General Chat

Just one thing about FIT FOR LIFE...you will probaly find some of the recipes difficult as they use unfamiliar names for ingredients such as "A head of Romaine" meaning lettuce, Zucchini, Cukes (cucumbers) and a lot of U.S.brand names. It can be a bit irritating but...

Just ignore these and learn the basic principles of food combining first.

My all time favourite is this sandwich: 2 slices any brown bread. Thin sliced avocado, grated or thin sliced onion, grated carrot. Use mayonnaise sparingly to moisten the bread. Deeeeeelissshhhh!

There is a product called SPIKE in the book. I bought this in Canada and it is fantastic for veggie sandwiches. Totally natural. I eventually imported a big load of it and have a good stock in my cupboards including a salt free version.

Here's Health!

Hi everybody, I've found the book to download I have to buy from Amazon.com and it is nearly 10 dollars but I think I will buy it as it is more of a reference book and I would probably get my money's worth.

Have a good day tomorrow Cooper and let us know how you get on. In no time at all your clothes will be a little bit looser :-)

BC thanks for helping to keep us going. I enjoy motivating others and will keep the thread going as long as there is still interest in it.

Wendy

Good luck tomorrow, Teresa, and do make sure there are no goodies lurking in your freezer! :-D

Hope you are all doing well. I have downloaded that book to my Kindle, Malcolm. It looks very interesting and while I don't particularly need to lose weight at the moment I am lookiing for a better, healthy way of eating.

I shall be popping in to lend my support. :-D

BC XX

Hi everyone :-D I'm on a day off tomorrow and will do the 500 calorie day. I am in the middle of defrosting the freezer. It's empty at last except for a single certain brand ice cream bar, it was a shame to throw it out so I ate it!

I have eaten no other unhealthy things today, there is a turkey and veg casserole for tea and I had bran cereal for breakfast and marmite salad sandwich for lunch, I love marmite :-D

I have seen the book you mentioned Malcolm in the book shop. I will pop in to the library to see if they have a copy or if not treat myself to one. It's always worth looking at new ideas :-D

If I stay the same weight next week Wendy I will be happy. I feel much better for it :-D

I think this is a great thread Margot for support I think, keep popping in, I have already got some good tips and information.

I will pop in tomorrow with an update

Teresa

Once again, I can't recommend too highly the book "Fit For Life".

Calorie counting diets simply don't work because they leave you feeling unsatisfied, or filling yourself with starchy food substitutes and still craving for things your body, quite rightly, needs. (no, not chips - though you can still have some!)

Fit For LIfe quickly explains how your body uses foods and gets the best from them. If you combine your foods correctly you will have more energy as your body isn't wasting power trying to unclog your innards. You will feel brighter, sleep better, your skin tone will improve and you will lose weight as your system cleans itself and starts to fire on all cylinders.

This book is NOT a Diet...it's learning to look at foods as your body would wish. Shopping and eating become a different, healthy experience.

Having said that, good luck to all of you who are trying to improve your shape and your life however you do it!

Hi Malcolm, this afternoon I am going to look for the book you mentioned Fit For Life to download on to my Kindle, anyt book that has sensible info will help to inspire me.

Hi John, I am not surprised that your brothers weight went back on quickly as 27 lbs in 2 weeks is too much to lose and should only be done for medical reasons. On the subject of fasting Mormans do this once a week but they go from the middle of one day to the middle of the next.

Margot very well done to you for making the decision to try again. I have found that if I tell other people what I am doing I am more likely to stick to it. That is why I started this thread I thought if I came on here each day I would be more likely to stay committed.

Well as I said today is day 3 and my other day for 500 calories which so far is much the same as day 1. I have walked miles this morning up and down the roads of our hilly town, not by choice, I had to go to four different places all a long way apart. It is nearly impossible to find anywhere to park here so walking is easiest option.

I think one of the best aids to dieting is being motivated and encouraged by others which is what joining a weight loss club does for you. Your leader is a shining example but the important point is that she did not give up and has been doing it for 8 months now. Once we accept that the weight took a while to put on and will not disappear overnight we are on the right track. It really is necessary to get your brain into gear before operating your mouth! In just a short while someone will ask you "have you lost weight" :-D

Hello Wendy, Scozz,Teresa,etc,

I belong to a weight loss club also,it's like a cheaper form of Weight Watchers called TOWN-Take Off Weight Naturally. To my shame have managed to put ON
15 kilos over the last 12 or 13 years since I joined,so need to change something drastically.I did lose weight after reading that book that Malcolm mentioned-"Fit for Life,"it was very helpful,and made a lot of sense.

Losing weight is not rocket science-wiser food choices and more exercise-but I do struggle with feeling hungry.I've been very good today,in spite of eating lunch at 3.30pm after work, which usually wrecks my good intentions.I do struggle with the daily walking as well-motivating myself to get out of bed can be difficult,but with the nicer weather coming up now,it should be easier.Weigh-in day is Tuesday,will let you know my weekly progress.

I'm going to try to write down EVERYTHING I eat-no cheating-for 2 weeks,try to walk first thing in the morning for 20-30 minutes,and have a mug of hot water with a slice of lemon in it as part of my 6-8 glasses of water a day.

Part of my inspiration to lose weight is my Group Leader's results-a loss of 18 kilos since February-and she's a lady older than me,obviously with lots of will power.My weight is creeping on slowly but steadily,it won't go away without a lot of effort from me.

I will join you in your weight loss but will not join in the 2 days eating 500 calories.
I will try to eat sensibly and healthily every day,keeping myself accountable for what I eat by writing it down.

Good luck to everyone ,

Best wishes,

Margot.
:-) :-)

Well done, TS. Sounds like a good, healthy diet.

My brother went on a diet (must have been nearly 40 years ago). Lost 27lbs in 2 weeks. He ate nothing but meat, fish. No veg, no cheese, no fruit. Drinks were all low calorie, no sugar, just saccharin, black coffee. Wind everywhere, smelt like a toilet front and back. Stomach went down like a balloon being deflated and he did look very good. But all those 27 lbs crept back on in a very few weeks.

Fasting (which is basically what is happening here) has been considered healthy for centuries. In religious days, most families used to fast at least one day per wek - hence the term break-fast. I also found the Weightwatchers Diet to be a healthy way of shedding weight. And I found my best diet plan for free from the nurse in my local health centre about 10 years ago when BP was over 200 and I needed to lose 4 stones very quickly. :-) :-)

Wednesday 3rd October. Day 3

So far so good my meal out last night went well, Didn't have a starter passed on the bread which was hard to do as it is delicious, warm and it is heated over burning wood as was the chicken I had with my salad. Only had water to drink as I was driving and then a coffee. Felt full and quite pleased with my self.

The weight is going down after just two days and my stomach is definitely requiring less to fill it. I will wait for the full week to be up before I reveal all.

just had a phone call to invite me out to dinner, i hadn't planned on that. I have offered to drive so at least I can stick to drinking water which I have with ice and lemon. Also out to lunch Thursday and Friday, it's not normally like this but a couple of friends have birthdays to celebrate!! I will be good, I will be good, I will be good etc etc etc

Brilliant weight loss Teresa but don't be disappointed if you stay the same next week as a 4lb loss is without doubt partly due to you not being well. So get into your mind that you may stay the same next week when you weigh in and then you won't be disappointed, think of it as losing 4lbs over 2 weeks, a really good average. If you do lose it's a bonus. I promise you it does get easier as your appetite lessens and your stomach shrinks.

Do you exercise at all.

Wendy :-)

Hi Wendy, Scozz and gang :-D

I got on the scales last night at slimming club and lost 4lbs :-D :-D :-D . This may have a result on the bug I had at the beginning of last week but the weight has stayed off all week.

My days will be Thursday and Friday or Sunday. These are my days off and I have visitors for two of them to feed but I can get round it somehow. I am making better food choices and feel less hungry on the whole. Mind you I had breakfast at 6am and lunch at 1pm due to being at work. I could have gnawed the leg off the chair by lunchtime :-D

Teresa :-)

Hi Malcolm... I do agree with not eating everything on your plate which is something a lot of us were brought up to do. Ihave lost count of how many times over the years I have said 'I wish I hadn't eaten all that now' It takes a while for your brain to register that your stomach is full.

Exercise ... is not an hour in the gym or anything too strenuous it is obtainable by most people. Basically, to start with, it is just doing more that you do now and then as it gets easier building on this. For example if you do nothing at all at the moment and sit around all day (and I'm not suggesting that anyone on here does this) then just a short walk that you feel comfortable with is exercise. What is important is that you continue to do this walk each day if possible. It will soon become easier and gradually you will be able to walk further.

I walk quite regularly and so I aim to either walk a little further than usual or to do my normal route in less time, in other words to walk a little faster.

Nothing is banned in the 5 and 2 day diet but common sense needs to be used when making choices and just as importantly how much you eat of a certain thing. One square of chocolate or the whole bar!

Day 2 is going well for me so far so I am a happy bunny

BC thank you I hope i can report a good loss at next Monday at the end of week 1

Wendy

Well done Wendy and whoever else has started on this diet...Day 1 out of the way. Now the tough part begins!

:-D :-D <3

One of the best books I ever read was "Fit For Life" by Harvey & Marilyn Diamond. I instantly recognise so many of my own problems like taking Rennies to get rid of stomach acid.

It's basically about food combining, avoiding the creation of toxic acids in the body which need water to expel them hence we retain water and weight if we don't combine our foods correctly.

Eating "combined" is so easy, tasty and cost effective. Read thisbook, It will teach you so much.

One of the most important laws is NEVER OVEREAT. If you feel full you've had enough...don't just continue because it's there. Snacking is also a common problem. Never shop when you're hungry.

Exercise is vital. Get up and walk as much as possible or get a bike. Calories In versus Calories Out. It's simple

Tuesday 2nd October. Day 2.

Feel good, no hunger pains and I'm looking forward to day 2. As I had a good day yesterday I don't want to spoil it by going off track today. Yesterday was one of my 500 calorie days (600 for men) and today I can eat normally but still intend to be sensible. I didn't go for a walk yesterday as the need to watch Coronation Street on television was greater and it was dark by the time it was finished!!! I did do quite a lot of weeding and gardening. Today I WILL walk.

I planned to have chicken salad last night for dinner I thought there was some chicken in the freezer and there wasn't so I made an omelet to go with my salad. I used two eggs and filled it with one thin slice of chopped ham and a small amount of low fat cream cheese. It was delicious and filled me up.

This morning I am going shopping for suitable food to keep me going.

All in all I am happy with day one, didnt find it hard and feel good after it.

Hi Scozz, well at least you publicly confessed. Hope the fryer does the job. I know what you mean about the cost of electricity for putting the oven on for a few chips I feel the same about putting it on for anything when it is just for me. Unfortunately in the past this has led me to fry a lot more than I would normally.

Wendy

Confession

I couldn't sleep last night, so got up (about 2.30)...... ate a chunk of leftover lamb, two biscuits and drank a glass of orange. I think that would be waaaaaay over the 500 calories allowance when I start the diet.

BAD BAD girl!!

But today my new "dry-fry" thingiewhatzit arrived. I haven't owned a deep-fry thing for over thirty years! I make my own oven chips, but with the cost of electricity these days I really don't like switching on the oven just to cook chips for two people. This new gizmo claims to cook chips in 25-30 minutes, using only 1 Tablespoon of oil.

I'll try it tonight.

Does anyone have one of these?

No, I won't be eating chips every night!

And...... nowhere in the kitchen to store the damned thing! I had to rearrange shelves in the study. Very professional looking study, one shelf has kitchen appliances lolol

Ann thanks for posting and for the chocolate lite drink tip. I too have an under active thyroid which I've had for years and it is kept under control with thyroxine. Good luck with your diet

Wendy

I saw the programme and thought it looked good too. I have struggled with weight for years and have been told my underactive thyroid has an impact which is why I always have to watch what I eat. I have low calorie days, but not in a regular,structured way like in the programme.

Eating out can be tricky, but carveries are good if you stick to turkey and fill your plate with veg. Some do a child's plate size too which I find to be plenty.

One of the tasty meals I like on a 'low' day is my version of a ratatouille, made with 'mediterranean diet ingredients'. Fry and lightly brown some onion in a bit of olive oil, add a small tin of chopped tomatoes, some basil if you like and a sliced up red or orange pepper, add some garlic and simmer until the pepper is soft. I sometimes add sliced courgette for the last 10 minutes as well. It is nice on it's own or with a jacket potato or with a fillet of salmon and it seems to freeze quite well too.

Another thing I have found that works well for my choccaholic craving is to have a cup of O*valtine Chocolate Lite in the evening. It is much nicer than some of the similar drinks and if I have it to look forward to I find I don't bother with chocolate at all which has amazed me!

Good luck with the diet, I will pop back to see how you are doing and might join in.

I will keep you posted Wendy :-D

Teresa