Join The Hairy Bikers for webchat on Thursday 16 January between 1.45 and 2.45pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Si and Dave last joined us back in 2012 and they're back at MNHQ this Thursday (16 Jan) between 1.45 and 2.45 pm to answer your questions. Since their last visit they've shed a few pounds between them - and furthermore managed to keep the weight off. The secret of their success has been shared in their book, The Hairy Bikers Eat for Life and this month they have launched their very own Hairy Bikers diet club.

Everyone who joins the chat on Thursday or posts a question to the Bikers in advance will be entered into a draw to win a copy of the book and a month's free membership in their club.

[DulcetMoans]

How exciting! To echo most o these comments, also love you guys and the books. Have lost 5stone and still another one to go but did damage over December so will take longer than Id like.

Anyway, I would ask about lunches when working. A lot of your lunches, whilst looking delish, aren't suitable for an office as there isn't the proper equipment to prepare or store. We have microwaves and a fridge and a kettle - what can I have that is more exciting than a ham sandwich?

[professorpoopsnagle]

Hello,

I won't be able to join in the live chat as I will be at work but I will have made your beef and ale casserole in the morning and it will be ticking over nicely in the slow cooker as you read this. I am only starting to get the hang of my slow cooker and would love to see more recipes with adaptations for it.

[MissRee]

Hello! Love you on the telly

Just ordered Hairy Dieters so have no food related questions but...

Just how hairy are you???

[ScienceRocks]

Hello hairy bikers. With your emphasis on healthy eating, would you ever consider trying to transform hospital food into something more nutritious and tasty than the current stodge? The nhs would thank you.

[SpottyDottie]

I loved the Hairy Dieters and bought the books but I'm slightly disappointed that there is a fee to join the diet club that's been created. Why not carrying on making great telly and inspiring us with the recipes?

[JittabugsKaren]

Hi, if there was a time when the sugars were really calling, what snack did you reach for instead ?

[JustGettingOnWithIt]

Really impressed with what you've done for helping blokes of a certain age in particular, to address food weight health issues, without having to lose out.
Lots of my friends are from either bike or music industry, all high octane living.
Most of them male, middle aged and too well padded, to many suffering the effects of carrying too much weight for the lifestyles, sadly there’s been a few ‘body say no’ funerals too. I’ve ended up in a wheelchair so exercising it off is less of an option, and keeping an eye on calories is now a boring necessity.
Trying to talk about habits and how we use ‘food as love’ or consolation eating has been made a lot easier, thanks.

I reckon you’re missing a trick though. There’s a huge market for veggie recipes/combined cookbooks, if you know how to deal with not having blood (what gives meat dishes flavour and body) as an ingredient.

I used to have a stall at Kent with a side outlet providing filling veggie food for an awful lot of very big and hairy bikers so they could avoid the rip of hamburger lot and spend the difference on my bike products.
Back then veggy was often a dirty word in those circles, and tbh calories were something we added for weekend energy!
It’s a challenge but I know it can be done, balancing out high calorie ingredients against low for good appetising healthy results.

Male friends all want it in a book with pics and pre sorted for them.

In a financial downturn it’s not only a health/weight/lifestyle market but a financial one too. Can be marketed separately or combined, spin offs abound.
Anyone for a two wheeled veggie food of the world tour? (gis a job, I’ll trike the banger for it!)

So have I sold you it, and 'official question'; can I get you thinking about hale and hearty, tasty, but lower calorie veggie food and not just a couple of recipes in a meat filled book, (like everyone else) because the time is so right?

[clare8allthepies]

Hi, really excited about the diet club as I'm a big fan of your books and have loads of weight to lose!

Like the others in my situation (constantly breastfeeding an 8 week old baby) I'm craving sugary carby foods, especially in the early hours of the morning. Would you recommend trying to avoid these altogether, or try to cut back on other meals to still have biscuits to get through the night feeds?

Please can you include lots of calorie free biscuit recipes for the diet club, cheers!

[catwithflowers]

I also have no question but have your curry book and it is really fantastic. I have hundreds of cookery cooks but come back to this again and again. I have also bought a copy for my brother and a friend. Well done guys and thanks

[Awkwardsis]

LOVE the hairy bikers. Dp and I bought the dieters cookbooks before Christmas as we've been happily chowing down on everything in sight (love, innit) and have the extra pounds to show for it. I love that the recipes are really no different from a regular cook book, it all looks yum and its not holier than thou.
My question is, what was your lightbulb moment that made you want to change your eating habits? And how did you deal with it if you slipped up along the way? Dp really struggled last week because he was letting himself go hungry, he had a bad day on Sunday and thought sod it. I've been trying to get him to see that one days slip up doesn't mean you can't get back on the wagon, but perhaps a tip or two from his favourite bikers might help :)

[birdsong1]

I loved your series and seeing you both shrink before my eyes - Bravo you!! I saw your book yesterday and it looks wonderful.
My question is how did the family react to your recipes - I am the one in our household who needs to shed the pounds and inches not the men in my life -my eldest son is living back at home - 25 and skinny as they come - and my chap has a physically demanding job and enjoys a good plateful after a hard day's work :)

[Solo]

Hi Hairy Bikers from a not so hairy lady biker

[Lemonylemon]

No questions from me, but just to say that the Lemon family peeps are HUGE fans (DS 16, DD 6) and myself (a bit older).

DS bought your curry cookbook for me for Christmas - haven't got round to cooking any of them yet - but the Korma is first on the list!

We were watching a re-run of your Mississippi tour. DS thinks that the ribs are to die for and I'm under orders to cook them on the BBQ in the summer :)

[NigellaPleaseComeDineWithMe]

Hi bikers - loved the Bakecation series - all those lovely breads and beers etc. What was the most astonishing 'new' bread you found on the travels? How can we encourage more artisan bread to be sold / bought / home baked? Do we need all this red tape about being approved - why not allow home bakers to sell their stuff - very low risk and I think those that do it as a passion take far fewer short-cuts.

Will you be doing another ride?

[antimatter]

I also would like to see a vegetarian version of The Hairy Dieters book.
I cooked Spicy Bean and Vegetable Stew from your book and replaced creme fraiche for Coconut cream. It was fab!

I am sure you have enough up your sleeve to make it happen this year :)

[WireCat]

Afternoon Dave & Si! Love your books. As soon as I can get motivated, I will be using your books to start my healthy eating. Can't call it a diet or I will want to trough chocolate cake.
What really motivated you boys to start dieting?

A

[WireCat]

Random A! ^

[LESuffolk]

Love what you both do. Thanks for the great Germany episode too of oyur European series.

In your opinion what is the next culinary 'fashion' going to be? And if you could only eat one national cuisine, what would it be? (English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish are all disqualified!)

Last year we had the Peruvian food fashion.

I would like it to be Austrian as their patisserie is incomparable and fits in with the whole resurrection of baking.

What do you think?

[DaveTheHairyBikers]

Hello mothers! It's wonderful to be back on Mumsnet. We've had a lot of exciting things happening since the last time, so crack on with the questions –we'll do our best! x

[johnworf]

[tess1982]

hi si and dave....... my partner has recently had to completely change his diet due to blood pressure, and a hernia.....so we are using the dieters books for recipes but taking all the salt etc out..... so we can both loose weight with a healthy diet and exercise..... but and this is my question.... what can would you recommend for the whole family to sit and eat together.... i have a 1 year old boy, a four year old girl and a fussy 17 year old stepson and we like to sit together at a weekend and eat and talk...... but we end up making three of four different meals...... thanks xx

[SiTheHairyBikers]

@frankincensemydear

Again we love your currys from both books in our house. I would love just a diet curry book!

Last night for tea we had the tuna and ratatouille and enjoyed the coriander seeds addition to the sauce.I think the key is the lack of blandness that so many lower calorie recipes fall into. Your recipes work and are suitable for those of us who love our food. I don't feel deprived at all and look forward to eating my meal. Thankyou for doing another book.

My question is what recipe has surprised you the most by subsituting for a healthier option(s),but tasting better than anticipated?

Funnily enough, we've got a surprise for you - only yesterday we were trying out our new range of low-calorie sauces which are coming out later this year. And I've gotta tell you - they're fantastic!

Love Si x

[DaveTheHairyBikers]

[quote Solo]Hi Hairy Bikers from a not so hairy lady biker

[SiTheHairyBikers]

@WireCat

Afternoon Dave & Si! Love your books. As soon as I can get motivated, I will be using your books to start my healthy eating. Can't call it a diet or I will want to trough chocolate cake.
What really motivated you boys to start dieting?

A

We were fat and on tablets! Not very rock n' roll - but true...

Love Si x

[DaveTheHairyBikers]

@tess1982

hi si and dave....... my partner has recently had to completely change his diet due to blood pressure, and a hernia.....so we are using the dieters books for recipes but taking all the salt etc out..... so we can both loose weight with a healthy diet and exercise..... but and this is my question.... what can would you recommend for the whole family to sit and eat together.... i have a 1 year old boy, a four year old girl and a fussy 17 year old stepson and we like to sit together at a weekend and eat and talk...... but we end up making three of four different meals...... thanks xx

Crispy chicken in Hairy Dieters book one is mine and my family's favourite. It's a chicken breast, you dip it in fat-free yoghurt, then roll it in breadcrumbs, herbs, parmesan cheese and then bake it. You can whole chicken breast, it tastes like fried chicken and is under 300 calories. All my family love it! Even a chicken nugget obsessed teenager! Thanks, Dave x