Is this a reasonable food diary?

[FloatyFlo]

I'm overweight by three stone. I'm unfit, kinda (okay a lot) lazy, fatigued all the time and just generally feeling shite.

I've really come to a point where I've just had enough. I've tried diets before and obviously failed. I am a massive binge eater. I eat for boredom, stress, comfort, whatever.

I'm not going to calorie count. Or weigh food. I get too restrictive and obsessive and then end up failing and going on a binge.

I've been reading 'Never binge again' by Glenn livingstone which has definitely enabled me to reflect on why I overeat and given me some mental positivity to tackle it.

Here is my food diary for the past three days. Where could I improve? What am I missing? Is this good enough to lose some weight? I've been drinking lots of water.

Friday -

Breakfast - Crunchy nut cornflakes with blue milk, An apple and a black coffee (no sugar)

Lunch - Broccoli and Stilton soup, 2 soup lies of toast (white bread - I know I know!) Cucumber and tomatoes.

Dinner - Pasta with Salad (Mixed leaf lettuce, Toms, cucumber, spoonful of colslaw)

(Evening - 4 double gins with lemonade, BAD IDEA as I ate a slice of quiche and a chunk of pork pie after) I don't actually often drink but if I do have a couple of glasses I will make sure I've got something healthy to snack on after -lesson learned!)

Saturday

B - Crunchy nut cornflakes and black coffee

L - Broccoli and Stilton soup
2 toast and salad

D - Vegetable pizza with Salad, beetroot and hummus.

After dinner - a banana and few strawbs

Sunday
B- 2 boiled eggs, 2 toast, rocket and small sprinkle of grated cheese.

L- Slice of vegetable pizza and a banana

D - One Youngs gasto basa fillet with new pots, broccoli, sweetcorn and roasted tomatoes

Breakfast today - I've got shot of the sugary cereal and had overnight oats with grated apple, half a banana, a spoonful of peanut butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

So this is really a starting point. It's a massive improvement on my usual diet which in a day before was - 2 cheese & ham toasties at mid morning, crisps and cake mid afternoon, burger and chips for dinner with heaps of choclate and biscuits in the eve. No water. Sugary coffee and coke throughout the day. Not a fruit or veggie in sight.

Even if I get no replies, I just need to get this down somewhere. So it's helping me all the same.

Once I can crack thsee terrible food habits and I can start to look at my exercise!

you sound like you’re doing really well. Just carry on sticking to mostly natural and real food.
Bbcgoodfood has some good recipes if you search under ‘healthy’.
Well done for ignoring those pig squeals.

It's sad that all this no carbs stuff people go on about means they consume more animal products.
I have always been slim, eat loads of carbs and no animal products, wouldn't that be a kinder 'diet'.

Well good for you @GuiltyFeminist. But that's not what the OP is about, it is?

Not necessarily Guilty feminist.

It's sad that all this no carbs stuff people go on about means they consume more animal products.

Not necessarily. There are vegetarian low-carbers. And you certainly don't have to eat more animal products on a low carb diet. Same amount of animal products plus lots of non-carby veg, olive oil etc will do it.

Okay.

Stop what you're doing.

I just had vegetables and actually genuinely thoroughly enjoyed them. They were so tasty. The tomatoes were so sweet and the peppers so tangy.

Had a piece of fish with tomatoes, mixed peppers, courgette and red onion which were roasted with some Italian herbs and a touch of feta (and I mean a touch, maybe like 15g) crumbled on and it was beautiful. Diet dinner not too shabby.

I know this may seem utterly ridiculous to some - how can I have got to adulthood and be proud of myself for enjoying veg, but hey there you go.

Wondering if anybody has a simple, healthy yet tasty curry recipe theyd like to share?

Well done you! Roasted veg are SO much sweeter (and hence yummier) than normal veg.

I buy frozen sweet potato chunks, and roast with peppers, red onion and courgette, then add some tomatoes for the last few minutes. Yum.

I don't like curry but when you do have a recipe, cauliflower rice is nice.

I love curries. I make loads. I often have it with brown rice.
Bbcgoodfood has some good recipes.
Generally, I fry onions, add ginger and garlic (can use a paste or frozen), add a couple of spoons of pataks paste or a tsp of turmeric, a tbsp of coriander, chilli powder, salt and tomatoes (fresh or tinned). Cook it for a while then add whatever you want to cook.

Cauliflower rice sounds fab. Anywhere I can get more veg in is great. Will look for a recipe.

Sounds delicious livelife thanks.

So I remembered this morning that I have this on my cookbook shelf. I can't even remember where I got it - I've never even looked in it! Got some great recipe ideas and has lots of info about low-g.i foods. Lists all the nutritional information for each recipe too. Got a lovely looking Thai green curry which I will make tomorrow.

I've also downloaded MFP so I can keep track of my calorie intake and weight loss.

This is an odd one but I never really got how people enjoyed cherry tomatoes. For some reason I cut them in half and put sea salt and black pepper on them. Oh my god. I've eaten about 3 punnets in a week

Also kale. I roast it in the oven (watch carefully as it goes from crispy to cremated in minutes) then when it's out the oven I put Nando's peri peri salt on it

Good seasoning does make such a difference!

So when I started last Thursday I was 14st 10lbs. Weighed myself this morning and it was 14st 4lbs. So I'm pretty damn pleased with that. I know it will slow and lots of that was water (I don't really know what that means...but I've seen it mentioned alot on other threads) but it's keeping me going seeing that small difference.

I still haven't touched any chocolate, bisuits, cake etc. I think the 'naughtiest' thing I've had in the past couple of days was a white tortilla wrap at lunch yesterday. But it was filled with Salad!

I'm not feeling so grumpy and bad tempered now too and my sleep has been much better quality. No waking at 1pm with heartburn because I was gorging on crisps, dips and cookies at 10pm!

Hi Floaty...I've just seen your thread and wanted to say well done on your weight loss.
I was 14st 9lb when I started on March 1st last year, today I'm 10st 4lb, if I can do it anyone can!
Keep going, you'll get to where you want to be

That's amazing AndInOtherNews. It really helps to of others success. Sometimes it feels like an impossible dream to be healthy and slim. Like I'll always be fat and never skinny. I can't imagine it right now!

May I ask you to share any tips you might have? And can I ask about what sort of excersise you do, if any?

Exercise you did I mean. Especially at the beginning.

I know exactly what you mean, at my biggest I thought theres no point even trying to lose weight, there was just to far to go. Then I would eat more crap because I was miserable. Then one day I just decided to give my head a shake and stick to it!
I've got a dog, my husband used to take her for her big walk because I told myself I didn't have time. I took over doing this and built distance up over time. I take her out as much as I can now. But the thing that made the biggest difference was buying an exercise bike, I was never going to feel comfortable running or cycling in public but I love the time I spend on that bike in the privacy of my bedroom! My tip would be to make time to do whatever exercise suits you, even half an hour a day is better than nothing isnt it?
I fill my plate with loads of salad or vegetables and have chicken, fish or just smaller portions of things. For me getting the first stone off was a real turning point, I'd always given up way before that previously.

Sorry just to add..on the bike I started by doing 2.5 miles, a minute break and then another 2.5 miles then built it up..so I moved on to doing the 5 miles without a break, then I would have a break and do another 2.5 etc etc.

Thanks that's really useful. I actually have a 2 in 1 bike and cross trainer thingy. Also got weights. (I've been here before ) Time to dust them off I think. I really like the 2.5, break, 2.5 then move into 5, break, 2.5 idea. I'm going to try that to get me started. Also own a dog! So been doing longer walks with him too.

You have to commit to it though, so many times I thought I can't be bothered today and would look for an excuse not to go on the bike but I made myself do it- always felt good afterwards! I always thought I hated exercise, now I feel like rubbish if I dont go for a long walk or do an hour on the bike every day.

I will commit. Im going to imagine all the lovely clothes I'll be able to wear, that I don't wear at the moment because I hate getting my flab out.

I'll keep you updated

I'll keep checking in, I'm sure you'll do it!

Just to answer about 'water weight' OP:

The two things that make this up are glycogen and retained fluids. Glycogen is easy access energy stored in your muscles and liver. The body uses it for intense exercise like sprinting and weights to boost muscles. You will have used this up this week and not replaced it with eating carbs. That will account for a pound or two.

Your body also retains more fluids when you eat lots of carbs and salt. By eating less processed crap this week, your body will have gradually released more of this that was stored in your muscle and fat cells. You have probably been peeing a bit more. This fluid loss is why your belly feels less hard. Basically you are less bloated.

You will also have lost 2-3 lbs of fat. Well done

Thank you purple thats very informative!

I think I'm going to make Mondays my weigh in day. Getting a little obsessive with checking the scales as this is not just about losing weight, but getting fit about and healthy too. Lifestyle overhaul.

Morning all!

Just checking in! I weighed myself this morn (I know I know I said Id wait until Mondays) and I'm now at 14st 1lb. It's just melting off at the moment but expecting the slow down soon.

Ive noticed other little changes too - My hair is so shiny and my skin is clearer. Bye bye chest and back acne! Not envy.

Typical days food as been -

B - Greek yog and berries (and the staple black coffee)
L - 2 eggs scrambled with spinach, tomatoes, red onion, peppers and feta cheese
D - Grilled chicken/quorn fillet with salad and roasted veg.

I might have a piece of fruit after either lunch or dinner.

And lots of water.