So, What Do You Want?

I gave up trying to lose weight and went back to my old habits. It's my pattern, I start off well and then tail off. I abandoned blogging as a tool to obtain a healthy life and I thought I was finished with it. It feels like unfinished business though. I am going to turn forty in six months and, the thing is, I cannot bear the thought of reaching March 16th 2008 with this issue still hanging over my head (and around my waist!). BUT, I don't want to make one last ditch attempt. I don't want to gird my loins and start again. I would like to do this calmly and peacefully and finally.

I should never have gone no-carb as I have had kidney problems. I had a kidney removed!! High protein, low-carb diets are dangerous for people with kidney issues. I am going to do my version of all the books, programmes and articles I've watched, read and absorbed over the years. I have found the Lee Janogly books on binge eating and the mental, emotional side of over eating helpful. I would like to try forward planning and preparation. I am going to use this blog to plan what i am going to eat rather than record what I have eaten. Much more proactive. I think I should do this a day in advance. I did kind of promise to take the kids to the all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant on Saturday. D'oh and Double D'oh!

Today I had scrambled eggs and tomato for breakfast. For lunch I am going to have a smoked mackeral salad and I am going to have a tuna steak with something(?) for dinner. I'll have to think about what I can have for a snack.

I'll have to get my head around the exercise question too!

Working Late

Long day at work today but I am prepared and I brought my lunch with me. Beloved is going to pick me up a Chinese takeaway for dinner. If I pick something low carb I can have it with salad leaves.

Today I ate: -

• 2 rashers of bacon, vine tomato, mayo
• Smoked mackeral fillets, dressed salad leaves, cucumber

Roast pork with mixed vegetables

Now where were we?

Too much has happened in the last week or so for me to report, so lets get back to the low-carb thing: -

Today I ate: -

• Chicken thigh, salad leaves, mayo
• Smoked mackeral, cuecumber, salad leaves, mayo
• Ham
• Lasagne (I extracted the pasta and gave it to Eldest), salad leaves
• Cheese

Project Snackfree - Day 10

I lost 0 pounds. Does my face look bovvered?

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, vine tomato
• Broccoli and Stilton soup
• Mini-salami
• Cheddar
• Can't remember what I had for dinner

Project Snackfree - Day 9

Mixed results on trying not to snack, hormonal hunger at the moment.

Today I ate : -

• 3 chipolatas, vine tomato
• Creamy cod stew, dressed lollo rosso
• Roast duck in plum sauce with pineapple, lollo rosso
• Camembert

Project Snackfree - Day 8

23rd May 2007

Today I ate: -

• Asparagus and melted butter
• 3 mini-salami
• Emmenthal
• Broccoli and Stilton soup
• Smoked sausage carbonara, dressed lollo rosso
• 2 squares Tescos Finest dark chocolate with ginger

Project Snackfree - Day 7

Tidyfriend lent me a recipe book called Fish Food as I want to cook more fish. I made the creamy cod stew for lunch today and it was delicious. I have heaps leftover.

Today I ate : -

• Scrambled egg, baby avocado, mayo
• Creamy cod stew, dressed salad leaves
• Thai green chicken curry, sugar snap peas, dressed salad leaves
• Cheddar
• 2 squares Tescos Finest chocolate

Project Snackfree - Day 6

Readingfriend just popped round with the Sunday Times and stayed for a cup of Earl Grey. Also, I spoke to Writingfriend on the phone earlier so, all in all, a very good evening.

Today I ate: -

• 2 chipolatas
• Ham, cheddar, baby avocado, dressed salad leaves
• Beef Stroganoff, dressed salad leaves
• Spoon licking during baking brownies
• 2 squares Tescos Finest dark chocolate

Project Snackfree - Day 5

Beautiful sunny day!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, mayo
• Leftovers lunch - 3 leftover meatballs, leftover tuna mayo, gorgonzola, dressed salad leaves
• 2 vegetarian sausages, cheddar, dressed salad leaves
• 4 squares Tescos finest orange dark chocolate

Project Snackfree - Day 4

Went to the Charleston Festival to hear Graham Swift today with Beloved. Very good, I feel edified. Had a nibble at the festival, a late dinner for me today and I couldn't hold out.

Today I ate : -

• Sausage, mayo
• Tuna mayo, dressed salad leaves
• A few of Beloved's crisps and nuts at the festival
• Meatballs in tomato sauce, grated cheddar, dressed salad leaves

Project Snackfree - Day 3

I lost 0 pounds. I'm so glad I didn't gain weight this week, I would have been gutted. Project Snackfree saved the day so I have decided to continue with it for one more week.

Today I ate : -

• Sausage
• Prawn mayo, baby avocado, dressed salad leaves
• Char-grilled salmon fillet, gorgonzola, dressed salad leaves

Project Snackfree - Day 2

Busy today, which kept my mind off the grub.
Today I ate: -

• Sausage, mayo
• Fragrant aubergine curry
• Squid with ginger and spring onion, dressed salad leaves, prawn crackers

Project Snackfree - Day 1

Not a good week so far, foodwise or anywise. I am going to challenge myself not to snack at all until weigh day which, of course, is only two days away. I may then be able to stay the same instead of taking a gain on the scales.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, 1 tomato
• Fragrant aubergine curry
• Lots of spoon licking whilst making gift brownies
• Chillie, salad leaves

Fragrant Aubergine Curry

Made fragrant aubergine curry from a recipe in an old Olive magazine. Delish and I have enough for the next two days.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Salami
• Cheese
• Fragrant aubergine curry
• Double cream, Splenda
• Chicken casserole, broccoli
• Tescos finest dark chocolate

Sad Day

Knockout depression and sadness. I used to stop blogging on days like this and retreat within and binge. Today I skipped lunch and started to overeat at 3pm. It's 4.10pm and I have decided to stop eating and just carry on going through depression. It will lift at some point.

Today I ate : -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Salami
• Camembert
• Cheddar
• Peanut butter
• Double cream, Splenda
• Chicken stir fry, salad leaves

Rainy Sunday

Today I ate: -

• Asparagus and melted butter
• Prawn mayo, dressed salad leaves
• Ham and cream cheese roll-up
• Peanut butter
• 3 squares Green and Black's
• 1 rasher bacon, mushrooms, mayo
• Cheddar
• Orange polenta cookie

Strawberry Elephant

A strawberry shaped like an elephant! Isn't it a shame that 'That's Life' is no longer on air.

Today I ate: -

• Cheese omelette, mayo


• Vegetable soup


• Orange polenta cookie


• Bolognese sauce, dressed salad leaves


• Cheddar


• Double cream, Splenda


• 3 squares Green and Blacks

It's Weigh Day!

I lost 2 pounds. Had the following conversation with Youngest : -

Me - I'm going on a date tonight
Youngest - Who with?
Me - Daddy, of course. I only want to go on dates with Daddy because I love him. I'm not allowed to go on dates with anyone else!
Youngest - Of course you are!
The conversation went on in the same vein for some time.

Today I ate: -

• Scrambled eggs and beef curry
• Beef and vegetables, dressed salad leaves
• 2 squares Green and Blacks
• Smoked haddock au gratin
• Duckling breast, raspberry and port sauce, cauliflower, broccoli, 1 saute potatoe, 1 bite of carrot
• Cheese plate (gave the crackers, pear and half the cheese to Beloved)
• 2 dark chocolate after dinner mints.

Crocalicious!

My new Mary-Jane swirl Crocs arrived, all the way from Phoenix, Arizona! I bought them on ebay and they are scrumptious.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato


• Left-over chicken korma, half an avocado, dressed salad leaves


• Beef curry, vegetables, salad leaves


• 3 squares Green and Blacks


• Ham and cream cheese roll up


• Cheddar

Black Gloop

It has been mentioned, by more than one member of my family I might add, that the soup I made to take for lunch today looks like the evil black gloop from Spiderman 3. It's aubergine, fennel and celeriac, not much colour going on. It tastes good though!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Vegetable soup
• Chicken korma, cauliflower mash, salad leaves
• 2 squares Green and Blacks

Curiouser and Curiouser

Now the phone doesn't work but the internet works in Eldest's room! Go figure. Tired due to useless sleep at Travelodge and having no break at work today. I eventually had lunch at around 3pm.

Today I ate: -

• 2 sausages, 2 rashers bacon, scrambled egg, half a tomato (breakfast buffet at Travelodge)
• Tuna mayo
• Cheddar
• Ham and cream cheese roll-up
• Smoked sausage carbonara, cauliflower mash, salad leaves
• 2 squares Green and Blacks
• Double cream with Splenda

Connection Breakdown

I have had no internet connection at home for several days now. This has been very frustrating as I have not been able to list my food diary. Fortunately, I have been writing it down on a scrappy piece of paper and as I'm at work now I shall transcribe it.

Saturday May 5th : -

• Egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon


• Vegetable soup, parmesan


• Chicken breast stuffed with Roule, wrapped in bacon, salad leaves


• Sliver of giant chocolate chip cookie that the kids made
  

Sunday May 6th : -

• Scrambled eggs, ham, mayo


• Left-over chicken, dressed salad leaves


• 2 vegetarian sausages, half an avocado, half a tomato, mayo


• Double cream and Splenda


• 2 squares Green and Blacks

Monday May 7th

Lunch was a challenge as we had tickets for Spiderman 3. I grabbed some cheese and made 2 quick roll-ups. For dinner we were at a Travelodge and there was nothing (NOTHING!) on the menu I could eat. Usually in these situations I am quite passive but I decided to be proactive. I asked a staff member to just give me the insides of an Italian chicken and char-grilled vegetable panini but apparently they come ready assembled (how nice, NOT!) and it is not possible to remove the innards. I ended up with a bowl of salad leaves and peppers. I asked for some olive oil to dress my leaves with and the staff member looked at me as if I had asked for a baby giraffe! I made do with 2 sachets of mayo. I felt really cross, eating out in the UK these days can be useless. No wonder we are starting to have a problem with childhood obesity. Beloved saved the day with a bag of pistachios tucked in to our luggage.

• 2 rashers bacon


• Hunk of cheddar


• 2 ham and cream cheese roll-ups


• Green salad, mayo


• Pistachios

Challenge (NO) Cheese - Day 5

Weigh day today! I lost 2 pounds.

Today I ate: -

• 2 rashers of organic bacon
• Smoked salmon, ham, tiny piece of Brie, 1 slice char-grilled aubergine, dressed salad leaves, mayo
• Baked tilapia, cauliflower mash
• Double cream, Splenda
• 2 squares Green and Blacks

Challenge (NO) Cheese - Day 4

I had some cheddar today BUT there is a good reason, read on. I had an hours dinner break from work and popped home. I work late on Thursdays. I had asked Beloved to get me a prawn foo yung from the Chinese takeaway, I was going to have it with some salad leaves. After 3 mouthfuls I became dizzy and started swaying and retching and being sick. Horrible, eh! Fifteen minutes later I felt better and hungry and I had no dinner! So I had a search in the fridge.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, fried cauliflower mash cake, half a tomato
• Smoked mackeral, half an avocado, salad leaves, mayo
• 3 mouthfuls prawn foo yung
• Half an avocado, cheddar, smoked salmon, mayo
• Dessertspoon of peanut butter
• Double cream with Splenda
• 1 square Green and Blacks

Challenge (NO) Cheese - Day 3

Half way! I went to Waitrose yesterday and I thought to myself "I won't go down the cheese aisle". As I was leaving I thought "I'll just take a quick peek". I found myself furtively scanning the cheese in the manner of someone trying to discreetly survey top shelf magazines in their local newsagents.

STEP AWAY FROM THE CHEESE!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, fried cauliflower mash cake, half a tomato
• Smoked mackeral, watercress salad, half a tomato, mayo
• Smoked sausage, red and yellow pepper tomato sauce, char-grilled aubergine, salad leaves
• 3 squares Green and Black organic dark chocolate with crystallised ginger

Challenge (NO) Cheese - Day 2

Cheeseless Tuesday started well with a huge celariac rosti. The kids and I baked monster cookies for a bake sale Youngest's class is having. They want to get enough money to adopt a Meercat at the local zoo (or maybe a boa constrictor!).

Today I ate: -

• Celariac rosti
• Corned beef crust quiche, dressed salad leaves
• Ham
• 2 teriaki chicken skewers, red pepper and bean sprout stir fry, hoisin sauce
• cookie dough

Challenge (NO) Cheese - Day 1

The cheeseless Monday started out well as the asparagus dipped in to melted butter that I had for breakfast was delicious. I made the prawn korma from scratch with cream, ground almonds, coconut. It was scrumptious.

Today I ate: -

• Asparagus with melted butter
• Spinach and nutmeg soup
• Ham
• Prawn korma, cauliflower mash
• 3 square Green and Blacks organic dark chocolate with crystallised ginger

Challenge (NO) Cheese

I have decided to take a cheese sabbatical. From tomorrow I am not going to have any cheese until weigh day (Friday). Let's see how it goes!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage
• Corned beef crust quiche, dressed salad leaves
• Brie
• Pate
• Frikadellan, dressed salad leaves

Underwear Update

So, I put 21 bras in the Salvation Army clothing bin, I threw 2 away as they were just dangerous. I probably threw away about the same amount of undies. I found a whole load of very pretty (brandnew) underwear that my Mum had given me for Christmas or my birthday 2005 or 2006? My unmentionables drawer is now hyper-neat and catagorized.

I feel like Mel Gibson at the end of Braveheart

FREEDOM!!!!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage and fried egg
• Corned beef crust quiche, slice of Brie, dressed salad leaves
• Sprats, dressed salad leaves
• Sugar-free Pavlova with double cream
• 3 squares Green and Black's organic dark chocolate with crystallised ginger
• Cheese

Weigh Day!

I lost 2lb! The exciting thing is I'm now under 12 stone. To celebrate I am going to clear out my underwear drawer and throw out all the greige knickers and tiny bras. I turned the whole drawer out on my bed this morning and immediately extracted a microscopic Topshop bra that would only cover 25% of my current bosom land mass. Is it OK to donate ex-bras to the Salvation Army clothes bin? Comments, please!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage egg muffin
• Slice of salami
• Quiche made with corned beef crust, dressed salad leaves
• Bolognese sauce, brussell sprouts
• 1 square Green and Black's organic dark chocolate with crystallised ginger

Spinach, D'oh!

I'm not meant to eat spinach. My consultant, or one of his underlings anyway, told me in 2001. I had spinach and nutmeg soup for lunch. Sometimes you just want to live life in the fast lane and dice with death, don't you?

Today I ate: -

• Sausage egg muffin
• Salami
• Spinach and nutmeg soup
• Ham
• Roast duck with beansprouts and plum sauce, salad leaves
• A little of Beloved's beef and onions

Pears Belle Helene

Youngest and I made Pears Belle Helene for the family's dessert today. Man, it looked and smelled good. I had the low-carb version, some would call it chocolate sauce on a plate!

Today I ate: -

• Scrambled egg with smoked salmon
• 3 slices of salami
• Smoked mackeral, mayo, dressed salad leaves
• Chicken chow mein (without the noodles), dressed salad leaves
• Chocolate sauce (70% Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate, double cream, Splenda)
• Maasdam

Hit Counter

I put a hit counter on my blog thanks to the nice folks at Easy-Hit-Counters.com. I thought it would be interesting to see how many people stumble across me everyday. 24 hits since yesterday, awsome!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage egg muffin, half a tomato
• Prawn mayonnaise, half an avocado, half a tomato, salad leaves
• Maasdam
• Chicken casserole, mashed swede, asparagus
• Ham, pate

Tired

Feel weak, tired, bingey and hormonal today but I know I'll feel better in the next day or two. Made a big effort to be nice to the family. I'm just going to make them some popcorn and we've got Hoot to watch on DVD from Blockbusters.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Tuna mayo, pate, ham, cheddar baby chard, lambs lettuce
• Smoked sausage, tomato pesto sauce, mashed swede, broccoli
• Maasdam

Sunny Sunday

Mid afternoon I started to feel hormonal and bingey. Unfortunately this was combined with the fact that the cupboards and fridge didn't contain much suitable food as I was planning to shop tomorrow also combined with the fact that Sunday was my traditional binge day in the past. Uh-oh.......... Not too much damage done but started picking at anything I could find.

Today I ate: -

• Scrambled eggs, half a tomato
• Tuna mayo, char-grilled courgette, cheddar
• Choc mousse mixture
• Clotted cream with Splenda
• 1 slice bacon
• 7 meatballs
• Cheddar
• Smoked salmon
• Double cream with Splenda

Dessert Day!

21st April 2007

Decided to make Saturday dessert day. I really enjoyed making the pudding and serving it up, and it was definately delicious, but in the end I think the week long anticipation that I was going to prepare and eat it was the main pleasure. Hey-ho!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Ham, cheddar, half an avocado, half a tomato, salad leaves
• Sausagemeat patties, salad leaves
• Orgasmic hot bitter chocolate mousse with Cornish clotted cream
• Lots of spoon and bowl licking during the cooking process

WHA-HAY!

A sneaky peek at the scales reveals that I'm back to the weight I was before the big Christmas re-gain! So I'll start the weigh-ins again on Fridays. Onwards and downwards!!

Today I ate: -

• Scrambled egg
• Ham, half an avocado, salad leaves, blue cheese dressing
• Salmon, broccoli, salad leaves
• Ham and cheese roll-ups
• Cheddar
• 2 squares Thornton's Cuba dark chocolate

Busy Day

19th April 2007

Got in from work at 8.15pm.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage and egg muffin
• Prawn mayonnaise, salad leaves
• Ham and cream cheese roll-ups
• Beef curry, salad leaves
• Double cream, Splenda

Pasta!

The kids and I made pasta last night from Jamie Oliver's blindin' pasta recipe. We dug the pasta machine out of the cupboard and we made lasagne sheets, tagliatelle and linguini. We cooked up a lasagne for their dinner tonight. I forgot to keep some sauce back for myself, drat! I will have to peel my portion.

Today I ate: -

• Cheese omelette, smoked salmon
• Smoked salmon and cream cheese, black pepper and lemon juice, rocket dressed with olive oil and Maldon salt
• Meat sauce (from lasagne), char-grilled aubergine, runner beans, rocket
• Double cream, Splenda

Thai Tonight

I have a meeting tonight and we are having it at a Thai restaurant. I think this will work out fine as there are lots of low-carb options.

Today I ate: -

• 1 sausage egg muffin (sausage, eggs, cream baked in a muffin tin)
• Prawn mayonnaise, half an avocado, rocket
• Cheddar
• Red curry with roast duck, tomatoes, lychees and coconut milk, dressed green salad

Monday Roast

I feel periodically guilty about the family not having a traditional Sunday roast. This is due to the fact that when we get home from church it's often nearly 1pm. I guess I could put it in the oven before we leave but to be honest they love their sandwiches and crisps on a Sunday lunchtime. As I cook them dinner every evening and the kids have school dinners they consider it a treat. Anyway, we had a Monday roast today!

Today I ate: -

• Creamed mushrooms, fried cauliflower mash cake
• Pate, salad leaves, mayo
• Roast chicken, asparagus, Brussell sprouts, gravy
• Cheddar

Courgette Rosti Triumph

The courgette rosti I made for lunch was a thing of beauty. Gorgeously delicately green, succulent and crispy, deliciously satisfying.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato, mushrooms
• Courgette rosti, salad leaves, mayo
• Tuna mayo, 1 slice char-grilled aubergine, half an avocado, salad leaves
• Stilton
• Double cream with Splenda
• 2 squares Thornton's Cuba dark chocolate

If it's Saturday it Must be Dr Who!

We have come late to Dr Who, we have only watched a handful of episodes. We are going to rent the first series from Blockbuster.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato, mushrooms
• Mackeral fillet, salad leaves, half an avocado, half a tomato, blue cheese dressing
• Cheddar
• Ham and cream cheese roll-up
• Sea Bass, char-grilled aubergine, salad leaves, home-made tartare sauce

Last Day of the Holiday

I love it when the kids are off but I guess we still have the weekend. Back to school and work on Monday!

Today I ate: -

• Omelette with avocado and cheddar, mushrooms
• Vegetable soup with stilton
• Ham and cream cheese roll-ups
• Beef casserole, steamed greens, horseradish creme fraiche
• Orange cheesecake with almond and hazelnut crust, cream

Groan

What a night, we were full to the gunwales with grub and slept really badly. Ladies and gentlemen beware the dangers of uberty and foison!

Today I ate: -

• Scrambled egg with smoked salmon
• Vegetable soup
• 2 mackeral fillets, salad leaves, creme fraiche
• Beef and onions (Beloved had a Chinese takeaway and I had some)
• Cheddar

Fifteen Years Ago Today!

It's our fifteenth wedding anniversary. Beautiful weather, almost as glorious as the day we got married. I got him a large bar of Cadbury's whole nut and he left me a letter telling me he has booked dinner at the Hungry Monk for tonight and organised for the kids to stay at my parents!!! Note to self; must try harder next year.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Vegetable soup, home-made pesto
• Camembert
• Smoked salmon and cream cheese roll-ups
• 3 amuse-bouche
• Walnut bread, butter
• Orkney crab mousse, rocket, melba toast
• Rabbit roasted in prosicutto, stuffed with apricot and pistachios and with a mustard sauce, dauphanoise potatoes, savoy cabbage, leeks
• Treacle and stem ginger pudding with cream
• Peppermint tea with banoffi chocolate

Lardy Cake

Back from Easter in Dorset, there was a lardy cake involved. Let us speak of it no more, back on-piste today!

Today I ate: -

• Miso soup and tofu
• Vegetable soup, parmesan
• Shepherd's pie with cauliflower mash topping, sugar snap peas, runner beans
• Cheddar

Chocolate Truffles

A busy day today so the kids and I made chocolate truffles and fudge as a treat.

Today I ate: -

• Miso soup and tofu
• A fair amount of spoon and bowl licking during the truffle/fudge making
• Tuna mayonnaise, herb leaf salad
• Chicken with onions and bacon gravy, steamed greens
• Cheddar
• Chocolate truffle

I Ate the Breadsticks!

Pizza Express is so not the restaurant to eat at when you are on a low carb diet! I should have asked for the removal of the dressing, balsamic and bread. But they were so delicious!

Today I ate: -

• Scrambled egg with smoked salmon
• Coronation tuna, herb salad
• Bosco salad at Pizza Express - garlic mushrooms, avocado, baby mozarellas, mi-cuit tomatoes, spinach leaves, honey dressing, balsamic vinegar, breadsticks
• Cheddar

Sunny Day

What a beautiful day! Made a huge error today and to cut a short story even shorter I ended up with no child care and four hours work booked. The kids went to Beloved's office armed with their Nintendos. Beloved's office manager spoiled them and took them to McDonalds for milkshakes and to Poundland for bubblegum. They had a great morning! Off to Tescos now, I am sticking to India and Neris's diet. I need to cut back on the cheese though, I am going to buy some olives for snacks instead.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Vegetable soup, parmesan
• Cheddar
• Turkey chow mein (I left the noodles out of mine), dressed salad leaves
• 1 square dark chocolate (Thornton's Cuba)
• 1 feta stuffed green olive

P.S. Didn't eat the fabulous biscuits at quilt group, first time ever!!

Sew and Sew

Yesterday afternoon I got completely absorbed in sewing my Easter gifts and didn't even think about eating. I had my iPod on, I just bought Tapestry by Carole King from iTunes, and it was the most pleasant afternoon.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Vegetable soup drizzled with double cream
• Ham and cream cheese roll-up
• Fennel, onion, pepper cream cheese omellette, iceberg lettuce, mayo
• Cheddar

Feeling Slimmer

Convinced myself I felt slimmer today, of course, I have no scales to verify this. Onwards and downwards.

Today I ate: -

• Scrambled egg with smoked salmon
• Pork mayonnaise, salad leaves
• Sausagemeat patties, asparagus, tomato and red onion sauce, blue cheese dressing
• Cheddar

Last Day of Term!

So the plan was to start a four day week today but I ended up going in to work this morning. D'oh! I've felt over-stretched for quite a long time and I think taking Fridays to sort out my home and do all my other jobs will help a lot. I am taking some time off over Easter and so I did need to go in today but hopefully after Easter break I can use Fridays as catch-up and life will be a little calmer. I believe it will help me not to stress eat so much.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Vegetable soup with parmesan
• Steak Diane, char-grilled aubergines, salad leaves
• Cheddar
• Ham

Pig to Twig

29th March 2007

I have been checking out the pig2twig forum which India and Neris started up to support the Idiot-Proof Diet. It's extremely good. It answers lots of questions and offers great ideas.

Today I ate: -

• Miso soup and tofu
• Vegetable soup
• Smoked salmon and cream cheese
• 2 Frikadellan with melted cheese, salad leaves, mayo
• Ham and cream cheese roll-ups

Goodbye Scales

Couldn't cope with the scales so I took them to Beloved's office. I'll get them back after Easter. Feel better not having them in the house.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, half a tomato
• Vegetable soup
• Taleggio
• Pork chop, Taleggio cream onion sauce, dressed salad leaves, slice of char-grilled courgette

Taleggio

Bought some fantastic Taleggio today, melt in the mouth with a scrumptious crust.

Today I ate: -

• Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon
• Vegetable soup with parmesan
• Taleggio
• Smoked sausage, tomato, pepper sauce with char-grilled aubergines

Slept In!

Woke up at 6am when Beloved was leaving for work, woke up again at 8am when the kids and I should have been leaving for school! Ran round like a mad thing and we drove to the Funfriends to pick up their middle child and he was ill! Dropped kids off at school in the car so I missed out on my run, had breakfast and now I'm at work. My 10.30am lady failed to attend. Aaaaargh!

I have decided to carry on with India and Neris's diet but cut down on the snacks.

Today I ate: -

• Miso soup with tofu
• Vegetable soup with parmesan
• Red pepper stuffed with spicy lamb, char-grilled courgettes, gem lettuce

Sunday Blues

Started feeling low half way through church service. Protein binge, but isn't that better than a carb binge?

Today I ate: -

• scrambled egg, avocado
• Avocado, blue cheese dressing, dressed salad leaves
• Brie
• Pepper soft cheese
• cheddar
• ham
• Roast cod with lime and cherry tomatoes, dressed salad leaves, fried portabello mushrooms

Swim

Today I went for a swim whilst Beloved entertained the kids. Do you know I have belonged to that gym for two years and I've never used the pool and it's fantastic!!! Lovely big changing rooms too with nice hot showers. My membership runs out in April and I decided not to renew as with my schedule it's so hard to get there. I bought an ipod with the renewal money instead as I am going to continue running and I like the music on when I run. Bought one of those cute arm ipod holder strap things.

Today I ate: -

• Avocado, smoked salmon, blue cheese dressing
• Chicken wrapped in bacon, dressed salad leaves
• Pepper soft cheese
• Char-grilled aubergines, smoked sausage in yellow pepper, dwarf leek and tomato sauce, salad leaves

Cracking Cheese Gromit!

Went to Lidl today to re-stock on the cheese, bought the faux Boursin, Brie and Parmesan. Definately feeling better not gorging on refined carbs!

Today I ate: -

• Sausage, mushrooms
• Roast butternut squash soup
• Double Gloucester
• Chicken wrapped in bacon, savoy cabbage, braised fennel, half a portabello mushroom
• Brie

Fishy Day

Stressed about not weighing myself. I have put the scales in one of the drawers under our bed, don't know if I'll be able to last until Sunday.

Today I ate: -

• Avocado, smoked salmon, blue cheese dressing
• Tuna mayo, dressed salad leaves
• Roast cod with chery tomatoes, dressed salad leaves
• Double Gloucester

Cold Turkey

I am going to try not to weigh myself for three days. That sounds a lot when I write it down as I compulsively weigh myself minimum twice a day. The low-carb thing is going fine. It is, however, expensive compared to low-fat/high-carb. When I overeat, either through greed or emotional eating, I most often consume refined carbs; cake, pastries, bread anything doughy. After a couple of low-carb days I have lost the bloaty feeling already. I am hoping going cold turkey (and you can eat unlimited cold turkey on this plan!) on the carbs will help me break the habit/addiction.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage and fried cauliflower mash cakes
• Roast butternut squash soup with parmesan
• Ham
• Tarragon chicken, stirfry cabbage and leeks, cauliflower mash
• Double Gloucester

Low-carb

So my sister bought me Neris and India's Idiot-proof diet for my birthday and I'm going to give it a go.

Today I ate: -

• Sausage and mushrooms
• Ham and cream cheese roll ups, salad leaves dressed with olive oil and lime
• Beef stew, cauliflower mash
• A load of double Gloucester cheese

Comuter Problems!

Funfriends are coming round to have a look at the laptop, hopefully then I'll be able to do a proper post.

Happy Birthday To Me!

It's my birthday and I'm 39 years old today! It's been a great day so far. The kids crawled in to bed with me to say happy birthday and Eldest gave me a purple plastic heart, which had obviously fallen off something, which was so sweet. My parents left me a "fish cake", a big cake made in the shape of a fish actually made from fish cake with tiger prawn scales. Apparently the kids help make it yesterday. My parents also got the kids to paint a big box and they filled it with baby vegetables, a luxurious organic veg box. Writingfriend got me the whole first series (23 episodes!!) of Little House on the Prairie on DVD. I cannot wait to watch this with the kids as it was one of my favourite shows when I was growing up and I love pioneer, homespun things. Beloved left a stack of presents, allsorts of my favourite things. The Funfriends dropped round a present which I didn't have time to open and I got some other gifts too! What a fabulous start to the day! I made Youngest a ham omelette and Eldest a turkey bacon sandwich as Dr Phil said you should give your kids protein before they go to school, it's brain food! Ran back from school drop-off (listened to Cat Stevens singing Morning has Broken and all felt right with the world)

I have just finished my CLAIT computer assessment, our invigilator put on a red nose for Comic Relief (I often share my birthday with Red Nose Day). I am having lunch at the college restaurant with my Mum, Readingfriend, Tidyfriend and Tidybaby. The restaurant is run by the catering students, the food is great and incredibly cheap which makes it one of our favourite lunch venues. The service is hilarious, if you ask one of the serving staff a question it throws them in to a tizzy and they always say "I'll just go and ask my manager". Last time our young waiter took our coffee order five times!

Today I ate: -

• Peanut butter on toast
• Mackeral fillets, mustard sauce, bubble and squeak, red cabbage, ratatouille, carrots
• Christmas pudding, custard
• Fish cake, veg

Fun with Vegetables!

Yesterday the kids and I had a Star Wars light sabre fight with the asparagus. Youngest had the great idea of holding two asparagus spears end to end to make a double ended sabre like the one Darth Maul fought with. Darth Sparagus!

More fun on the vegetable front this morning when my practice manager gave me a chocolate and beetroot birthday cake. Delicious, quite a sophisticated taste.

Today I ate: -

• Super high fibre cereal
• Chocolate and beetroot cake
• Thai salad (Moosewood Cookbook)
• Dolcelatte
• Peanut butter on toast
• Chip butty

Bootylicious

I ran (slow jogged!) the whole way home from school this morning. The weather is amazing, sunny and bright, and I had Destiny's Child belting out Bootylicious in my ear. Came home and did the 7 minute work-out. I can't do the full press-ups yet but I'm working on it and I finish them off on my knees. I guess one of my main problems has been inconsistency. Since I have had this blog I have

• Lost 12 pounds
• Gained 13 pounds
• Lost 6 pounds

See what I mean! I am really gung-ho for a time and then something happens, in this case it was Christmas, and I fall in to a very unhealthy lifestyle again.

Today I ate: -

• Super high fibre cereal
• Half a carton New Covent Garden smoked ham and lentil soup
• Meatballs in tomato and veg sauce, wholewheat spagetti with shredded cabbage and leek, asparagus

Don't Stop Me Now!

I am so motivated at the moment to eat healthily and exercise in spite, I might add, some serious discouragement. Let me share: -

1. I bought a new top with my Christmas vouchers and I wore it to church this Sunday. A lady approached me and said "That blouse is very slimming, isn't it". I translated this as "You are enormously fat, but the blouse covers up some of the blubber".
2. I went on a community visit at work and the elderly lady I was visiting said to me "You're not the lady who came before!". I said that I indeed did visit her before and she replied "Have you gained weight?".
3. We were watching the news tonight and there was an item reporting GPs "wasting" their time dealing with seriously overweight people. Youngest pointed at me and shouted "Like Mummy".

Well, they can say what they want, I'm on a roll (and it's not a cheese roll!). After reading Dietgirl's post on planks, we had a family plank session this evening. Youngest said the side plank was really easy, I looked up and he was just lying on his side!

Today I ate: -

• Super high fibre cereal
• Avocado and cherry tomato salad
• Banana
• Chillie, basmati rice, broccoli, peas
• Pineapple

School Run

Decided to do a literal school run this afternoon. Usually I run when I'm less likely to be seen but today I put on my running kit after work and set out. I have lost a lot of fitness since I used to run a few years ago. I got to the point where I could run a 5km fun run in a reasonable time. I thought the kids would go beserk when they found out we were walking home but I just didn't mention it and we were so involved with discussing Nintendogs that we were a fair way home before Eldest asked "Where's the car?". I answered "In our road!". We ran the last few blocks as we didn't want to miss Shaun the Sheep. We're big Aardman fans. It was really fun and I kept calling out the time. The kids run way better than me. Felt great when we got home and Shaun the Sheep was excellent.

Today I ate: -

• Rude Health organic museli
• Rest of the cream of chicken soup
• Clementine (or satsuma or maybe a tangerine, it was definately some kind of citrus fruit)
• Small portion of steak and kidney pudding, ratatouille, baby corn, mange tout
• Baked apple with sultanas, cream

Chariots of Fire

Watched Chariots of Fire this evening. Love that film, wasn't Eric Liddell just fantastic. I can remember watching it with my family when it first came out and my Dad leaning over at one of the most moving parts to tell me that the radiator in the Parisian hotel room was incorrect. They definately would not have had that radiator in Paris in 1924. He is a stickler for architectural accuracy, he always points out plastic guttering in period dramas.

Ended up not eating well today, although started out well. I always carb out on Sundays. I ate so much of the rye bread, one of Nigella's recipes, that I was totally stuffed and didn't eat my fruit and veg (although there was a load of leeks in the soup which was also one of Nigella's recipes, what would I do without her?).

Today I ate: -

• Quaker Oatso Simple
• Homemade cream of chicken soup
• Homemade Finnish rye bread, cheddar
• Ham and cheese muffin
• Houmus

Chicken and Mango Casserole

Borrowed Tana Ramsay's Family Kitchen from the library and I am making the chicken and mango casserole for dinner. Also making the kids the ham and cheese muffins for lunch. I am a terrible spoon-licker so I will have to avoid temptation or I will never look like the glamourous Mrs Ramsay!

Today I ate: -

• Super high fibre cereal
• Half a carton New Covent Garden lentil and smoked bacon soup
• Ham and cheese muffin
• Chicken and mango casserole, basmati rice, baby corn, carrots, peas

Date Night

Beloved and I are going on a date tonight. This is usually an excuse to eat vast quantities of high calorie food. I am going to make a sensible choice this time. It's good to get out, we have been so work orientated lately. Feels like we haven't looked up from the plough for a long time.

Today I ate: -

• High bran seed with cranberry bagel, honey
• Smoked mackeral salad
• Greek meze
• Strawberry cheescake

NB. The cheesecake was so not worth it, next time I shall ask if it's handmade.

Banana Bread Alert

A birthday at work today so I made Nigella's banana bread as I wanted to avoid the temptation of batter and frosting. As I was heating the sultanas with the dark rum the rum caught fire. I panicked and instead of covering the pan with a lid I tried to blow the fire out. The resulting mini-fireball burned off a small amount of my hair and about 15% of my left eyebrow. Baked goods are dangerous!

Today I ate: -

• Super high fibre cereal
• Half a carton New Covent Garden smoked haddock chowder
• Smoked mackeral salad
• Pineapple

Not so smoothie!

Channeling Gillian McKeith I made a mango and papaya smoothie. The children rejected it and Beloved said it was really, really nice in the voice he uses when he's trying to give the correct answer.

Today I ate: -

• Rude health muesli
• Half a carton New Covent Garden broccoli and stilton soup
• Home-made ciabatta with cheddar
• Mango and papaya smoothie
• Sausages and baked beans
• Toast

Happy Chinese New Year!

Saturday 17th February 2007

Went to the Funfriends this evening for a Chinese New Year celebration. They aren't Chinese and neither are we! Apparently it is the year of the pig, how appropriate!

Today I ate : -

• Rude Health muesli
• Salad with hoummus (hoummus was re-called from Tescos due to a salmonella alert but as I had already eaten half the tub and I have been feeling fine I risked it!)
• Vast Chinese banquet
• Creme brulee ice cream
• Australian Rocky Road chocolate

Warthog!

Took the kids to the zoo today as it was the last day of our half-term holiday. We weighed ourselves on the zoo scales and discovered that Youngest is the weight of a porcupine, Eldest is the weight of a beaver and I am the weight of a warthog!

Today I ate: -

• Quaker Oatso Simple
• Hoummus, brown rice, salad
• Clementine
• Pork chop, apple ring, celeriac rosti, carrots, cauliflower, onion gravy
• Bakewell tart

Am I What I Eat?

Scared back to the blog by Dr Gillian McKeith. My newspaper tells me that she is possibly not a real doctor!

Today I ate: -

• Rude Health organic ultimate museli
• Greek salad
• Persimmon
• Pan-fried trout fillet, brown rice, orange pepper and red onion salad, watercress and baby leaves
• Pineapple

Picked up my kids from my Mum this evening and they had made a Bakewell tart. It is calling me from the kitchen

You know you want me, come to me, sink your teeth in to my moist, fragrant loveliness.

HELP ME!!!!!

Guiness is Good for You!

Big baking day today! Made Nigella's chocolate Guiness cake for a birthday at work tomorrow of a Guiness fan. I also bought the ingredients for Guiness ice cream perhaps I'll make that next week. I did make Key lime ice cream though.

Today I ate: -

• Quaker Oatso Simple
• cake batter and frosting
• Crottin de chevre with sliced tomatoes dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, Maldon salt, black pepper
• Natural bio-live yoghurt with blueberries
• Pork tikka masala, basmati rice, runner beans, carrots, garlic and coriander naan bread
• Key lime ice cream

Exercise: -

• Walked the school run

Winter Wonderland

24th January 2007

Snow! Our town usually closes down after more than three flakes of snow. School is still open though but because of my work schedule today I have to drive kids there.

Went to the pub this evening with Funfriend and Neighbourfriend. Neighbourfriend's partner has left her. He needs to "find himself". I suggest he looks up his own backside. I hardly ever drink alcohol and after a pint and a half I felt completely drunk. Had a nice conversation and some cheese on toast with Beloved when I got home.

Today I ate: -

• Toasted bran, seed and cranberry bagel with honey
• Left-over cold pizza
• Spagetti bolognese, runner beans
• One and a half pints of cider
• 1 piece of cheese on toast

Exercise: -

• Not much, snow excuse!

Of Mice and Men.............

23rd January 2007

The best-laid plans...............

All ready for a healthy day with time for a trip to the gym and then Youngest was off school! I took him to work and he was angelic. Then we played. So, no gym.

And then the Funfriends and Neighbourfriends came round to watch the football. Funfriends are big fans of Wycombe Wanderers! (maybe their only fans hahaha) The Funfriends came in took off their coats and said "Pizzas will be here soon!" Then gave me a bag of Maltesers, Skittles, Marshmallows and Revels. Ring on the doorbell and Pizzaguy is there with a stack of pizza boxes. Neighbourfriend arrives with huge bag of beer and wine!

Today I ate: -

• Super high fibre cereal
• Left-over cauliflower cheese and salad
• Barbecue chicken, basmati rice, purple-sprouting broccoli, carrots
• Natural bio-live yoghurt
• Pizza, garlic bread, Revels, Maltesers, Skittles
• Beer

Exercise: -

• Not a lot, didn't even walk to school as Youngest was off.

The Pursuit of Happyness

Hello, did you miss me?

I went through a door marked Christmas and like Alice in Wonderland when she followed the white rabbit through the rabbit-hole I fell and fell and fell. When I landed I climbed on to my bathroom scales and found that, as if by magic, I was the same weight as the day I started this blog. Ho-hum!

The Unbearable Heaviness of Being is not my weight it is in my heart and soul. I am going to try and have a more honest new year and fix my life. If my weight gets sorted out on the way then great.

Also, blogfans, you'll notice a new section in this years daily up-dates, EXERCISE!!!

I have decided not to weigh-in until I'm back to where I was in December so as not to discourage myself.

Today I ate: -

• Super high fibre cereal (Dorset Cereals)
• Salad with hummus
• Slice of pineapple
• 1 low-fat sausage, cauliflower cheese, purple-sprouting broccoli, carrots, sugar-snap peas

Exercise: -

• 40 mins cardio-vascular
• 20 mins weights