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Archive for the ‘Dieting Things’ Category

As promised here, this is my bi-weekly update of how i am getting on with my diet.

To start with i haven’t had a good couple of weeks. Entirely my own fault really, i went out last weekend and drank sugary cider and ate burger and chips and then this weekend i had friends with children come to visit so i ate bread rolls and cheese and let myself have some crisps too.

What i didn’t do though, is let either of those bad days ruin the rest of the week or throw the rest of the week off. I have to say, much as i loved eating the food, it played havoc with my digestive system and in the end it really wasn’t worth all that.

However, i have still lost a little bit more weight so lets see where we’re at:

Starting Weight: 159lbs
Previous Current Weight: 151lbs
Current Weight: 147lbs
Goal Weight: 135lbs

Anyone who reads the rather inspiring In it to Gym it will know that there is at least one person on there who is getting to their weight-loss goals by following the principles of eating clean. The first time i read about it i was intrigued but the second time after reading this post i was inspired to look up more about it.

Essentially the principles aren’t a diet, they are a lifestyle change that alters your metabolism by eating a combination of lean protein and complex carbs 5-6 times a day plus including 2-3 servings of healthy fats. Now i work in an office and i initially thought this would be really hard to achieve but actually all it means is having a mid-morning and mid afternoon snack, ensuring i have breakfast before i leave the house and choosing a ‘clean’ dinner.

My work day meals are essentially the same every day, i have oatmeal for breakfast (i don’t want to say porridge because i always liken that to something made with milk) with flax seed, berries and a spoonful of natural non-fat yoghurt. I make it by buying frozen berries and getting a few out and putting them in my bowl before i go to bed with a plate over the top. In the morning they are nicely defrosted and then all i do is put in the oats and the flax seed and cover with boiling water. Stick the plate back on the top while i go and get dressed and it’s ready to put the yoghurt on and serve when i come back downstairs. I have this with a hot water and lemon juice drink and 2 apple cider tablets

Mid-morning is usually half an apple (i experimented with pears but they aren’t happy with being cut and left) and a handful of unsalted nuts (usually almonds).

Lunch is spinach leaves with a whole tomato and a portion of cucumber cut up in it with either tuna (1/3 of a can) and balsamic vinegar (not dressing) or a large spoonful of low-fat cottage cheese.

Mid afternoon snack is a hard boiled egg white and the other half of the apple.

Then for dinner i have chicken, turkey, lean pork or fish with either sweet potato and vegetables or brown rice and vegetables or lentils and vegetables.

I have switched to de-caff tea (i have fruit tea at work), no sugary drinks so no fruit juice or squash. If i’m thirsty for a cold drink i have water or water with lemon juice in it.

The thing that i have really noticed is that the portion sizes are much smaller than you would usually eat but because you are eating 5-6 times a day you don’t feel hungry only having a small dinner. Working the portions out is based on the size of your hands so its easy to do without measuring out everything etc.

So how am i doing? Well week 1 i lost 5lbs and week 2 i lost another 3. i know its easy to say when you’re in the first flush of love with a new ‘diet’ but the principles are sound and i think that when i hit my goal weight of (135lbs) i should be able to incorporate treats back into my diet without totally destroying the principles.

I pledge to give a 2 weekly update on my weight loss and hopefully you will celebrate with me when i hit my milstones and help me work out where i went wrong if i fall off

Starting Weight: 159lbs
Current Weight: 151lbs
Goal Weight: 135lbs

That’s right people, i did it. 34 minutes and 4 seconds, a pulled muscle at 2.5k but i did it.

Sponsorship is still open if you feel you could donate, i’d be really grateful. I’m still desperate to hit my £150 target

Now if you’ll excuse me i am doing to lie down a lot

On September 20th I am running my very first 5k for the NSPCC in the Liverpool Corporate Cup. Please help my motivation and final time by donating to the NSPCC through this page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

Thank You

LizSara

Every year in the UK we throw away £10 billion worth of food which could have been eaten. Love Food Hate Waste is a campaign from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) which shows that by doing easy practical everyday things in the home we can all waste less food, which ultimately benefits our purses and the environment too. If we all stopped wasting food that could have been eaten, it would have the same environmental impact as taking 1 in 5 cars off UK roads. lovefoodhatewaste.com has lots of delicious recipes to use up leftovers, handy hints and tips for storing food to make it last longer, a portion calculator to help you cook the right amount, and information on what food date labels mean. There is something for everyone, whether you are a keen cook, or simply want to reduce the amount of food which you throw away.