My Diet, Week 9 - Day 56 & 57

Monday 12th November 2012

Breakfast: Scrambled Egg, Warm Drink

Lunch: Smoked Peppered Mackerel

Dinner: Chicken Oat Bran Nuggets

Snack: Natural Yoghurt (I didn't have this snack but my OH did)

Weight: 9st 2.75lbs

Weight Loss: 1.75lbs

Total Weight Lost: 1 stone 5.25lbs

Unfortunately I am working most of today so am not able to get a walk in, and then I have guests over for more birthday celebrations (although it's still not my actual birthday yet). Will try to make up for it tomorrow.

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Tuesday 13th November 2012

Today it is my birthday and so I decided to treat myself to a small slice of my birthday cake, I know it's not allowed but up to Sunday (and now today) I haven't had one thing that is not allowed, so I am not going to beat myself up about it.

I have a box of fudge, bought for me a while ago, sitting around, staring at me, which I have resisted for 8 weeks, now I have been bought a box of chocolates which I shall have to resist too. But ... the carrot cake was too much and I had to succumb.

Breakfast: Natural Yoghurt, with low cal sugar, mixed Spice & Goji Berries

Lunch: Small slice of birthday Carrot Cake (with the 2 finger kitkat edge and M&M topping

Dinner: Depends what someone else will cook for me, or buy in (actually it ended up being Chilli Con Carne which I made myself, so no special birthday meal cooked for me).

I went for a walk today, and met up with my friend for a drink at Costa, then carried on my walk, I was walking for 50:42 minutes covering 2.44 miles and burning 186 calories (pretty sure that does not cover the calories in the cake - oops)

My Diet - Day 52, Day 52 & 53

Wednesday 7th November 2012

Breakfast:  Ham & Scrambled Egg

Lunch: Hard Boiled Egg

Dinner: Kebab/ Asian Meatballs (I actually intend to make a cross between Asian Meatballs & Kebab Meatballs) 

Snack: Low Fat Yoghurt (again)

The kebab meatballs were lovely, as usual,as was the gravy which was from the Asian Meatball recipe. However, I did amend it slightly, my OH is not keen on garlic so I didn't add it to the gravy especially as there was garlic in the meatballs, I had no white vinegar so used balsamic vinegar instead, which I checked and is ok to use on the Dukan Diet, I also had no spring onions left so omitted them. It still tasted divine.


I went for a longer walk today, makes up for my slackness recently, I was walking with my friend and her puppy so slightly slower pace, but nevertheless a good bit of exercise. The walk was for almost 1 hr 6 minutes, covering 2.94 miles & burning 222 calories.

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Thursday 8th November

Breakfast: Low Fat Natural Yoghurt, with Oat Bran

Lunch: Grilled Smoked Haddock with salad

Dinner: Chicken Curry

I didn't sleep much last night and so am actually extremely tired today, so I'm not going out for a walk, however I will be moving belongings from one room downstairs to a cupboard upstairs today, so that should burn off some calories.

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Friday 8th November 2012

Breakfast: Low Fat Yoghurt, Goji Berries, Mixed Spice, Low cal Sugar

Lunch: Scotch Eggs

Dinner: Turkey Tikka Burgers

Snack: Yoghurt

I went for a 42 minute walk today covering 2.18 miles and burning 159 calories.

I didn't get around to moving stuff upstairs yesterday, so have done it today, totally cleared a room ready for my cousin moving in, only downside to clearing a room that has been used for storage is the dust, I am very allergic and my eyes are causing me terrible trouble tonight. Still it  will be worth it in the end.  

Think I'll just close my eyes for the rest of the evening now.

My Diet, Week 8 - Day 50 I'm Getting There Slowly, Day 51

Well here we are the start of another week and I still have not been tempted to sway from this diet. I was in a garden centre cafe yesterday and my OH said "go on have a cake, or tea cake, one won't hurt", I resisted the temptation. Although he is probably right when he says one won't hurt, but its not all about whether it will affect the weight loss, it's more to do with resisting the temptation, if I give in once, I might do so again. 

And ... also if I get a tasting for something "naughty" I'll want more and that is when I will find the diet a problem. I don't want that to happen, I am so near to my goal weight.

Monday 5th November 2012

Weight: 9st 4.5lbs

Weight Loss: 1.2lbs

Total Weight Lost: 1 stone 3.25lbs


Breakfast: Scrambled Egg, Warm Drink

Lunch: Grilled Mackerel with peppercorns

Dinner: Sticky Chicken Nuggets


Snack: Yoghurt


Alas, yet again, I didn't take any exercise today, this motivation lark is hard to get back, but in my defence I was working all morning and as I keep saying I am a morning person. Still I'm not going to brood over it, I'll get some in as and when I can. So long as I'm losing the weight I won't worry too much about it.

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Tuesday 6th November 2012


Breakfast: Oat Bran Vanilla Porridge, Warm Drink


Lunch: Tomato Soup


Dinner: Roast Chicken & Vegetables


Snack: Low Fat Yoghurt

Yay!!! I went out for a walk this morning :))  I was out for 37 minutes and walked 1.96 miles, burning 136 calories. I chatted to my mum on the phone throughout the entire walk, that made it less lonely and made the time pass quicker.

It also helped that it was a bright, sunny (& a little cold) morning. 

Guest Blog: Small Bits Of Fitness Add Up

Another Guest Blog that may interest you.

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Small Bits of Fitness Add Up

Exercise Comes in All Shapes and Sizes

-- By Liz Noelcke, SparkPeople Contributor

 

"Where did the day go?"

Is this a common question in your life? Many of us jam-pack so much stuff into our daily routines, seemingly there’s no time to relax for just one minute, let alone exercise. Lack of time is one of the most common excuses for not having a decent fitness regimen. But do you realize that in the time it might take you to go through your e-mail, you could fit in a good workout? We’re not talking about giving up 60 minutes either; all you need is 10.

Just 10?
Forget the "all or nothing" mentality when it comes to exercise. Fitness does not live or die by 60-minute workouts; there is middle ground. Short spurts of exercise, when they accumulate, have been shown to share similar benefits of longer workouts.

Your body will reap numerous benefits just by becoming more active. This approach is perfect for times when you don’t have time for a regular workout, or when you want to start off slowly and build up a routine.

Easier Than You Think
Treat these 10 minutes like you would a regular workout. Take 1-2 minutes to warm up and get the muscles ready, including stretching. Follow with at least 7 minutes of exercise at a medium or high intensity. Then make sure to include a 60-second cool down.

Since it’s brief, it’s important to work at a fairly high intensity to obtain all of the benefits. Work at raising your heart and respiration rates. Just like regular workouts, try to include cardio, strength training and flexibility work in your shortened routine. Either knock out all three during the 10 minutes, or plan a 10-minute segment for each area.

Example: Push out 10 cardio minutes on the stationary bike. For strength, do push-ups, wall sits, or lift dumbbells. For flexibility, it’s helpful to just stretch every day. Work different muscle groups and keep it simple. After 10 minutes, you will feel healthier and be on your way to developing solid fitness habits.

But I Still Don’t Have Time
It only takes 30 minutes a day, broken up into manageable chunks of 10. Start with a quick exercise when you wake up. The second session? A lunch break is possibly the perfect time to re-energize and get the blood flowing again. The last 10-minute blitz could come in the evening, even while you are watching TV. It’s an ideal way to involve the family as well. Go for a power walk after dinner with your spouse or ride bikes with the kids.

It is all about convenience; if you try, you can fit exercise into your schedule no matter where you are. Do it at home or at work, outside or in the living room. Start building exercise spurts into your daily routine and you’ll start feeling better.

My Diet - Day 44, Day 45 & 46

Tuesday 30th October 2012

Breakfast: Soft Boiled Egg

Lunch: Yoghurt (with low cal sugar & vanilla essence)

Dinner: Mustard Salmon

Snack: Oat Bran Ricotta Hot Cakes (without the ricotta, used cottage cheese instead)

I took my walk with my daughter today, hence the slower pace & distance, but still better than nothing. The distance was 1.4 miles over 28 mins and burning 108 calories.  I did intend to do some toning exercises also today, but I have had a bad headache all day and so haven't managed it, hopefully I'll get the opportunity tomorrow.

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Wednesday 31st October 2012

Breakfast: Lemon Zest Pancakes

Lunch: Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Dinner: Shepherds Pie with Swede Mash

Snack: Low Fat Yoghurt

My exercise today was 20 mins of toning and stretching. I know it wasn't the 30 I should have done but I'm sure I'll make up the extra throughout the week. As you can probably guess my inspiration for exercise has waned a touch, as I find it boring on my own, hopefully I will get back in the swing of it soon.  

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Thurdday 1st November 2012

Breakfast: Scrambled Egg

Lunch: Grilled Peppered Mackerel

Dinner: Chicken Curry

Snack: Oat Bran Pancake with Natural yoghurt 

I still haven't the inspiration for exercise and I'm ashamed to say so far today I haven't done any. I've said before, when it comes to exercise, I am very much a morning person, but this morning I was working, then I had my lunch and then the weather came over horrible. I know I shouldn't use excuses but I just can't be bothered at the moment. Hopefully tomorrow my exercise mojo might come back.  I just hope it doesn't slow my weight loss too much.

My Diet - Day 30, Day 31 & Day 32

Tuesday 16th October 2012

Breakfast: Vanilla Oat Bran Porridge, Cup of tea

Lunch: Chicken Pate

Dinner: Smoked Haddock

Snack: Diet Ginger Beer

Another walk with my son this morning, only for half of it but better than doing the whole walk alone. Distance was 2.17 miles, in 36 minutes, burning 170 calories.

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Wednesday 17th October 2012 

Breakfast: Herb Omelettte, Cup of Green Tea

Lunch: Crispy Ham (ended up not having this)

Dinner: Chicken Curry

Snack: Cinnamon Oat Bran Pancakes

My walk today was slightly under 35mins and I could have gone on for an extra 2 minutes, but I was home and couldn't be bothered. Anyhow, I covered 1.95 miles and burnt 149 calories in 33 minutes.

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Thursday 18th October 2012

Breakfast: Scrambled Egg with Cream Cheese, Cup of Green Tea

Lunch: Left over Shepherds Pie (yummmmm really love this dish)

Dinner: Fish Curry with Cauliflower "Rice"  (I used Salmon, King Prawns & Cockles as my fish, mainly for my OH's benefit. I didn't give myself any of the prawns or cockles)

Snack: Oat Bran Pancake

I need to do something different with my exercise as I am getting bored with walking on my own, so now is the time to get out my Wii fit board. I shall still do at least 35mins of exercise a day but it may not be the conventional types you've come to expect. However, what ever I do I shall make a point of listing it all. 

Today I did 35mins in total. (If you know the Wii fit you'll probably know which activities I refer to) I did 2 (short) sessions of the hoopla, 2 short sessions of the step aerobics, 2 short jogging sessions, 2 long jogging sessions & 1 "Island" jogging session ( "it" keeps telling me I am an expert in running and achieve over 100% every time, I can't say the same for the hoopla & step aerobics ... yet).  I did enjoy doing the Wii fit, quite a bit more than walking on my own, although I do like getting out in the fresh air.

My Diet - Day 18

I've had 3 walks today. The first walk was 30mins on my own 

plus 5mins walking with my friend and her puppy. The 2nd walk (much slower) was again with my friend and her puppy. 

And the 3rd walk was with just my friend. Think I have done enough for one day. Altogether I have walked for 1 hr 9 mins & 61 seconds, a total distance of 3.22 miles burning 250 calories.

Thursday 4th October 2012

Today's menu:

Breakfast: Vanilla Oat Bran Porridge, Cup of tea

Lunch: Crispy Ham & Egg

Dinner: Oat Bran Chicken Nuggets plus hard boiled egg

Snack: Glace Dukan Allegee (Ice cream) plus left over brownie from yesterday.

Well, the ice cream came out much better than I thought it would, a softer ice cream compared to what I've made before. I will certainly be making that again, maybe with cocoa powder rather than vanilla flavouring next time.  The chicken nuggets do not take long to make at all and are well worth trying, I've tried them hot & cold and like them either way.

Although I don't find protein only days hard at all, it does make me look forward to the protein & vegetables days.

Roll on tomorrow ...


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My Diet - Day 11

Another PV (protein & vegetable) day today, which is welcome - I do like my vegetables.

I did weight myself this morning - couldn't help myself. My weight has dropped 1.25lbs but I do realise, now that I am on the Cruise Phase of the diet, this may fluctuate throughout the week depending on whether I am no a P or PV day.

So today :-

Weight: 10st 0.75lbs

Weight Loss: 1.25lbs

Total Weight Lost: 7.25lbs

My 1st half a stone lost, I am very pleased with that and I am noticing that I am looking a little thinner.  I feel good, I am managing my walk each day without feeling tired, do I have more energy? I don't know, I always walk a lot anyway so I do have a fair amount of energy normally, I will have a think on that one and see in a few days if I feel more energetic.

Thursday 27th September 2012

Menu for today

Breakfast: 2 x poached eggs, Ham slices, tomato, cup of tea

Lunch: Shepherd Pie (left over from Tuesday)

Dinner: Chicken Casserole

Snack: Low Fat Yoghurt with Oat Bran

I went for my walk today straight from finishing work, the weather was, again, beautiful, just like a summers day. I managed 1.98 miles in 35.34 minutes, burning 156 calories, then I took the roof back on my car and drove home with the wind in my hair, it was glorious.

My walk will be later in the day tomorrow as I wont have a break from work til 3pm, I'm not keen on afternoon walks, I am more of a morning person but I shall endeavour to do my 30-35mins.

I have cooked Scotch Eggs for tomorrows lunch, I do hope they taste nice as its all I'm taking for my lunch tomorrow, I don't want to start looking around the local shop to see if there is anything tasty I can eat that fits in with my diet on a Protein only day.

Read Week 1 

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Read Week 3

My Diet - Day 9

I shall not be weighing myself every morning now that I am on the Cruise Phase of the diet, maybe once or twice a week. However I did this morning just to check that my weight had remained the same, which it had.

Compared to yesterday's weather it is like summer again today, so I went for my walk early (8.30am). I am trying to do 35mins rather than 30 a day, so that the extra minutes will add up to at least 30 by Sunday, just in case I don't get time for a walk at all. Today my walk was 2.09 miles and took 35.58 minutes, burning 166 calories.

My menu for my first PV (protein & vegetable) day is:

Breakfast: Lemon Zest Pancakes, Cup of tea

Lunch: Salmon Fishcakes

Dinner: Shepherds Pie with Mashed Butternut Squash (the recipe is for Shepherd's Pie Stuffed Pumpkin/Squash but I decided to mash it & lay it on top of the mince like a traditional shepherds pie)

Snack: Chocolate Milkshake

As I expected the pancakes were lovely as were the fishcakes, will definitely make both again. 

And ... the shepherds pie was heaven. Felt like I was eating a good substantial meal, with carrots, courgettes, onions & butternut squash, yummm.

Back to protein only tomorrow. 


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My Diet - Day 6

Happy to say another .5lb lost, have to admit I wasn't expecting that at all. My other half has now lost 9.5 lbs, another 4.5lbs for him and he will have lost his 1st stone.

Saturday 22nd September 2012
 
Weight: 10st 2.5lb

Weight loss: .5lb

Total weight lost: 5.5lb


Today's planned menu.

Breakfast: Cup of Earl Grey tea, Mint & Curry Omelette

Lunch: Ham & Turkey Crispies

Dinner: Roast Chicken, Oat Bran Cookies

It's my wedding anniversary today and my husband and myself were hoping to get a takeaway in but we have decided to wait until we have reached the Cruise Phase of this diet so that we have a slightly greater choice of what to order.

The weekend is always going to be harder for me, when it comes to the exercise, as I just want to sit down & relax, however I did force myself to go for my, almost 22 minute walk today. It was 1.27 miles and helped me burn 100 calories. I shall do my best to get a walk tomorrow, but if I don't manage it I know I have done extra minutes on other days this week which cover it.

Of the food I have eaten today the oddest one was the mint & curry omelette for breakfast, I am not big on omelettes but to have a curry flavoured one was weird.

I am at the moment planning my menu for next week so I can go shopping tomorrow for any extra foods I need. I am assuming I will still be on the Attack Phase, but if that changes I can always go out any buy some extra "permitted" vegetables.

Lets see what tomorrow brings.



Read Day 1 
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My Diet - Day 5

Well day 5 is here and a small amount of weight loss was noticed again this morning, only .25 lb but its all going in the right direction, so I'm happy, lets face it on any other week I'd be over the moon to lose 2lb, so to lose at least 5lbs in this 1st week is wonderful.

Once again I have experienced no ill effects from this diet & I really do not find it too difficult to stick. I am not, so far, missing chocolate or crisps & definitely not bread.  I think bread makes be feel bloated so recently I cut it out for a couple of weeks and it made a huge difference, so not having bread now is great as I don't feel bloated anymore.  I've also suffered with indigestion the last few weeks, which generally means, for me, that I am having too much fat in my diet, well there has been no sign of that all week so I am really pleased, indigestion/heart burn (don't really know the difference) is horrible.

Friday 21st September 2012

Weight: 10st 3lbs

Weight Loss: .25lb

Total weight lost: 5lbs

My menu for to day is:

Breakfast: Cup of Earl Grey Tea, Low fat yoghurt with Oat Bran

Lunch: Grilled fish (trout) with herbes de provence & black pepper

Dinner: Kebab Meatballs, Chocolate Milkshake

I do love fish so having trout again was a real treat & the meatballs were delicious.

I managed a 20 minute walk just before I started work today, burning 85 calories over 1.09 miles.

The weekend is next, this might be a challenge, oh and one of my clients gave me a box of Malteasers  today. I haven't  opened them but there is my next challenge, must not to be tempted.


Read Day 1 
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My Diet - Day 4

As expected, my weight loss this morning was less than on my other weigh-ins, I still recorded a loss but only 3/4 of a lb, but a loss is a loss. When I stop losing weight for 2 - 3 days it's then time to move onto the next phase of the diet, which includes veggies every other day, so the slowing down of weight loss I suppose is a plus.

I had a pain in my left side last night for a while, which was quite uncomfortable (maybe I poisoned myself) I'm not actually putting it down to the diet though as I've had this pain several times in the past & although not nice I know is nothing serious.

Thursday 20th September 2012

Weight: 10st 3.25lb

Weight loss: .75lb

Total weight lost: 4.75lbs

My menu for today is as follows:

Breakfast: Scrambles Eggs (with herbes de provence & black pepper)

Lunch: Grilled chicken breast (had with my dinner though as was working at lunch time)

Dinner: Chicken Curry

Snack: 2 Pink Cheesecake Cupcakes (made yesterday),  Oat Bran Ricotta Hotcakes (I can't find low fat ricotta so used low fat quark instead).

 Had a 25 min walk today around my work place, it was a distance of 1.47 miles and burnt off 130 calories.

The curry was delicious and the hotcakes were lovely too. I didn't have grilled chicken breast in the end but put the extra chicken in the curry.

I'm actually enjoying this diet as I am attempting new meals, which is always a treat when you tend to cook the same things week in week out.

Yet again I have experienced no tiredness, no headaches, no irritability so all is still looking good to progress. Looking forward to the Cruise Stage as you get to eat protein one day then protein & vegetables the next, and this stage lasts until you reach your goal weight.

Until tomorrow then ...

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My Diet, Week 1 - Day 1

So at the weekend I decided I really need to do something about my weight as it is slowly but surely creeping up again. I am now just over a stone & a half over weight - argghhh.

My cousins OH recently informed me of a diet she was doing and which seems to be pretty successful so I have decided to give it a go.

On Sunday I worked out a menu for the week and went shopping for food ready to start on Monday 17th September.

This blog may be boring for a lot of you but hopefully it will keep me on the straight and narrow.

The diet I am following is the Dukan Diet.

Basically it's a no carb, low fat diet - sounds pretty restrictive but I am still going to give it a go. I have tried the Atkins diet in the past which was ok and similar but on the Dukan, once you reach the 2nd stage you incorporate vegetables every other day so I am hoping that will make me a bit more successful than with the Atkins.

On the Dukan diet you are encouraged to drink at least a litre & a half of water a day - which is no problem for me as I do anyway. You are also encouraged to have, in the attack phase, 1.5 tbsp of oat bran a day & take 20 minutes of exercise.

So here goes:

Monday 17th September 2012

Weight: 10st 8lbs

Breakfast: Breakfast scramble plus a hot drink (no milk or sugar for me although you can have skimmed milk if you need it).

Lunch: Crispy Ham, Low fat vanilla yoghurt.

Dinner: Roast Chicken (no skin), Cinnamon Oat Bran Pancakes.

I completed a 37 minute walk in Letchworth which was 1.81 miles & supposedly, burnt off 142 calories.

I didn't feel hungry at all throughout the day and the food was all tasty, the cinnamon oat bran pancake was delicious, will definitely have that again. I bought the Oat Bran from Holland & Barrett as well as a packet of sugar free chewing gum for them moments when I feel the need for something sweet. I have to say I couldn't find oat bran in Tesco and was told that most supermarkets don't stock it.


Well my 1st day wasn't bad at all, lets see what day 2 brings ...

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