Getting fitter and trimmer

Eyebright

VJsmum wrote: »

Hi, sorry to butt in on the thread, I read regularly but don't join in as I am not a massive exerciser. Several good walks a week do me, though I am trying to fit in some stretch and tone.

Eyebright, don't cut fat to lose fat. The evidence is pretty clear now that eating fat does not make you fat - eating sugar and refined carbs does. Have a look at Gary Taubes "why we get fat and what to do about it". Higher fat diets keep you fuller for longer, don't cause spikes in your blood sugar and so stop you snacking.

I have been sugar free wheat free (well 95% of the time) since Easter and I don't miss it at all now. Combined with the 5:2 diet I have lost a stone since then- but wasn't massively overweight to start with. More than that though, my whole system works a lot better and My gastric reflux has gone and my sinus problems can be kept under control without the use of steroid nasal sprays. I still eat sweet things, but I make them and I don't use sugar - though even those are becoming too sweet now.

HTH

Hi VJsmum, thanks very much for butting in! That was really interesting to read, and you have stopped me from scuppering myself and inadvertently gaining weight.

So when we talk about cutting down/out sugar and refined carbs, which foods exactly are we talking about? I'm assuming some fruit is still ok, even though they are sweet?

So I'm gonna guess, chocolates and sweets (!), but what about jam? Pastries/pasties, cakes, desserts. What about yoghurts?
White bread/rice/pasta...are wholemeal versions ok? Pizza, processed food and ready meals in general. What about potatoes, like oven chips? Pastry products in general? What about couscous, is that considered processed?

Sorry everyone for all the questions, but if anyone can help me to understand the right food choices to make I would be very grateful!

I just had strawberry jam and low fat margarine on wholemeal x2 for lunch, and I'm starting to panic that it really wasn't the best food choice! And will my banana and weightwatchers toffee yoghurt be even worse?!

Eyebright

dolly84 wrote: »

Welcome Caeraugirl.

Eyebright - the scales are a fickle device and they can turn against you very easily :rotfl:.

Today I am walking the dog for an hour ish, then this afternoon I plan to run the 2 miles to the gym then when I get there I will row 2000 metres, cycle on the spinning bike, crunches and planks, then another 2000 metres rowing then 2 miles running home. After tea I will ride my bike for about 8/9 miles. I think that will do for the day.

Funny thing is my scales have always seemed fairly reliable. I leave them in the same place and never move them, so even if the weight isn't completely accurate, hopefully the weight loss results are, IYSWIM?
So when I weighed myself post gym yesterday and was 65.5kg, same as my last reading I just figured I had STS, which given my diet wasn't surprising! So to then have lost 1.2kg over night came as a shock. I will weigh again in the morning and see what they say, as there is no way that's right. Maybe I will just pay £1 a month and weigh on the fancy ones at the gym from now on. I like them more, 'cos they reckon I'm 63.2kg! :rotfl::rotfl:

Daisy, your daily exercise is really just fantastic! I would be pleased if I was doing that a week at the moment!!! You really are so inspiring.

Oh and welcome Caeraugirl. Always nice to see some new faces. Feel free to share your highs and lows and any advice you might have. I need all the hints, tips and advice I can get atm...;)

nyc_451

Eyebright wrote: »

Sorry everyone for all the questions, but if anyone can help me to understand the right food choices to make I would be very grateful!

I just had strawberry jam and low fat margarine on wholemeal x2 for lunch, and I'm starting to panic that it really wasn't the best food choice! And will my banana and weightwatchers toffee yoghurt be even worse?!

Don't panic over one breakfast, it can't affect your weight that much, can it...

And there is no right food choice - people follow different diets, different principles. I've experimented with diets for a few years now and have my own set of rules.
I am trying to eat natural foods only (meaning nutritious and not processed) and eliminate sugar & grains. So the food you have mentioned is not on my list Also counting calories. Works wonders for me when I stick to it.

VJsmum

Eyebright wrote: »

Hi VJsmum, thanks very much for butting in! That was really interesting to read, and you have stopped me from scuppering myself and inadvertently gaining weight.

So when we talk about cutting down/out sugar and refined carbs, which foods exactly are we talking about? I'm assuming some fruit is still ok, even though they are sweet?

So I'm gonna guess, chocolates and sweets (!), but what about jam? Pastries/pasties, cakes, desserts. What about yoghurts?
White bread/rice/pasta...are wholemeal versions ok? Pizza, processed food and ready meals in general. What about potatoes, like oven chips? Pastry products in general? What about couscous, is that considered processed?

Sorry everyone for all the questions, but if anyone can help me to understand the right food choices to make I would be very grateful!

I just had strawberry jam and low fat margarine on wholemeal x2 for lunch, and I'm starting to panic that it really wasn't the best food choice! And will my banana and weightwatchers toffee yoghurt be even worse?!

Hi

It is hard to tell someone what they must, mustn't do cos everyone is different. Here's what I don't eat

Breakfast cereal - except oats, and only raw oats not things like Oat so Simple
Flavoured yogurt - I only have full fat Greek yogurt. I do flavour this for the kids with stewed fruit (sweetened with xylitol, I have that sometimes too) or a spoonful of jam (would still be less sugar than commercial yogurt, and I know what's in it cos I make the jam)
Fruit juice, squash, any fizzy drinks even diet ones (especially diet ones)
Bread - though I will make an exception for artisan type bread occasionally
Margarine / spread - butter only (not spreadable butter - just dont keep it in the fridge, it's perfectly fine). Usually Kerrygold cos that is from grass fed cows
Cakes, biscuits, cereal bars - I make some of these without sugar
Ready made / processed food. I make more and freeze it. I do buy pizza for the kids
Sauces - I do buy some curry paste. And I do buy ketchup
Flavoured crisps - though we have ready salted (although ther are issues with the oil they are cooked in, but we don't eat loads)
Chocolate / sweets. Except I eat a small amount of 85% cocoa chocolate every day
Jam and marmalade



This is probably not everything but would cover th main things

There's loads of research out there and I did spend some time looking at it all before I decided what I could and couldn't eat. Some say fruit should be excluded but I knew I couldn't do that, so I eat fruit when I like. I couldn't find ANY research that says you need to eat pure white table sugar for any reason at all.

The best thing is that I have broken away from calorie counting which opens up foods I love but which are high in calories - cheese, nuts, cream, avocado, smoked mackerel - far better than a bit of old bread!

dolly84

blue_mango wrote: »

Don't panic over one breakfast, it can't affect your weight that much, can it...

And there is no right food choice - people follow different diets, different principles. I've experimented with diets for a few years now and have my own set of rules.
I am trying to eat natural foods only (meaning nutritious and not processed) and eliminate sugar & grains. So the food you have mentioned is not on my list Also counting calories. Works wonders for me when I stick to it.

I am of the same opinion, I don't give a hoot anymore about what I should and shouldn't be eating, I try to follow my own sensible rules, I don't cut out any food group or type of food, I eat what is convenient at the time and fits in with the family. Everything else is too much like hard work.

tori.k

Amen Dolly

Well the scores on the doors I managed to only lose the 0.5LB I put on last week so still stuck at 136LB been so blinking good as well, just no justice in the world. I swear the scales gives out a cha cha cha noise every time I get on the blinking thing, sick of dancing the 2 step every week (rant over)

My take on food Eyebright is keep you food clean and your workout dirty, if you know what's in your food you control what you eat, In my case I eat pretty much everything I use butter but I also opt for lower fat cheese's as it don't have very good portion control with the stuff (blame the mouse DNA I must carry) And giving up cake...well that would never happen I get cold sweat just at the mention :eek:

It will take a while but you will find what works for you and a level of eating that you are content with long term. most importantly is have fun with it, it's the best time to try new recipes and new foods and challenge yourself to make favourites in a healthier way. i've produced some better than the orginal and some (more) totally awful meals that's been a crime against cooking :rotfl: but even they've raised a smile

apple_muncher

Hi VJsmum - good to hear from you! I totally agree withyou about fat. I could eat butter off the slab, or take a teaspoon to my pot of coconut oil! But ONLY when I'm avoiding everything processed, esp sugar and all grains.

A good eating day - no sugar but only 8 veggies, plus over 10k steps.

nyc_451

Good day food wise, done little bit of exercising as well.

That's it from me this time

apple_muncher

And Eyebright, if you feel like more reading, I recommend marksdailyapple.com for the Primal lifestyle.

aggypanthus

dolly84 wrote: »

Welcome Caeraugirl.

Eyebright - the scales are a fickle device and they can turn against you very easily :rotfl:.

Today I am walking the dog for an hour ish, then this afternoon I plan to run the 2 miles to the gym then when I get there I will row 2000 metres, cycle on the spinning bike, crunches and planks, then another 2000 metres rowing then 2 miles running home. After tea I will ride my bike for about 8/9 miles. I think that will do for the day.

:eek::T


You will sleep tonight:):)