5-2 Diet

There was recently a Horizon Programme on dieting (with Dr Michael Mosley - love him) in which he explored various versions of diets incorporating fasting or calorie restrictions.

The one that he found most workable was the 5-2 diet, where you restrict your calorie intake for 2 days, but then eat normally on the other 5.

My sister and niece have both been doing it for a while, and I thought I'd give it a go - not only to lose weight (I've still got a few holiday pounds to shift) but also because it reputedly has additional health benefits, such as lowering blood sugars and chloresterol levels.

I've decided to do my low (500) calorie days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the main, as these are days when I'm least likely to go out or have other committments. Today is my first day.

There are several options on how to distribute the calories during the day - some people have all 500 for breakfast or dinner, some spread them out.

I'm spreading mine out, and it's surprising how far they will go!

So today is stacking up like this:

Breakfast = 1 grapefruit, 90 cals

Lunch = turkey salad, no dressing, a few boiled potatoes (see pic) 130 cals

Afternoon snack = pineapple and melon, 80 cals

Dinner = veg stir fry, with soy sauce and rice wine vinegar, 120 cals

After dinner = activia fat free yoghurt, 70 cals

Total calores = 490 - and I've had 4 meals

I'll keep you posted as to how it works - but so far, so good.

Full of Beans

It's summer (finally) and that means that mum's garden is now producing an abundance of fruit and veg. I called in on my way home from work tonight and came away with this bounty.

So, for my tea tonight, I'm having a medley of beans (french, runner and broad) with some pancetta and a bowl of lovely raspberries.

Mmmmm...

Running about

Today I ran for a train. You did read right, I RAN for a train. I haven't run in about 30 years, not since I dislocated my knee in my teens, but we were in London, held up on the tube and only just got to Euston in time - in time for a quick sprint that is. Up escalators and across the concourse and everything. We caught our train with seconds to spare, and although I was hot and tired, I didn't feel like my lungs were going to burst. Progress indeed! So, the losing weight and recent gym sessions are clearly paying off. And now I'm looking forward to (another) salad for tea - at mum's and with an omelette. Happy days!

Discovering Music

I recently bought myself an iPod (I know, finally I joined the rest of you!) and have just come back from my first gym session with it. Yesterday, I made a playlist - mixing some really fast tracks with some other upbeat ones - with a slow starter (to get me in the mood as I climb the stairs to the gym!) and one to cool down to on the way back down.

Can't believe how much harder I worked, or how much less effort it seemed - I think my iPod will be an essential part of my gym kit from now on - along with big knickers and structural underwear!

Tuna salad

OK, so this might look like the tricolour salad I made yesterday, but it's completely different!

Mostly, it tastes very different because instead of fresh herbs and lemon I made a Chinese inspired dressing. I used almost 1 Tbsp each of soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and sweet chilli dipping sauce. Mix well, and pour over the salad. The dressing makes enough for two or 3 - I'll keep what's left for later in the week.

One of your Five a day

I've become a bit obsessed with books and TV programmes about healthy living, food and exercise. This is partly to educate myself about what's happening to my mind and body, and also so that I can separate myth from fact when it comes to claims and hype.

I watched a program last week about the "5 a day" claims that many manufacturers use on their packaging. Now I'm a big advocate of getting my 5 a day getting all of mine from fresh fruit and veg, so imagine how horified I was to find out that chocolate biscuits and fruit bread could be labelled as a portion!

It appears that the government logo for 5 a day (shown here) is very restricted in its use - the food must contain at least the equivalent of 80g of fruit or veg from the prescribed list, and only limited amounts of fat, sugar and other calories, whilst there is no restriction on manufacturers making up their own logos and adding them to any food containing fruit or veg - and they can label anything from 1/2 a portion (i.e. 40g fruit or veg) and can disregard the sugar and fat content.

So a manufacturers' claim that something "contributes to your 5 a day" doesn't mean it's a whole portion, or even that it's good for you! Very much a case of buyer beware.

If you want to see the program, it was in the Dispatches series on C4, and you can find out more here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/articles/myths-about-your-5-a-day-reporter-feature

Well done to Jane Moore for brining this to our attention.

Salad days again

At last! The sun has come out and it's begining to feel like summer is here. And the things I love most about summer are fresh fruit and salad.

So here's tonight healthy dinner - tricolour salad. Not intentional, but most of the things in my salad drawer turned out to be red, white and green. If only there was more blue food, I could be more patriotic in time for the Olympics.

Tomatoes, red and green pepper, lettuce, cucumber, radish, spring onion, avocado and some fresh herbs made the bulk of the salad, with a little lemon juice and some chicken breast. Again, no carbs tonight - I think having carbs at luchtime rather than the evening is working, I'm certainly not hungry and don't feel full or bloated at bedtime.

Now I'm off to find some water - I'm sure I'm not drining enough anymore, ever since I stopped measuring my water intake it's been getting less and less, and I'm now probably having less than 1 ltr a day, so that has to be increased again!

Enjoy!

Back on the regime

Back on the regime and it's more Chinese inspired food for me.

I decided to go for a swim tonight, with an Adult's only swim session from 6-7. As it was about 5pm when I decided to go, I thought I'd prep dinner before I left so that I wouldn't be tempted to have a sandwich when I got back.

So this is what I left for myself - tuna steak (fresh from Bury market today, yum!) with lots of fresh veg and asian condiments.

I swam for about 30 mins - but much harder and faster than I used to. In one way, it's a bit more difficult than it used to be as I don't float as well now that I don't have an inbuilt lifejacket - but on the other hand I have much more energy.

I felt very virtuous when I got back home, and very glad that my dinner was almost ready - it took me about 5 mins to stir fry the veg and sear the tuna, which I rolled in 5 spice powder first for an extra kick.

The veg was bolstered by some fresh garlic and ginger, and then some oyster sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and some fish sauce (1 Tbsp of each). No carbs, but with the protein of the fish it's very filling!

Holiday

Well, it's been a while since I posted, as I've been on holiday and busy at home.

We went to Sussex to stay with some friends we hadn't seen for 18 months - and I hadn't told them I'd lost weight, so it was great so see their surprised faces.

Being from Middleton, we had to visit Middleton-on-Sea when we saw it on the map, and here I am, by the town side. Apparently, I need to treat myself to a smaller windproof - this one is a size 20 and buries me!

The weather was kind to us, and we saw a fair bit of sunshine, and at least no rain to speak of, so we did lots of walking. It still surprises me how far and how easily I can walk these days - I can go for miles without getting tired and without my feet hurting. It's great!

The one thing about being on holiday though, is that you do tend to relax a little and let your hair down (and your guard!) I definitely had too many of these ...

Cakes, cream teas, home baking (curse my friend who is an excellent cook and baker!) which far outnumbered the calories burnt off walking the Sussex countryside - but hey ho! Thankfully, I don't go on holiday very often.

Back on the hard regime when we get home (after the scales).

Suit You Sir...

Love my new suit!

I wanted something lighter for summer and found this trouser suit in Mary Portas (I'd only gone in for a look, honest!) It's probably one of the most expensive suits I've bought - and that was at half price in the sale!

I wore it for work yesterday and had lots of positive comments - and I felt great wearing it. Think that will be a regular for my work wardrobe (at least until I spill coffee on it!).

Eating Healthily

Inspired by Gok Wan's new TV cookery programme, I've decided to make more Chinese food. It's tasty and healthy, and provided you get organised, it can be very quick.

Tonight I made Super Speedy Noodles with Pork. It took about 10 mins to prep (see photo of all the ingredients) and about 5 mins to cook - and it was very tasty! I made an extra dish of brocolli and beans, to boost up the green content.

I worked this out to be about 450 calories.

And this is the finished dish - it did look just like the picture in the book!

Afternoon tea

This week, the staff restaurant are doing "the best of British" to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. Today, it's the tea party.

As it's also my birthday, a few of us decide to have a tea party for lunch - complete with royal headwear.

Thanks to Lisa, who's missing from the pic as she took it, and to the restaurant staff, who excelled themselves, as usual!

Birthday treats

Today is my birthday, and it's customary in our office to bring in treats, usually in the form of cakes, sweets or chocolate.

Now I don't want to deter all the bikini concious dieters in our office (and there are many) so I've arranged a big platter of cut fruit. It's going down well, just had time to snap it before it's completely demolished!

Celebratory lunch coming up...

Black tie event

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Pride of Tameside Business Awards on Friday night. It not only celebrated business success in Tameside, but was also a fundraising night for the Convoy of Happiness.

Joanne Jacobs (http://www.jojacobsphotography.com/) was doing photos on the night to raise funds - taking the pics and then printing them out fo us to take home.

She kindly emailed me mine so I could share it with you - I'm still loving this dress - it's the one I wore to the Halle Ruby Ball back in November, although this time around I accessorised with bronzer and a gold necklace, rather than a fur shrug and silvery bling. Still loving those collar bones though, can't get used to having those again!

Lovely day out

On Saturday we had a bit of a family get together, and went to the Derbyshire Food Fair, and then out for dinner.

This is (from left) me, mum, big sis, middle sis, all standing outside the restaurant we went to in Chesterfield.

I amazed myself by not eating lots of samples or buying lots of food at the fair - I bought some tea, as I'm getting quite a taste for different teas now that I drink it black. I did have an ice cream though - but just one scoop, and not in a sugar cone, so it wasn't all bad!

It was a great day out, lovely and sunny and great company - just have to schedule in the next one now...

It's a Chelsea morning

I had the good fortune to go to the Chelsea Flower Show on Thursday. I wanted to be smart (it was part business) but comfortable - so it all started with the shoes.

Black brogues set the tone, topped off with black jeans, white shirt and a tunic top.

It was scorching hot, as you know, but the great thing was that I didn't feel the heat anywhere as much as I used to! I guess being 6 1/2 stone lighter than this time last year has affected more things than I thought. So, without that thick insulating layer, I could walk round comfortably all day - and my feet didn't hurt either.

It was wonderful, and I made the most of it!

Nice nails

Have just painted my nails whilst speeding through countryside on the train.

Liking this colour, makes my fingers look quite tanned. Just need the rest of my body to catch up - still milk-bottle white!

This is a Nails Inc polish I got free with a mag. Three cheers for freebies.

Desk Picnic

Had another desk picnic this week - jazzed up my salad into a tuna nicoise with some olives, tuna and boiled egg, and saved my banana for my afternoon snack.

Although it was lovely, it's actually much nicer on days like today when I can go and sit outside in the sunshine. I have a picture of that somewhere too - must find it for you...

I look very nice today...

...and I know this because this lovely young lady and her mum stopped me in Morrisons and told me.

This is Charlotte, who, with her mum,  made my day today, with the help of her sister Georgia who took the picture.

They said they liked my outfit, and it was so nice to see someone wearing a pretty dress.

Now, I often stop people and give them a compliment - usually it's the colour of their outfit that might really suit them, or some funky glasses, or a coat or bag that catches my attention. But this is the first time it's happened to me. Don't get me wrong, people at work and my family and friends comment, but never complete strangers. And given where I came from (21 1/2 stone) it's hardly surprising!

So now it's your turn - make someone's day, tell them they look nice!

In a stew

Rhubarb and Apple.

Finally, I have a freezer - having been without one for about 3 1/2 months, and I really missed it! So today I've made up a batch of stewed rhubarb (with sweetener, not sugar) to have on my weetabix or with yoghurt in the afternoon when all my fresh fruit has been used up.

I used 2x450g packs of rhubarb, so that makes 190 calories, plus 3 Tbsp sweetener making another 24 (214) and it made 7 little pots, so about 30-35 calories a pot (each little pot holds about 120g of stewed fruit).

I've also made some stewed baking apple - we're having pork for dinner, and I love a bit of apple sauce with it - this is made with lemon juice and sweetener, and will also go in the freezer for with pork, or with yoghurt. They work out about 40cals per 120g pot.

Now I just have to wait for them to cool down enough to go in the freezer...