Curry night

Friday and Saturday nights seem to be when we have the least will power and absolutely have to have a takeout, were usually tired from work and just want to sit down and have something a little naughty and flavorsome.

I now have an airfryer, my favorite christmas present last year.

So I thought id try an indian takeout style meal. I marinaded chicken thighs in a paste made from crushed garlic, garam masala, curry powder, ground ginger, ground coriander, ground cumin and ground turmeric mixed with a tablespoon of tomato puree, lemon juice and greek yogurt.

This went into the airfryer at 180 degrees for 12-14 mins to start in off and brown it a little, I then put these in the oven to finish off whilst i used the airfry for some aubergine cubes.

I put the aubergine ad some fried onions and mushrooms in my saffron rice, and I served the lot with some yellow lentils which I cooked with onions, some of my curry paste as above and some creamed coconut.

It was delish! just a little more effort than a takeout, the trick is commiting the night before, i.e marinading and doing some of the hard work ahead of time.

Thanks for reading,

Cookie x

Teryaki Chicken and noodles

A quick and simple dinner. I just marinaded my chicken in teriyaki sauce and honey and stirfried some peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, carrot and spring onion with noodles and a sachet of amoy hoisin stir fry sauce.

17 minutes in the airfryer at 180 and the chicken was lightly charred in the sticky areas and succulent in the middle. All in all a good mid week dinner, not too much fuss or too many dishes and relatively healthy.

Curry night :-)

I weighed myself this morning and saw results.. finally (I say finally I have only been doing the plan properly since 31st July) 3.5lbs loss :-)

I am looking to lose 20lbs minimum.

Today I started the day with a fruit smoothie made with a little greek yogurt, almond milk and some chia, flax and beetroot powder.

Lunch was some tomato and pepper with baked chevre goats cheese and 2 poached eggs. Lush! I smoothed some of the goats cheese on a spelt cracker and put tomato on, gorgeous!

For dinner I made a chicken curry, the sauce split a little as the other half was late home from work and it had been cooking for too long. Alongside I made red lentil dal, saffron basmati rice, onion and cucumber raita with cucumber and tomato.

Yum yum, but im very full now, was a little jealous of the other halfs naan bread to dip in the dal.

Cookie x

A detox day at work

Another successful..ish detox day, this time at work

I was very good, I started the day earlier than normal and sat down to scrambled eggs and a banana milkshake with coconut milk, a tsp of chia and flax and a tsp of beetroot powder.. delicious!
This may sound a lot but on Saturdays I am on my feet all day and I don't take lunch until 2.30, I am usually starving by 12pm though!

Success I didn't get hungry until about 2pm :-) I had my lunch at about that time, Fruit salad which consisted of blueberries, kiwi, peach and nectarine. I also packed a greek salad with tomato, cucumber, green pepper, feta and lemon and salt&pepper, again it was very nice, but I couldn't help but think a sandwich and a bag of crisps would have been more enjoyable.

Dinner was wheat free pasta and homemade bolognaise sauce with one spelt cracker and a dollop of my homemade aioli.

For a snack I split a 9 bar with my partner and had a smoothie which consisted of coconut milk, mango, strawberries, pineapple, melon and orange - YUM! :-D

Hoping for some sort of weight loss my Monday, but to be honest that's not really the point of detox but it would be a nice little bonus!

Cookie x

A successful detox day

Whoopee! I did well today.. I think!

I started the day with a mango

Most of my day has been spent cleaning, tidying and walking into town to collect shopping.

Lunch was tuna with my home made aioli and cucumber, lettuce & tomato.

For an afternoon snack I had a peach, I also made myself a smoothie from coconut milk, flax and chia seeds, strawberries and a scoop of beetroot powder. I bought the beetroot powder today and its really nice and sweet, love it!

Dinner was butternut squash and cauliflower soup with a hint of chilli, again it was very nice! I started by roasting everything except for the cauliflower.

I had a trip to Holland and Barrett earlier as soup is nothing without a little something to dip in it. Anyway on juice plus I read that you can have spelt, so when I came across some spelt crackers I just had to have them! They do come with quite a price tag though, £2.99 for 6!
I spread a little butter on 2 of them and they were nice if not a little overly crunchy. :-)

For a snack I have just shared another of the above smoothies with my other half as I really liked it!

Off the subject of eating I got my 1 month trial of capsules and milkshake powder yesterday, so I may carry on with my detox until next Friday or the Monday after perhaps, depends on how well I do..

I am looking forward to starting the supplements as I have heard good things, my friend who is taking them has said she has so much more energy than she did prior to using the supplements, she has said after taking it for 2 weeks is when she starting feeling better, fingers crossed this works out. and technically its not a diet, its a lifestyle as all im doing is eating cleaner, im not counting calories or completely cutting out carbs or fat.

Cookie x

Day 6

So as expected because of the weekend and inevitable lye ins the diet has gone to pit slightly.

I weighed myself when I woke up before it all went wrong. 76.8, so a 1.8 kilo loss over 5 days, not amazing but i'll take it.

Breakfast - I slept in so I missed this

Mid snack - blueberries and x 6 small salmon and cream cheese appetisers

Lunch - we went to subway and the other half had a foot long chicken temptation with sweet onion sauce, of which I had a bite.

I asked for a tuna salad box and was hoping for cheese and lots of southwest sauce, didn't get any cheese and they were being very stingy with the sauce so I think diet wise this was a good choice, it included to tablespoons of tuna mayo, lettuce, green peppers, some chopped olives, pickles, jalapeños, onion and cucumber.

Snack - x2 celery sticks with 30g soft cheese and wrapped with x3 slices ham

Dinner - Chocolate shake

So the other half ordered dominoes to eat whilst I enjoyed my shake although I did offer to cook him some dinner.

It arrived and I am not keen on the pizza but I love the garlic bread, of which he saved me 2 pieces which I accepted.. Doh! They were so good.

Now I'm eating strawberries..

Hopefully tomorrow will be better

Cookie x

Day 34 - PV

Yesterdays weight: 73 Kg

Todays weight: 72.5 Kg RESULT..so happy with that I am going to boots to get a receipt printed with that on the weigh machine!! okay so their machine I always way a little more and I have just scoffed a pound of salmon but hey it should be one of my lowest weigh ins there in years!! The pessimist/realist in me is thinking there will be a gain tomorrow but will hopefully leave me weighing less than yesterday..fingers crossed!!

Breakfast: half fat cheese with some salmony cream cheese in yum! thank god for m & s sandwich fillers (probably not the lowest in fat but i have eated in quite often and not done too badly.. the cheese is low fat and boy it tastes that way!)

Lunch: packet of smoked salmon 100g.. ugh I feel sicky smokey salmon overload!!
Saturday shopping times, going to get my boobies measured as im thinking they have shrunk somewhat..result again, I can almost reach my short arms around to fasten my bra as opposed to putting it over my head :-)
Need some trainers as the ones I bought in march are falling to pieces, obviously a sign that i walk a lot or I am so heavy that my shoes cave in..

Dinner: I made a vegetable moussakka using minced mushrooms, celery, carrot, and aubergine. I used a little cornflour and skim milk for the white sauce and half fat grated cheese, was rather yummy and had some low fat coleslaw with it, and OMG I was full so quickly I couldnt finish either!

Snacks: I may have a piece of diabetic chocolate or two later.. the coffee one is okay.

Summary: Well has been a good couple of days. I made an effort when I went out today, I put foundation on and heels, i must wear foundation like once a year I am a lazy bugger really. Felt good. Hope every one is having a wonderful weekend

Day 24 - PP

Yesterdays weight: 73.4kg

Todays weight: 73.6kg

Breakfast: not a weekend thing

Lunch: 2 boiled eggs with salad cream  light

Dinner: 2 chicken breasts with paprika and cayenne pepper barbequey seasoning with a small amount of

passatta and low fat sour cream and a baby bel grated over it.

Summary: well those laughing cow extra lights are no laughing matter, had a go,could not go through with it though, they are such an odd texture and taste powdery, maybe ill try them in something next time. Had my mum take a few photos of me today, starting to look a little better, well in comparison to the photos I made her take of me before going on holiday

In other news I had a call back from a local cafe owner who is willing to sell my wheat free cakes, so I am starting another blog, the gluten free bakery to go alongside this one.

March 2011            

August 2011

I have also noticed my face looks slimmer too, carb face gone

Day 23 - PV

Yesterdays weight: 73.8kg

Todays weight: 73.4kg at 7.30, then I woke up again at 2pm and was 73kg..things are happening, bit annoyed of wasting the day however.

Breakfast:

Lunch: Smoked Tuna mixed with a little light mayo and a light babybel grated on top. beetroot which was marinaded in chilli, a tomato.

Dinner: I marinaded some chicken in basil, mint and parsely which i wizzed with some low fat yogurt and a little tsp of oil. then baked the chicken thighs. I made a coleslaw by finely chopping 1 carrot, 1 small celeriac and some radishes (I added a red onion at the end so as not to turn everything purple) then i mixed with 4 tablespoons of low fat plain yogurt and 2 teaspoons of light mayo and half a teaspoon of dijon mustard and a squeeze of lemon juice.

I served the chicken with the coleslaw and this should probably count as a celebration meal, I chopped 4 thin slices of reduced fat halloumi and fried that in a teaspoon of olive oil, possibly could have used a little less. Although the meal was nice i would have preffered the cheese with a more spicy tomatoey chicken perhaps in a harissa sauce.

The slaw before I added the onion

Fried Halloumi - my favorite!!

The complete meal, was very filling but tasty

snacks: cup of earl gey tea with skim milk no sugar

Summary: well, quite a positive weekend, the weight is going in the right direction. I want to lose as much as I can now, as although im hoping I dont fall of the wagon in liverpool I dont think everywhere I go there will be the options plus I would really like a drink or two. Went to tescos today, oh my god the place was packed, night mare shopping on a sunday. I went at dinner time hoping people would be at home eating sunday roasts evidently not. Got some of the slightly naughty coconut yogurts for treat times. I also ot laughing cow extra light, now I have a bad feeling about this and perhaps light was light enough.. has anyone tried this?

Day 9 of Dukan - PP

yesterdays weight: 74.9kg lbs

Todays Weight: 74.6kg lbs

Breakfast: Lunch: 2 low carb gluten free sausages cooked on the george foreman grill with 1 slice of fat off bacon and 1 venison burger 1 tbsp ketchup low sugar/salt variety

Dinner: 1 piece poached salmon which I blended with low fat cream cheese 1/2 tsp tomato puree and lemon juice and wrapped in smoked salmon, this had a vile texture so I couldnt eat it all, and I was rather naughty indulging in 3 gherkins. I also was making flapjacks for my dad to take to work and ended up eating a small piece of apricot and a pinch of the mixture so bad but soo good.

Snacks: 3 tablespoons of low fat cottage cheese with some chopped onion to flavour and 1 slice of ham with a low fat laughing cow triangle.

Summary: I really think I am going to look at the scales and see a gain which is a pain because I have been so good for so long..just slipped up a little today.

Day 8 dukan PP

yesterdays weight: 75.2kg lbs
Todays Weight: 74.9kg on waking and 74.6kg after BM 164.78lbs  164.12lbs

 Breakfast: ice lolly made with low cal cordial. spray of oil fried 1 slice bacon and 2 sausages and an egg

Lunch: big breakfast was had!

Dinner: 2 venison and onion burgers from m&s, very nice with a heaped tbsp of low fat cottage cheese, 1 tbsp ketchup and 1 laughing cow light

Snacks: oatbran porridge with stewed rhubarb

Summary:

yesterdays weight: 75.4kg lbs
Todays Weight: 75.2kg 165.4lbs

 Breakfast: oatbran porridge with a little agave syrup, breakfast order at work, scrambled egg and 2 slices of bacon with fat off

Lunch:3 chicken kebabs dipped in a little heinz low sugar and salt ketchup, they literally stunk the office out.. wont be taking them to work again!

Dinner:really bored of beef so I had a little of the mince from yesterday and 2 low fat gluten free sausages fried in a spray of oil.

Snacks: low fat chocolate mousse, less than 5% fat

Summary: I am feeling quite satisfied today (maybe because I am full of food from day 5 onwards), not a huge amount of weight loss but again its in the direction. I have not been to the toilet since day 5 and even then it wasnt anything to write home about..sorry for posting that here but it has to be said, high protein and low fibre = constipation! I am going to have to get some herbal remedy on the go to help me go if this persists!

Day 6 of 'Attack Phase' Dukan

yesterdays weight: 75.6kg lbs
Todays Weight: 75.4kg lbs

 Breakfast: oat bran porridge with a little agave syrup and 1% fat milk

Lunch: 2 mini quiches made with serano ham and filled with bacon a whisked egg and etra light cream cheese, yogurt and I have had a packet of sliced chicken

Dinner: beef mince cooked with onion and bacon and tomato puree and a stock cube to make a bolognaise sauce, lots of seasoning

Snacks: raspberry flavour yogurt, gerkin x 1,

Summary: so todays been okay, not a huge loss but a loss not the less. I havent done too much excerise just walking to start with and when i fully introdue veg then I will get back to the gym, hopefully  I will have a tad more energy. my mum is encouraging me to do the full 10 days attack phase but i feel that a week is probably sufficient, not sure, i guess ill see if it stays this easy and I may consider it.

Day Five of ‘Attack phase’

yesterdays weight: 76.3kg 167.9lbs
Todays Weight: 75.6kg 166.3lbs

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs with ham and a cup of tea with 1% fat milk

Lunch:grilled chicken mixed with low fat yogurt and spices and a low fat vanilla yogurt

Dinner:2 pieces undyed smoked haddock seasoned with lemon and parsely

Snacks:

Summary: I am getting into the swing of things now, finally lost a little more getting me to my mini target almost..fingers crossed for tomorrow! I am finding that this diet works better if you enjoy cooking, which I do! I have made some little quiches using serrano ham in a muffin tin, mixing egg with bacon and low fat cream cheese and voila! - inspiration taken from flicking through plently of cooking magazines, I just cant stop buying them, only now I can probably eat about 10% of whats published in there - the rest needs adapting and theres a lot of explorative fun to be had there!

Day Four of ‘Attack phase’

yesterdays weight: 76.3kg 167.86lbs
Todays Weight: 76.3kg 167.86lbs no LOSS no GAIN

I am slightly disappointed that I havent lost any weight today, especially if i think about how many calories i am actually consuming. I will wait till my lady time is over and not get discouraged until then! I am thinkning of just eating protein until sunday to see how that fares.

 Breakfast: 2boiled eggs wrapped in ham

Lunch: Chicken legs in cajun seasoning, I have removed the skin after cooking. peach yogurt

Dinner: 2 very rare and very chewy beef steaks, oh my god! This is must how the models eat, chew chew spit..

Snacks: 1.5 tbsps of oatbran with 1% fat milk and a little agave syrup to sweeten, and a couple of no sugar coffees

Summary: So overall I am not impressed with the weight loss on a whole. I am hoping for a miracle tomorrow or atleast a loss of some description. I want to get to 75kg and fast, I havent seen that figure since march and I dont think its too unrealistic a goal..seriously?
I have had a read over the book (I ordered the downloadable version last night) and there is a lot of emphasis on water consumption so today I am making a consious effort to drink more water atleast 2L

Getting into the Dukan mindset

Weight on 6th August 2011 = 77kg 169.40 lbs (sort of day 1)


I have decided, something definately needs to change. Looking back at photos I feel rather distgusted that I have let myself get to this point.


I have decided to give the Dukan diet a go, it sounds crazy really but lets see if it gives the results as promised.


 So.. the initial phase of this diet is the attack phase, I have checked the website which recommends that someone of my weight does the attack phase for 4-5 days, I best go for 5.
No vegetables, I will miss them but alteast they can be introduced after the attack phase. No Carbs, I have given up wheat recently which has limited my carb intake so hopefully I should not find this part too taxing.
5 days with only lean proteins and less than 5% fat dairy. Bring it on!
Well, today is not my 1st official day, I need to eat what I have in the fridge but I am making a consious effort to implement some of the needed changes. I need to go shopping for the ingredients for the next weeks attack phase.


 SHOPPING LIST


Lean beef mince, bacon, chicken, smoked salmon, tuna steak - I can deal with that, I do feel the 72 allowed foods is rather restrictive but for 5 days and the weight loss promise I shall see if it is worth it!
Food diary
Breakfast/lunch : 2 egg omelette with cured meat and a coffee without sugar. 1 chicken leg
Dinner: 2 small tuna steaks with a soy and chili glaze, yellow capsicum pepper (I shouldn’t have really but just using up whats left - I officially start on monday)
snacks: 1 small piece wheatfree orange cake made with almonds and eggs and a spoonful of cream fraiche & a low fat yogurt (naughty again, I will have no slip ups tomorrow - fingers crossed!)


I have been using an online diet blog Buddyslim.com which is a huge help and provides tools and support necessary for weight loss!

SUMMARY


Okay so granted I haven’t been that well behaved today, I am learning adapting in preparation to taking this diet plan seriously. I have been shopping and looking into what I’ve bought its a lot of my favorite things. I will miss having vegetables to accompany them though, The attack phase is to be done between 2 and 10 days, I am thinking 5 days and maybe a few more if I can stand it, no promises yet. I need to make small goals as unrealistic goals always tend to fail! In the next fortnight I would like to lose 4kg, I will be laughing.. and hopefully not at myself in the mirror. I want to fit in my jeans, surely every woman carrying a little extra weight has some item of clothing that they currently have no chance of fitting into? Perhaps not..
Anyhow I have bought, baconm smoked salmon, prawns, steak, mince (mmm meatballs) and tuna steaks - All in all i’d say this is an expensive diet but if it works, then its worth it, and they are all things I thoroughly enjoy eating.
I am already excited for tomorrows brunch, I am planning a smoked salmon and extra light cream cheese omelette with chives I only wish I didn’t love food so much!