Lent - Moral support may be needed ;)

maryb

managed a 36 hour fast yesterday (supper on Tuesday to breakfast this morning) and didn't feel hungry. It helps that I have been eating low carb for a week or so so didn't get the usual crashing headache. Low carb is really suiting DH and has lowered his blood pressure significantly in just a couple of weeks. I hate it with a passion but it's for the sake of his health and I can always surreptitiously cheat (on non fasting days)

NewShadow

maryb wrote: »

Low carb is really suiting DH and has lowered his blood pressure significantly in just a couple of weeks.

I've wanted to try 'low carb', but I always got put off by trying to work out the carbs in 'stuff that isn't carbs' - i.e veggies and fruit.

I guess - lower carb - would probably be easier, but I recon I've enough to worry about for next 42 days anyhoo

NewShadow

DAY 2/44

Another okay day - food wise at least.

This mightn't be as hard as I feared - or am I speaking too soon?

Not yet found anything 'exciting' meat-free meal wise - but this is only the start of the journey.

Blueberry porridge for breakfast - at 4am as I woke up at 3.30 and couldn't get back to sleep :mad:

Boss called in sick - hopefully not from the team lunch - and I ended up covering an all day meeting

I'd made myself a veggie and mozzarella omelette for lunch, but it's still in the fridge at work for tomorrow because the meeting was catered - and it was a working lunch so I couldn't leave to grab it even if I'd wanted to.

So, working 06.30 - to 15.30 with one short bathroom break (and with free butties and cups of tea) I would have been expecting the lure of the BLTs to get the better of me - but I resisted.

There was a selection of veggie sarnies on offer. I sampled - Egg (typically), hummus/chickpea salad (which was kinda sharp and not so nice), cheese savoury, and cheese and pickle.

Not an inspiring or wide choice - all the same kind of texture and a bit boring. Not something that I can convince myself is 'better/nicer' than the meaty options if I had the choice.

But - it was free, and allowed me to keep to my lent commitment - so that's okay.

Plus - there were leftovers; which I expertly snarfled away after the meeting and will be having for dinner shortly. Hate wasted food, and it means I don't have to think about cooking.

Plater shot (I don't eat them all - honest):



Still no suggestions what to do with spring greens?

maryb

New Shadow, after the first couple of weeks of very low carb you are supposed to move on to lower carb. Basically, no sugar, no grains and no tropical fruit is a good rule of thumb. I miss my porridge!! BUT something very interesting happened within a week of giving up grains which meant effectively going gluten free. Last year I fractured my spine and was in a back brace for three months. Since then I had resigned myself to always having a background bit of back pain although I was 90% better.

I now have NO back pain - at all!! There was obviously some inflammation which has cleared up. This seems to support the claim by some nutritionists that grains are inflammatory.

I can't see myself sticking to a no grains diet indefinitely, though I am happy to cut back and to try and eliminate as much sugar as possible. And I think we'll have to be careful on the carbs for DH's sake so as not to undo any benefit from low carbing. But it will be interesting if my back lets me know if I am overdoing it

oldtractor

NEWSHADOW you could always look for inspiration on the 10 a day thread. lots of good ideas on there.
Spring greens. slice thinly, steam for 5 mins then stir fry in a little oil add seasame seeds and a little soy sauce. serve with salmon and any other veg or salad that you fancy. if you arnt eating fish then try serving it with spicy chick peas.

maryb

Old tractor that sounds good. Do you have a link to a recipe for spicy chickpeas?

springdreams

Carrot sticks ... I find these go off a lot quicker than whole carrots do. I had to bin the carrot sticks I bought on Monday yesterday as they had turned already Whole carrots would still be okay today and probably for a few more days too.

NewShadow

DAY 3/44

Today I really hit a slump.

Spent all day on finance - I hate finance - but it's end of year and must be done.

Plus - it's wet - and I felt like I just couldn't get warm today.

Also noticed I'm really dehydrated.

Not sure why, but I think I'm eating less salt so not as thirsty as normal - combined with me noticing I'm not snacking between meals - could be a consequence of the no meat, or could be just that I'm being more 'mindful' of what I'm eating?




Food today was pants.

Friday is cooked breakfast day at work. It's a day where lots of teams all decide to have breakfast meetings as it's the only day where a full breakfast is on offer.

I normally have 2x bacon, scrambled egg, mushrooms, toast or hash brown, beans or tomatoes. I could also have black pudding, sausages poached and fried egg, and fried bread.

As a veggie I could have eggs, mushrooms, toast or hash brown, beans or tomatoes. Yet again just not having the meat - nothing exciting to replace it. Just less for the same money.

Wasn't impressed - I had the eggs I'd prepared for lunch yesterday for breakfast - two eggs whisked with a splash of milk, some diced mozzarella, and a handful of peas/spinach - filling, healthy - bland as anything. Thinking it needed salt - or stronger cheese.




Lunch - I hadn't really planned anything and didn't fancy anything in my locker (soups mostly) - so I decided to indulge in something from the canteen. Normally a nice choice of good cheap (subsidised) food.

Today - Friday (fish day) choice of battered or breaded fish, scampi, or the chef's special - which today was lamb curry.

I really, really wanted the curry. The chef makes fantastic curries. But I couldn't. I wanted to, but I couldn't - and that sucked.

Veggie option: mac and cheese - Read overcooked pasta in a thick white sauce and no hint of cheese. Without the little pot of crispy bacon bits that comes with it.

I know it's a small problem compared to some peoples troubles but honestly - This is starting to feel like a real sacrifice



Things did get a little better after 5pm.

I was cold and miserable and it was wet, so I decided to get one of my favourite meals - burritos

The redeeming dinner:



It looks a little soggy because I brought it home before eating it and committed the cardinal burrito sin of unwrapping .

I don't think there's much difference between a meat burrito and veggie, really.

I have a load of sides either way - sour cream, guac, roast peppers, both types of beans (black and pinto) both types of rice (brown and lemon), cheese, sweetcorn, lettuce, salsa :drool:



I think the past few days have taught me I need stronger and more complicated flavours.

My normal food is quite straightforward - no muss, no fuss - and that's just not going to work...

If I keep going the way I have I'm going to be A) broke, and bored out of my mind by the end of next week - never mind 40 more days!


This weekend - to the kitchen!

.

NewShadow

springdreams wrote: »

Carrot sticks ... I find these go off a lot quicker than whole carrots do. I had to bin the carrot sticks I bought on Monday yesterday as they had turned already Whole carrots would still be okay today and probably for a few more days too.

I don't know what it is about my kitchen - carrots go off in 3 days.

Black and mildew if in the fridge or cupboard. Shrivelled to nothing on the surface uncovered. Mouldy if left in the bag.

I can keep squash, potatoes and onions 6 months - no problem.

Carrot sticks all gone - in ma belly

VfM4meplse

NewShadow wrote: »

I don't know what it is about my kitchen - carrots go off in 3 days.

Black and mildew if in the fridge or cupboard. Shrivelled to nothing on the surface uncovered. Mouldy if left in the bag.

I can keep squash, potatoes and onions 6 months - no problem.

Carrot sticks all gone - in ma belly

Opening the plastic bag helps, piercing with a knife will do.