Bad Habits

I have this picture on my office wall - it helps remind me how far I've come. I notice it every lunchtime, and it keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Just recently though, I've notice some bad habits creeping back in - but at least I've noticed, so I can take action.

Eating little and often:
I've been missing my mid-morning snack and having lunch early - so only having 4 meals a day instead of 5. Whilst I've been "good" at lunchtime, this might lead me to bigger portions for lunch as I will be hungrier. I think I've been doing it because it's easier and fits in with everyone else's routine - but for 8 months I kept my own routine with no problem, so it has to stop - today I'm back on track. I've had my mid morning snack, and have a salad lined up and ready for lunch around 2pm.

Eating slowly and mindfully:
I've been multi-tasking my way through meals, lunch in particular, eating whilst doing email and so on. This too has to stop. And I've been eating quicker too, so it's back to making a concious effort to slow down, putting down my knife and fork between mouthfuls, and thinking about eating.

Evening snacks:
We would often have something to eat late in the evening - 9ish - and for months I didn't do this, but just recently we've started doing it again. Dinner time has to go later (back to 8 o'clock instead of 7) so that we're still full until bedtime. I blame my hubby for this one, it's his weak point so he raids the cupboard for a snack, but it too has to stop.

I've been surprised at how invidiously this has crept back into our routine - like stealth habits, sneaking up on us. However, like a rubbish game of "what time is it mr wolf?" it's been caught, and therefore has lost!

New year, new me, and I will NOT be defeated by these habits.

Chicken Salad

I was good, and stuck to the plan - here's my chicken and pancetta salad ready to be demolished!

Because I didn't have dough sticks, I had the option of adding something else, so I had some mediterranean vegetables, which were lovely. That increased the calorie value a bit, but still within my limit :-)

And I did have the tartufo for dessert - it was just a small ball of chocolate ice cream, but very intense and just the kind of hit I needed. I did take a picture but it's all fuzzy, so you will just have to imagine it.

We had an intersting chat about diets over dinner. My dinner companion (my niece) is doing the same diet at Sister#1, which involves two very low calorie days (650 each) then 5 normal days. Apparently in a Manchester University Study this proved the most effective diet for not only losing weight but keeping it off afterwards. They've both said they find it easier, as although their first two days are difficult (pretty well no carbs or treats) it's only for 2 days, and then they can have rice or pasta or a biscuit, so don't feel deprived.

They've only just started it - they're 3 weeks in - but I think I'll ask them to do a guest blog when they get a bit further.

Whatever you're up to, enjoy!

out again

So, you'll never guess, I'm out for dinner (again!).

I'm being quite conciencious though, and since we're going to Pizza Express, I've already viewed the menu and decided what I'm having.

Although they've introduced a new pizza menu with a selection of 500 calorie pizzas, it's not really my thing - not a big fan of pizza - so I'm going for a salad.

The great thing is that they provide a complete calorie breakdown on their website, including options for the salads. It's a bit tricky to find, seems to be a bit buried, so I've added the link here:
http://www.pizzaexpress.com/our-food/nutrition/calorie-tables.aspx

I will be having a pollo pancetta salad (I always used to have pollo verdure anyway, but they don't do that anymore) which comes in at 778 calories. However - here's how it breaks down:
- pollo pancetta - 778
- without dressing - 551
- without dough sticks - 530
- without dough sticks or dressing - 303

So, I'm going for the last option, but with some balsamic vinegar (about 20 cals).

My dining companion is also dieting, and she's having a no-carbs day today, so she's having the same, which should mean that we won't be tempted (strength in numbers!).

And if we're tempted by something for afters, I've already looked up the lowest calorie dessert - Tartufo al Ciocolato (chocolate truffle ice cream) at just 70 calories! So by not having dressing, I've easily saved enough to do that and still be within my limit for today - happy days!

I'll keep you posted!

If you want to get ahead, get a hat

And here's the hairy pie eater, with a rabbit ready to pull out of his hat.

Love the children's dept in Ikea! Of course all the children look as us playing as if we were mad people... and they may have a point!

Where did you get that hat?

And here I am, pleased at having resisted the chips and pie, and grinning in a lovely blue hat with a big pink flower - tres chic!

Who's the one counting calories?

Out and about shopping with hubby today and we were in Ikea at luchtime.

Can you spot who's counting calories and who isn't?

My lunch worked out at 448 calories, but I know that apple cake is 330 calories, and the fish chips and peas is over 700 - so by having carrots instead of chips and clementines instead of pie, I saved around 600 calories! Whoop, whoop! And I still enjoyed it just as much.

Another day, another dinner out

Thursday night saw me back in Albert's Shed, this time with mum and sister#1. The staff at Albert's were so brilliant when I was doing Alizonne - making me special dinners and never letting me feel awkward or fussy - that I try and go there now whenever I can.

OK, so I still have to be careful what I eat - but the choice on the menu is great, especially because you can choose your sides.

This was my mains - seared tuna with salsa, with sides of butternut squash and green beans. No potatoes or other carbs, as I'd had the delicious rabbit gnocci for starter. I was pretty full, but had only had a salad for lunch and no afternoon snack today.

It was a great night - lovely food and great company!