No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

fuddle

Polly you are very kind in saying I have mastered knitting. I'm afraid I'm yet to get to the stage where I find it relaxing but I'm persevering. I began cutting my quilt squares before I went to bed. I've gone with 6 inch square size in the hope they won't be too fiddly.

I'm awake via a bad dream. I suspect I was shouting as DH woke me up asking if I ok. Subsequently I am wrapped up warm, downstairs with cup of tea aside me.

I'm up to meal planning. See I have been thinking about Lyn's good headspace re: eating for weight loss and have come up with a bit of a plan (with the help of my sister :eek: I know, nice innit? ) I need to make my meals as per usual but in giving DH meal time left overs to take to work the next day he is effectively eating 2 hearty meals a day and getting a little rounded. Myself I won't go into detail :cool: but I do need to do something. My sister goes to slimming world and has given me her recipe books and eating plan books to copy the important stuff. She says that with DH having porridge of a morning already he is half way there. So I have hearty meals planned that are 'free' in the hope that we can all eat them, get a bit healthier and lose weight in the process.

I also have what I think is a chill blain on my toe. I cannot fathom how I have it because I wear snow boots all the time. The only time I'm out without them is when I'm working in Mam's house. Mind it is bitter cold in there. I'm off to investigate any OS methods in the hope I don't need to purchase medicated things.

I do hope you're all sleeping soundly. I am sure I will be too in an hour or so.

[Deleted User]

Morning all, I borrowed my neighbours Slimming World books and it all seems very common sense as an eating system so I've taken ideas from that and I already had 3 Rosemary Conley recipe books which I've also taken ideas from. I've done some exchanges of ingredients that I'm using and we are now running virtually fat free (I use a low fat oil spray if I need it) meat is the lowest fat variety I can find 5% fat mince, low fat sausages, lots of chicken for me, sugar free in terms of added sugars and confectionery, cakes etc because we're not eating them. He Who Knows still has bread but I use low fat spread for him on it, I'm limiting bread to the odd roll with fat free home made soup (dry no spread on the roll) and am enjoying the odd rye crispbread (I use Finn Crisp round ones or Ikea Rye) my sweetening is from a Stevia based Mr.T own brand sweetener which tastes OK to me, I used to go through much mature cheddar cheese but now instead I've found Laughing Cow triangles taste fine and cheesy and the light ones are 25 calories a triangle, the lightest of light only 19 calories per triangle (nice too). I've got some reduced fat cheddar in the fridge and a tiny grating of that on pasta etc is enough. W8rose do a 0% fromage frais and a 3% fat crème fraiche which are very useful in things like soups, mashed potato and as a sauce when mixed with a little grated cheddar and popped on veg (you can make a nice cauli cheese with it!). Sugar free jelly is as nice as full sugar and when you want something sweet is only 10 calories for 1/4 of a jelly, most supermarkets these days sell a 0% Greek yoghurt which is very creamy and makes low fat recipes taste richer, Muller Light Yoghurts are 99 calories and delicious particularly the toffee ones and the choc orange. We use skimmed milk anyway and if I really want a chocolate hit I've bought some Mr.T own low calorie hot chocolate which is 40 calories a cup and really hits the spot. Bovril is nice as a drink too particularly on raw cold days when I hit a hungry patch. We eat lots of steamed veg, lots of fruit and tea is unlimited. It's working for me and He Who Knows who this morning has had to take his belt in another hole, clever laddie!!!

pollyanna_26

good morning all . Just finished my porridge , slightly milder here but grey today but may bite the bullet and sort the freezer .
Lainey I hope all is well with you and yours x
Fuds What am I going to do with you ? I wish you sweet dreams and you're up in the middle of the night . Re chilblains there are all sorts of old fashioned remedies but I haven't tried them - thick slices of onion , potato etc . There is always a risk of infection if they turn nasty so I will recommend calendula ointment . I used it on the children and myself on the few occasions they happened . Put your legs up whenever you can as this helps drain inflammation . If it wasn't the wrong season I could make you some ointment but the pot marigolds are now dormant . I don't know how easy it is to source near you but any health shop will sell it and it isn't too expensive and lasts a long time .
Meanwhile if you still have the duck tape boots take them to mams when you're busy there , thick socks or a couple of thinner pairs will keep you warm .
I see Lyn is providing lots of info re the eating plan . Between your sister ( and yes I love writing that ) Lyn and yourself you'll soon have your plan in place . Elona posts a lot on os about ordinary but lovely meals she makes , not sure if she's sw but whatever she's following it's working for her .
Well I'll be back later , need to plan the week ahead . Wishing you all a good day .
polly xx

LaineyT

Morning my friends,

Fuds, hope you managed to get back to sleep after your restless night, dreams can be disturbing can't they?
Re healthy eating I honestly believe that the trick is finding something that suits you individually, I really enjoyed doing the BSD earlier in the year and lost 1.5 stones, of which only 4lbs have been put back on. It changed my thinking regarding food, I enjoy it far more now and feel in control of my eating, instead of the other way round. At my age I will never be under 9 stone again or anywhere near it :rotfl: but as long as can get in a size 14 am happy. I think it's more to do with how strong and healthy you are rather than what the scales say. It's great to hear Lyn and Fuds motivation to do just that.
Xx

[Deleted User]

Now here's a challenge, since the girls have grown up and flown off to have careers, their own nests and babies I find it very difficult to feel the Christmas spirit in every way. Buying presents is a case of trying to find things that they haven't got/would like to have/ we can afford and the magic has gone from the process. Ezra is different I've enjoyed finding and wrapping things for him and the few little gifts for our new boy but I find it very hard to feel Christmassy. The shops are all clones of each other, the things on sale are all clones of each other, the food in most places is way too fussy and exotic for our liking. HOW can I put all the commercialism and materialism away and find that real meaning of Christmas that makes the season what it should be???

candlelight_2013

Lyn I am afraid we are much the same, even our grandchildren are grown up now, 23,19 and 17. It isn't the same as when they were young but I do try to make it special, and very often listen carefully as to what they might like.

I know your home now has the Scandanavian look, and I know you bring in the green on Christmas Eve and I think that is a bit special, together with your white candles.

You can't bring back the look in Nell and Ruthie's eyes when they open presents, but you have Ezra, who I think must be at a very interesting age and knowing what Christmas is all about, and the promise of a new baby boy in the new year. Just think of the fun you have had finding these gifts and wrapping them.

I know the shops are much of a muchness, and all 3 of our grandchildren have asked what we would like. We have told them, that honestly, there is nothing we need or want, and would much rather they bought themselves something or saved the money towards a holiday or a special event..

I love putting our decorations out. We haven't had a Christmas tree since the year Dad died (it was just before Christmas) so, like you, we usually have greenery along the mantlepiece with white candles and I have a little tableaux of polar bears and white candles in the shape of Christmas trees and have battery operated clear fairy lights on it.

I know you plan your menu, and last year I took your recipe of cooking the brisket in the slow cooker and it was delicious.

I know it is difficult finding presents for the girls, but they will be just as pleased with a fun thing. Now they both have their own homes, I know how difficult it is to find something they don't have. We give them money and then 2 or 3 small presents so they have something to open and always a few chocolates.

Lyn, it wouldn't matter what you did or didn't do, I imagine Christmas is always fun with you around:):)

Much love

Candlelightx

elona

fuddle

I am on slimming world and enjoy the recipes etc but a couple of years ago I lost nearly two and a half stone on my own and using the Hairy dieters books.

I find things like low fat meat, not eating chicken skin, fat on chops etc and using low calorie spray all help. Upping the fruit and veg I eat helps a lot as does making quiche without pastry, mash with half potato and half carrots, swede or sweet potato helps too.

I treated myself to a soup maker in the sales and can whip up a low cal soup in less than half an hour while I am getting on with other things.

There is a slightly cheeky site called two chubby cubs which has some great recipes ( as well as hilarious anecdotes and comments on slimming clubs in general.) They also have links to deals on muscle foods which produce low fat meats and I have had several orders from there and been very pleased. My local butcher does sin free packs of meat at a good price as well.

Slimming world chips using a fat spray in the oven are very tasty especially if you scatter sea salt and pepper or herbs or spices on them before they go in the oven.

I try to keep lots of frozen veg in the freezer like onions, carrots, peas, spinach, mixed peppers, casserole veg etc as it means I always have something to make a meal together with low fat meat or fish.

Sometimes my dds refuse to believe I have cooked a slimming meal as they have enjoyed it so much. The tomato soup made with a can of chopped tomatoes, a can of carrots (water included),can of baked beans, chicken or veg cube, a few chopped pickled onions and seasoning and herbs had rave reviews. (make sure you blend it well - a stick blender will do if you don't have a food processor etc.)

Have to dash to catch the bus.

Hugs to all

fuddle

I'm saddened to read that Lyn but the problem isn't with you or not having your little ones at home I don't think. I think it's because it isn't yet Christmas but the shops are behaving as if it is. The Black 5 Days come Friday just angers me and the greed and selfishness already apparent in car parks and food shopping queues is just wholly unpleasant for me.

Come back to us a few days before Christmas and I just know you'll be happy amongst the Choral Society, homely home, grandchildren, your girls and your cheese and crackers. Ah Christmas!

Crossed post elona. Just getting ing if the car I'll read in a sec. Appreciate it

fuddle

Thank you Elena. I do like to listen to the Hairy bikers on the radio and know they lost a lot of weight themselves. I try to deserve the Hairy Dieters from the library for a look.

I am very much full fat everything I suppose. Not good at all and reason enough for the ever slow gradual expansion! I walk a lot so I do wonder how I keep getting bigger because (I don't think anyway) that I eat a lot.

[Deleted User]

I thought it was just me! We get the local pubs advertising Christmas meals at the end of August and the decorations have been up in the shops for 6 weeks now I guess that it takes away any feeling of special time to have such a protracted period of pseudo christmasness. A lot of me wishes we could go back to times past when Christmas didn't start properly until a week before Christmas day and didn't then last until after New Years Day. I used to love the anticipation when He Who Knows came home from work at lunchtime on Christmas Eve and the girls and I would have the table laid, candles on and a nice meal ready to start the festivities then we'd all go out to get the greenery and for a lovely walk then home to decorate with fresh stuff before a cuppa and mince pie and Carols from Kings as it got dark. I don't mind there not being Santa and Reindeer but I do mind it not feeling special and I do hate the grabbing and general acquisitiveness that is these times.