control my children's diets as well]. If we want sweets or chocolates then I buy the small amount that we are going to eat, rather than having it in the cupboard or fridge.