Hushistas talk food and wellbeing

[neveradullmoment99]

Here we go girls :)

How will you maintain @soyo? What is your plan?

Thank you so much for that @soyo. Sounds very versatile :)

Attaching a pic of tonight’s chilli lentil and bean meal. This is what it looks like after 40 mins simmering. I’ll probably leave it another 10 mins so the lentils end up swelling a bit more and it’s less liquid...or you can leave the lid off for the last 10 mins so it’s super thick.
Pic with only food was taken just now, other pic 10 mins ago

Oh Hi 👋 never
I hope with one day low cal and the rest being fairly sensible I’ll maintain but it’ll need me to be vigilant and if I see myself gaining more than a pound or two then I’d go back on 800/1000 cals 5 days/week till it’s gone again. I’m still trying to figure it out as it does depend on how active or sedentary I am...

Thanks soy! That sounds (and looks!) delicious. We do a version of it with "fake" (soya) mince with just kidney beans, but I reckon the lentils would act as a mince replacement. Served with salsa and sometimes guacamole, and a handful or more of nachos - not especially diet-ty! (We call it Mexican't or Chilli Con (as there's no carne)).

Ooh I spent so long typing about lentils that I didn’t see your and laska comments till now.
You’re both doing so well! Keep going!! The first week was hardest and you’re past that now.
I’ll read back now as I see you’ve posted lots of recipes too.

I certainly feel tons better for losing the weight but it is hard work post menopause...I agree before the bastard hormones went crazy I’d be stick thin by now. But I’ve not been religious at all about it...every week I’ve had days when I’ve had a takeaway or chips or some other treat. But I Keep it to once or twice a week tops and try stick to the low carb/low cal principles the rest of the time. I was only super strict the first 3/4 weeks. I started early May so it’s been slow and steady loss (after first few pounds came off relatively fast). If I really crave something like an ice cream or crisps or a mars bar I’ll have it...but then stop and make effort to be super good the following day to compensate. Worst case I’ve maintained or put on a pound or two but over a week I’ve still lost a bit.
It’s taken 3 months with this fairly relaxed approach 👍 If I had been stricter would possibly have achieved it faster but really this way it’s more relaxed and I’m also “testing” what high carb/fat/sugar foods I can eat without too much damage and which ones really bloat me. For example I’ve not really had much pasta or bread...they bloat me immediately and I can’t be too moderate because I love it too much.
But pulses are a great substitute.
I’ve had a lot of lovely salads. Lots of salmon and chicken.
I can have thin crust homemade pizza once a week and doesn’t seem to affect the weight.
Have not experimented with nuts yet. Hardly any cake or buiscuits.
A banana or Apple after a meal most days. Or grapes.
Alcohol in moderation (maybe a glass 3 Times/week?)

You’re welcome not you’ll enjoy it I’m sure and yes doesn’t feel like diet food at all (our vegan DS will of course have it too).
Ask away if you’re not sure about my recipe and sorry it took me so long!

Looks delicious! I hope you enjoyed it :)
Sounds like you have the right attitude. I have been kind of strict on myself. As soon as I eat carbs especially sweet things I bloat. I can literally feel my tummy grow and my waistband tighten seriously. I have felt way better. Sugar has a lot to answer for!!! As for pasta, I have abstained from it so far as well as rice and bread. I took your idea of eating Ryvita. Generally, I haven't found it too hard. Promised the kids I would take them to mcdonalds tomorrow so not sure I will be that strong! we will see. Mcdonalds isn't really my thing but its a treat more for the kids.

That lentils recipe looks great ,am def making that,
Im meeting a friend for lunch today, but planning the chicken Caesar again

I dont eat sweet things never have really , neverbuy biscuits or desserts not even ice cream, ( maybe one or two in a summer, am just not that fussed) but my downfall is wine.. if I give up wine ( which I don't seem to be able to right now) I'd lose weight so much easier..
That sounds so bad eh? , but I don't drink every day .. only every few days . Not huge amounts but I can easily have half a bottle.. MN would say that I am an alcoholic

....bit yeah, that's why I have a tummy..
Tje extra weight though, I am sure is due to the syress of the last few months.. ( still going on sadly ) 'Family' inheritance stuff.. My Previous 30yrs NC ( for v good reason because she is so very nasty ) sister is intent on killing me ..

Hi all 👋
I've come to join in the fun over here. I've been keeping up with the posts and how well you're all doing but the time has come for me to join in properly. I'm going on a beach holiday in just over a month and I'd love to lose a few kg before I have to wear a bikini 😱 I honestly don't think any of my old holiday clothes will fit so something has to be done. Feeling inspired by Gin and her 10lb loss. I CAN DO THIS!

@Laska2Meryls same here with the wine. I need to stop doing the 1 or 2 glasses after work thing. It makes me sluggish and must be contributing to my weight massively

I have left over sesame salmon and broccoli from last night ( I'd better get around to eating it! )

Lunch out with a mate, another chicken caesar salad ( no croutons or bread)

That's it it would be good except I have a glass of rose here also

Tomorrow , I am going to see DF so we will be going out to lunch .. It wont be a fast day, but ill try just to have the one meal..

Note to self: Do not buy salted peanuts again Ok?

Oh I love love love salted peanuts..and cashews and chilli coated.
Well I feel a bit proud of myself. I had my normal yoghurt and fruit. Yes also the courgette and olive bake with some white cabbage in olive oil for lunch. Took my children to mcDonalds as planned and managed only to have a diet coke and a few chips from my dd who couldn't eat them all. Then for dinner had pizza on a pitta [ speedy pizza on the 800 recipe book] and salad and a yoghurt. It was 830 calories so not bad. Tomorrow will be bad as im out all day really - going to my mums then popping in to work briefly so god knows what I will eat tomorrow! Dinner time is a take away. Ive decided.

Actually my dh decided!

How's everyone doing? @Laska2Meryls when is the best time to weigh yourself? In the morning? I had an ok day yesterday (if we ignore the Jaffa cakes)
No booze and have cut down on carbs. I've got a month to make a difference but I need to weigh myself so I can see just what I need to lose and measure my progress

I always weigh in the morning before a ciup of tea and after a pee!!
Thats because I am a obsessive an idiot and a higher weight, ruins my day ..

but I am not losing weight Waa!

I really need to refocus on not drinking.. I am however slimmer , I know because my clothes are looser ..especially my bra and my tum looks smaller also .

But I had a small bit of good news today on the horrible ongoing inheritance row so maybe from now on it will be less stressful and finally get sorted out , and I may not need to fall into the wine quite so much .

Today I am making a venison curry as found some in the freezer.. . lots of veggies, I have courgettes and peppers and loads of home grown tomatoes and we have lemongrass growing also so am thinking Thai style.. (or how it turns out as I am a 'bung it' cook ! ) Yum.. .

actually measuring is good on low carb huff take your waist measurement now and then again in a few weeks , mine is definitely gone down..

Oh that's a good idea Laska I'll dig out the measuring tape. Wine definitely bloats me so that might be a good incentive.
Just weighed myself and I'm 10 stone. That's better than I thought and lower than last year when I was last using my fitness pal. My fighting weight is about 9stone 2lb so that feels like a manageable goal. I just really, really want my denim shorts to fit by the time I go on holiday. That feels like a marker of when I was last happy with my weight.

Totally understand where you're coming from with the wine. I can track my drinking quite easily from looking at days when I've come home from work stressed and felt I deserved a couple of glasses of wine. The problem is then it becomes a habit and I'm just as bad with clothes shopping. Like I deserve a splurge. I also buy clothes to fit my more curvy shape but I have plenty of stuff I could wear if I just lost the extra pounds.

Pleased to hear you have had some good news about your ongoing family situation. I hope it continues 🙏

Are you and @neveradullmoment99 doing low carb and fasting? Or just low carb? Fasting is appealing as it has quick results and other health benefits but I've never tried it before and not sure if I have the will power

We have some homegrown courgettes here too which I need to cut from the garden. What was the courgette bake thing you made Never?

Hi everyone well no take away yesterday as I didn't actually feel well when I got home so just couldn't face it. I ate around 600 calories yesterday so way under but I was quite hungry this morning but just had my usual yogurt and fruit and then for lunch I am going to have a nice pepper, ham and egg thing from the med 800 cal book.
Glad there seems to be light at then end of the tunnel with the inheritance. I have lost weight for sure. Not sure that others notice it but my clothes are looser for sure.
So I weighed myself and am 11 stone 4 so I have around a stone and 4lbs to lose. I was pretty shocked at my weight. Clearly fooling myself that I hadn't put on that much. Clearly not. No idea what I started with though. Makes me sad thinking about it. On the chart though with bmi I am borderline with overweight :(

Well its very simple @Huffthepuff
This serves 4
4 courgettes
tomato puree 2tbs
garlic [clove]
some water [ I like the taste of olives so have put in some of the liquid from that too as the amount of olives is rubbish]
10 olives
Mixed herbs
Salt and pepper to taste.

Slice thickly your courgettes lengthways. Set aside. Get tomato puree, garlic and mix together with a little water and olive liquid if you like some mixed herbs if you want and salt and pepper.
Place the mixture in a flat dish and coat all the courgettes with it. It spreads quite well but you can add a little more water if need be. Just be careful though as courgettes make their own water. You want it to look 'coated' and not swimming in the sauce.
Sprinkle the olives around - you can cut them in half then bake at around 200c/400f for around 25 minutes. It says 15 mins but no way are the courgettes cooked. I have also added mushrooms to the recipe. Once the courgettes are tender remove and sprinkle with a little parmesan and serve with salad. I reckon the recipe is around 109 calories if you stick to it religiously and don't add the parmesan. I add probably just a wee half teaspoon which is just enough.

I paid for an app that I really like that has a great database. Its called nutracheck and I find it very useful as it counts up all the calories for you. The only annoying thing about it is if you are doing 800 calories [which I am] it doesn't allow you to input that allowance as its deemed as too low. Its minor though. You can keep all your weighing in data there and your goal. Its a bit like my fitness pal so if you don't want to pay for it you could use that. I think it cost me £25 for the year. I don't intend to need to use it after this year.