Hello Dear Reader,
I've lost weight in the past....... Twice! I put it all back on again........twice......and some! Each time, I've lost weight easily to begin with and the weight loss has slowed to one pound a week or half a pound a week after a few months. I was disappointed that I only lost half a pound on my second week.
To check out the theory behind Slimming World, I decided to weigh and calorie count everything I ate. I used www.myfitnesspal.com to do this. I've downloaded the free app and have started measuring my food. I checked out a slimming world recipe that claims to be 'free food' that you can eat as much as you like of. I made a fat free Chicken a Tikka Masala and ate it with 100g of basmati rice. The one serving with 200g of chicken breast came to 616 calories..........the same as a Marks and Spencer's ready meal of the same curry!! So, not the greatest recipe from their website, however it tasted fantastic!
I've adapted the SW recipe to have less steps/faff!
400g of chicken breasts cut into cubes- two chicken breasts.
150g of fat free yogurt
1 onion, finely diced.
1 tsp each of: chopped chilli, chopped ginger and chopped garlic - I use all of those from jars I keep in the fridge.
1 tsp of cinnamon and one of ground cumin.
6 tbsp of tomato purée ( I buy it in tubes and keep it in the fridge)
5 tsp of medium curry powder - I just use Tesco value - it's just fine.
250 ml of water.
Fry the onions and chicken.
Add the rest of the ingredients, simmer for twenty minutes.
Cook the rice - I use half a cup for two.
So, my breakfast was a slice of gluten free bread with a poached egg, lunch was chicken tikka and rice and supper was a simpler affair of steamed kale, carrots and swede that I mashed with a couple of cheese triangles, 50g of ham and some beetroot.
I think I'll stick to the later style of meal, cheap, simple no messing about and healthy.
So, here's the cunning plan. Go to the Slimming World meetings, get the motivation and camaraderie, stick to their healthy eating plan but measure my food so I keep my portions down to 1200 calories a day and aim for a weight loss of 2lbs a week!
I guess what I'm saying is that Slimming World's free foods add up to a lot of calories if I just ate what ever I like and to give myself a chance of losing weight, I need to eat less of it!
Sorry to treat this like a confessional but many years ago, I gave up smoking.....on my third attempt. This will be my third attempt at weight loss and like before, I know I can do it. This time, like the not smoking, this is going to be forever and I'm never going back to big portions or unhealthy eating again! I'm 50 this year and I intend to be healthy when I get there!
You heard it here........until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxxx
I don't eat carbs in order to lose weight
ReplyDeleteMe too, froogs.. Lost, regained, lost, regained. I'm losing again but soooo sloooowly.
ReplyDeleteI really admire your discipline, Froogs. Unfortunately, I find it virtually impossible to cut down on what I eat. I love my food too much and I have to confess to having a sweet tooth. Your portions never seem to look too big to me but your food always looks delicious. X
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a sad fact of life that gaining weight is easy and losing weight is difficult. At present I am failing. For the first time while cruising I gained weight and a six weeks later the weight seems to be winning the war.
ReplyDeleteTherfore Froogs I wish you well. You seem to be very determined and I know that is the best mindset. Best wishes.
Good luck with it, Froogs. I find being strict with the amount I spend is helping me to reduce weight. I almost always make from scratch at home.
ReplyDeleteJ x
I've found the older you get the slower it is to lose weight, I have only half a stone too much and just can't shift it.
ReplyDeleteI can't really tell how big your portions are from your pictures, but I do know that I am generally quite shocked at the quantity of food that people seem to eat these days. I don't believe in cutting out whole food groups; your body needs a balanced diet. I eat normal food, probably too many crisps, but I just don't eat huge portions and my weight is quite low for my height, 5'9". For a number of years now, I've been reading about the affects of sugar on our bodies. I think sugar is the main culprit of our expanding waistlines - not fat. Our bodies are designed to deal with fat. That being said, I am yet to cut sugar out of my diet... Good luck with your new plan. x
ReplyDeleteI have found the 5:2, 5 days of 1200 calories and two days fasting with only 600 calories to be the best weight loss diet. It's hard to start off with but does get easier. You can look this one up on line.
ReplyDeleteIt's the sugar. It has always been the sugar. Reduce, reduce and then don't buy it. The weight then comes off easily. Have Pimhill Farm jumbo oats made with water, a banana, pumpkin seeds and a splash of soya milk for brekkie. These oats are really yummy and much better value than the sweepings from any supermarket. Changes the bacteria in your tummy so your health is good by doing just these two things. I still have a glass of wine and eat lunch and dinner. Lost more 14lbs in weight just by doing this.
ReplyDeletePS Love your blog, being a girl from Plymouth and living miles away now. Makes me homesick
I totally agree. I was the only person at my sw group who never lost weight and got tge refund! I have lost 18lbs using my fitness pal and exercising so I really think it is worth measuring stuff out ! X
ReplyDeleteyou are so disciplined I know you'll do it x
ReplyDeletethat's what I have done. I have a huge appetite and can eat for England but by using SW but keeping my Calories to 1500 I have lost 20 lbs this year.
ReplyDeleteI too have lost it pt it on and lost it again , now bigger than ever because of not being able to exercise i really need to try something so looking the comments i am going to try cutting out sugar xxx
ReplyDeleteWe've just returned home from a three week holiday. Normally I lose weight when we're away due to the amount of walking we do. However, the past three weeks seem to have been a slow, relaxing saunter from one tea shop to the next!
ReplyDeleteAmongst the things I brought home with me.....10lb!
We did have some wonderful food while we were away, and a huge number of scones, my personal favourite being rhubarb and custard flavoured!
So, it's back to mini-meals and lots of walking, without the tea/latte/scones!
I went to both SW and WW a few years ago, but I didn't enjoy the atmosphere, I'm not a naturally competitive person, so the 'slimmer of the week' aspect turned me right off. I shall be going it alone this time, I've done it before, so I can do it again!
Good luck to all of us who need to drop a few pounds!
I go to a SW group too, and I agree it's easy to overdo it on the free foods, especially the carbs. The people in our group who have the greatest losses often are the ones who can stick to the SW 'SP' plan and don't eat carbs. I can't stick to that entirely, but do try to make several carb-free meals each week and when I do manage that I tend to lose more that week.
ReplyDeleteEating healthily and getting regular exercise, the body will find its own natural weight. Please do not start with diets for weight loss Froogs.
ReplyDeleteI put weight on when I did slimming world and I was really strict didnt eat excessively and was made to feel awful so I never went back. I eat sensibly and exercise when I can. Defintaely going to try that curry recipe , looks scrumptious
ReplyDeleteI put weight on when I did slimming world and I was really strict didnt eat excessively and was made to feel awful so I never went back. I eat sensibly and exercise when I can. Defintaely going to try that curry recipe , looks scrumptious
ReplyDeleteYour cunning plan sounds like a very good plan indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as though they are just after your money if their meal plans are actually probably responsible for slowing down weight loss!!