The Edcawber Principle

Busy_Mee

John Lewis ?

edinburgher

Thanks folks, Mrs E is drawing up a shortlist

Budget trimmed, holiday fund topped up and now sitting at 36%. £7.89 withdrawn from TCB.

No change to the weight today, perhaps unsurprising after I ate just over 1,400 calories and nearly 50g of carbs yesterday. Still, can't help but feel a little disappointed that I ate less than 1,500 calories, did over 1,500 calories of exercise and no change. Back on the sackcloth and ashes today, aiming for much lower cals and carbs.

Having a lovely ongoing chat with sibling about ways to be more environmentally friendly.

turtlemoose

Don't be too harsh on yourself Ed. The weight didn't go on overnight and it won't come off overnight either. Slow and steady is more sustainable long term, to avoid yo-yo-ing. Keep going, you're doing great

Suffolk_lass

My weight dropped a little bit - by 0.6lb but I think you are right about me eating not starchy stodge and not counting. We had soup, then I had some cheese (depleting the Christmas mountain) and a quarter of a huge (think galia melon or grapefruit) apple with a stick of celery as a boredom snack and then a small portion of that chilli for supper, followed by fruit and yogurt. I ate about 4 cracking walnuts and half a dozen roasted monkey nuts as a snack, drank more tea, coffee and water, and did not take pain killers which means I don't feel dehydrated today and have only had 2 bucket sized cups of black coffee this morning.

There is a school of thought that if you have one day like that (under 1500 cal but still reasonable) it stops your body going into "starvation alert, store everything!" mode but I'm not sure. I think it is a refuge point to stop us fallible humans from getting completely fed up. When you weigh yourself tomorrow, don't focus on the daily figure, reflect on the total for the week. It will make you feel better, and hopefully spur you on.

Based on your choices I have got pretty large beef fillet tail out of the freezer and it will do three portions, with the third destined for the wok on Tuesday. The first two will be seared and had with steamed veg this evening. DH is starting a loaf today too so he can top up with that if he wants to, unless it is not ready - his starter is, it bubbled out of its jar overnight. I need to make soup too, although I may do that tomorrow and we can have cheese and celery for lunch today with another lump of apple and some of the hummus.

I'm not really allowed cushions (we have a few and apparently, they are despised....) but I do buy the odd cover or replace one. I like these people for all things towels and bedding related and buy my slippers (10 pairs at a time!) as they started out as a boutique hotel supplier. Quality is always excellent.

No NW here. Will look

edinburgher

turtlemoose said:

Don't be too harsh on yourself Ed. The weight didn't go on overnight and it won't come off overnight either. Slow and steady is more sustainable long term, to avoid yo-yo-ing. Keep going, you're doing great

Thanks turtlemoose - sage words and probably just what I needed to hear

Suffolk_lass said:

My weight dropped a little bit - by 0.6lb but I think you are right about me eating not starchy stodge and not counting. We had soup, then I had some cheese (depleting the Christmas mountain) and a quarter of a huge (think galia melon or grapefruit) apple with a stick of celery as a boredom snack and then a small portion of that chilli for supper, followed by fruit and yogurt. I ate about 4 cracking walnuts and half a dozen roasted monkey nuts as a snack, drank more tea, coffee and water, and did not take pain killers which means I don't feel dehydrated today and have only had 2 bucket sized cups of black coffee this morning.

Based on your choices I have got pretty large beef fillet tail out of the freezer and it will do three portions, with the third destined for the wok on Tuesday. The first two will be seared and had with steamed veg this evening. DH is starting a loaf today too so he can top up with that if he wants to, unless it is not ready - his starter is, it bubbled out of its jar overnight. I need to make soup too, although I may do that tomorrow and we can have cheese and celery for lunch today with another lump of apple and some of the hummus.

Well done you! Where on earth are you getting those apples from?

The beef fillet sounds delicious. You inspired me with your cheese chat (lunch became just over an ounce of L1dl's rather fantastic 30 month aged cheddar and a small miso soup). I've just cleaned the coffee maker as well, so will treat myself to bonus caffeine! Breakfast was 2 rashers of bacon and a fried egg, cooked without any added fat on our rather good new non-stick pan (not a fan, but you can't beat them for some purposes) and a coffee with double cream. Saving myself some calories for dinner, which will be a steamed turkey breast fillet with spring greens and a salad, a little bit of butter and a 0% alcohol/low carb stout. Aiming to actually adhere to 800 calories today.

I've had a productive morning. Emptied the dishwasher, processed 3 loads of laundry, hand washed dishes, cleaned out the coffee maker, tidied up some Christmas stuff from the kitchen worktops, had a shave and listed a Lego set on eB@y (listed at £14, should be about 60% profit after holding for 6 months, a very nice rate of return). Mrs E has taken DD out for a walk with her best friend and their kids, so having a wee relax now before cleaning the tumble dryer.

Mrs E decided to get her cushions from Em and Ess in the end - the first time I've ever had a Sp@rks discount. They look a little expensive for what they are (emerald green "velvet"), but she'll be happy (and the cat will probably adopt one)

Suffolk_lass

The apples came from the market (they are too big for the SM but fine for the market trader)! We had the other half of the first one with cheese again yesterday - as snacks go it is filling and permitted. DH made a sourdough loaf but I think the starter was too lively too early as it looks a bit flat to me.

I had 2 boiled eggs with a sinful ryvity with butter for brunch, my apple and brie snack and then the dry-grilled steak with lovely veg (broccoli, savoy and carrots) with a tiny dob of butter on the veg. I sprinkle the steak with olive oil, salt and pepper then pop it in my cast iron pan that has heated on the floor of the hot oven, turning once it stops sticking and then seal the edges and then it rests while the veg finishes steaming so that the blood is just starting to run when it is all cooked - we both like rare fillet and this was lovely. This morning I am a total of 6.2lb down after week 1. I hope you are sticking with it - I feel that although I was hoping for 7lb this is a good start. I will move to weighing every two days now so hopefully progress will be at a similar rate, but with longer intervals.

Cushions sound good - I have some with velvet backs which the cat loves...

edinburgher

You are doing great Suffolk_lass and the steak sounds amazing (rare or medium rare good in this house).

Today started off well (another 1.4 lbs off) Emotionally tho, it felt like another story. Maybe it was working 8-6, but I was exhausted and struggled to keep my calories down, coming in at c. 1,100. Eggs, eggs and more eggs. Chopped with butter, fried and omelette. Need to try and stick with the programme tomorrow.

edinburgher

Well, regardless of the internal turmoil yesterday, I managed to lose another 0.6 lbs (now at 15.2 lbs lost)

I think the key to remaining on a more even footing today will be eating a better variety of food. I might eat my meals backwards to an extent (larger breakfast, light lunch and dinner) as I am home schooling DD and want to have sufficient energy to give her a fun morning in good humour.

Budgets trimmed and holiday now 37% paid for. A wee dribble of TCB money and my wages have been paid as well, so no longer over budget for January

Suffolk_lass

That sounds all good and you have smashed the first stone 🎉🎉🎉. Even a few extra calories has not stopped you. I find that each half stone in round figures really helps me psychologically, spurring me on with the next little ambition. I am about 4lbs from the next stone number on the scales - about a week or so for me I expect. And eggs are excellent and filling, nutritious and a good source of vitamin D. 

We had courgette soup for lunch but I was hungry by four and had some celery hummus and cheese. The last of my super stodgy chilli last night. I have not weighed in today because it won't be good.  I plan to have the rest of that fillet steak tonight - either grilled super fast in strips with steamed veg or stir-fried if I think I can get away with egg noodles and sweet-chilli dipping sauce (the flour is 2/3rds cup to one egg and a pinch of salt, plus flour to roll out and cut) and of course, the flour and sugar is verboten but add so much to a stir-fry. I think I have just made up my mind. Steamed veg it is!

Greying_Pilgrim

So good to see all the pictures of the Aurora Borealis show over northern Scotland.  Refreshing to see something 'nice' in the news for a change.  Would love to see it for myself one day - but these pictures are definitely a very pleasant, second best.

Greying X