Changes in my life

I've not been about for a while! Sorry!

Having spent the last few months trying the Atkins diet and being fairly successful with the weight loss - I decided on something.

I had noticed that I was eating hardly any meat. I decided it was time for me to become a vegetarian! I was finding that I could balance the Atkins with my new veggie diet. It's a personal choice for various reasons and I'm not going to share them here as they are private. My husband says I was a veggie waiting to happen! Hehe ;-)

I'm still getting used to it! Thank goodness for my knowledge of reading labels!

I somehow managed to start eating loads of carbs again, hehe I blame the stress in my life. But I guess I had that choice not to!

Having been a sweetie fiend and since becoming a veggie I've given up eating sweets, as most of the ones I like have gelatine in them. Just the odd biccy. And I've noticed that I've not put on any weight for two weeks - and I've been over eating! Yikes. I must stop this pigging out on crisps and chips!

To my annoyance I found out that my beloved Lactase Enzyme has gelatine in it. So I've been looking into alternatives. Once I find one suitable, I'll probably post about it! I ate out today without using it for the first time and I was okay. I only had chips so I was probably fairly safe?

I will try to post here, don't worry I've not abandoned this blog! Not that anyone ever reads it apart from the spam bots! :-p

Atkins 2 week update

So I've been 2 weeks on the induction phase and I weighed myself today! Lost a stone :-)

It's been really difficult at times as I've been really craving chips (I do love spuds in any shape or form). I did find the first week really hard, but the second wasn't too bad.

I'm considering staying on the 20g or less for another two weeks to see how much I can lose then!

I find I'm hardly eating anything. I have a big ham and cheese salad at work then for dinner normally a few veggie burgers with cheese. I tend not to have anything else. Maybe once or twice a week I'll have a Peperami or some Fridge Raiders. I'm very limited due to the LI and also the fact I cannot eat really fatty meat as this upsets my tum tum. A Peperami is about my limit fatty wise.

I've still to overcome my fear of fish, sadly. I'm still working on it!

First day of Atkins

So today is my first day.

I've been off for a week and stuffed myself on lunches and dinner! I sadly put on some weight :-(

I'm back to work tonight and not feeling very confident either, been really tired and stressed about this. Not the ideal day to start a new eating regime is it!

Research

I've been researching what I can and can't eat on the Atkins. Obviously some of the stuff I CAN'T eat due to the lactose intolerance! There seems to be quite a lot actually. Looking back through my old food diaries and seeing how easy it is to eat just the 20g of Carbs a day (on the Induction). Cutting out all the junk and high carb crap I eat just now will not be easy, but I've done it before and know I'll be able to do it again! I'm actually looking forward to the hassle-free periods which I eluded to in an earlier post about the 5:2 diet.

I ate cod for the first time in years, yesterday. It was really nice and I enjoyed it. I've been trying to tell myself to love fish! Been using simple NLP techniques as fish was a big fear of mine before! So the cod is a good step. Hubby plans on cooking some salmon for dinner in the next few days. I do remembering liking salmon before.

It will be interesting to see how I manage the Atkins with the intolerance! I'm hoping to lose at least 4-5 stone, that sounds so much but hey.

Oh dear

Yikes it's been like almost a month since my last post!

Been so tired with working nights - boo!

I've also given up the fasting and decided I need a more radical weight loss plan and have decided to try the Atkins again. I'll be starting it in a few week times so will hopefully be posting all about that. I've been looking into it the last few days. Thank goodness for low carb veggie food, fish and zero carb cheese! Roll on the salads as well. No no I don't mean I'll be having rolls on salad doh!

So let's see how my weight loss journey goes and see how I cope with being lactose intolerant too!

Mug Shot Mediterranean Style

This isn't one for a fasting day! Too many cals!

This one tastes nice and it has olives. I truly love olives. Some people don,t but I do! This one takes a little longer to brew as it's pasta. I usually leave it standing for about 6 mins at least after the first initial stir.

Not been about

So I've not been about in a few weeks. Been ill loaded with the cold, but I'm on the mend now.

Didn't fast the whole time I was ill and put on 2kg :-( Boo. Back on the fasting did my first last night and this morning.

Got some new goodies to post about so will hopefully get to that soon. This may be why I put on the weight!

Darn illness :-(

Asda Free From "Lactose" Chocolate and Hazelnut Spread

I was a bit apprehensive about buying this but hubby said I should be fine. As I don't suffer from a milk allergy and it is lactose free after all.

Well let me tell ya it tastes awesome. Just like I remember Nutella tasting! I've had it a few times with waffles and the like and not a thing. It's safe for me! I'm now tempted to use it in cooking, somehow.

Asda Smoky Barbecue Flavour Triangles

These have to be one of my fav crisps ever.

Tho hubby would probably say thay aren't crisps!

They do taste of a smoky barbecue type flavour and are very moreish and they aren't perfect for sharing as I eat them all hehe. Hmmm yeah I do love these :-)

Asda Free From Choc Bar

This is nice.

But not as nice as: Orange Choc Bar! I'd have it again tho ;-) Ironic really that I love chocolate and I'm LI!

5:2 update

So continuing on from my last post. I've not had any bad pains, cramps, mood swings or otherwise. It's been really heavy, but haven't noticed any negatives. So this is good. I weighed myself and was still the same weight! I blame the period, as it adds weight and makes you bloated.

I had quite a bad back pain but I'm not sure this is related to my period, maybe? It seems to have gone, probably helped with the aid of some ibuprofen and Ralgex spray!

Here's how I fasted so far this week (updated):

Monday - normal day
Tuesday - fast started at 1am (when I went to bed)
Wednesday - stopped fast at 7am then had a big meal and started fasting at 8am (madness I know)
Thursday  - stopped fasting at about 8.30am and had too much to eat - was bloody hungry! Started fasting again at 6pm
Friday - stopped fasting at 9.30pm
Saturday (today) - still off the fast and not sure when to start again, maybe mid afternoon.

5:2 Update

So my fasting has gone quite well and had been losing a few kgs but I was on holiday last week and didn't fast at all - naughty. Had too many outings and lunches and whatnots to go to - that's my excuse anyway. I thankfully had only put on a few kgs. My scales are rubbish (cheapo from Ikea) and the kgs part is easier to read and see than the lbs, that why I'm using kgs instead.

I was back at work the other day so started fasting again. It's like I'll fast for 24 hours then eat a big meal then back on the fast again.

Sadly I've got my period just now, so have been fasting more than not as I don't want to go through the terrible pains I went through before at new years :-( At least it's on time roughly, which is always a problem with me.

I'll update this on my progress and how it will effect my pains, hormones and mood.

Here's how I fasted so far this week:

Monday - normal day
Tuesday - fast started at 1am (when I went to bed)
Wednesday - stopped fast at 7am then had a big meal and started fasting at 8am (madness I know)
Thursday (today) - stopped fasting at about 8.30am and had too much to eat - was bloody hungry!

I'll have my dinner soon then start fasting about probs 6pm and goodness knows what I'll do after that, haven't thought that far ahead! I probably won't fast on Sunday or Monday as I have a lunch planned.

I haven't weighed myself, will do that when I come off my Friday fast!

Asda Free From 4 Cherry Bakewell Tarts

Hubby bought these for me at Christmas, they were almost out of date by the time I got around to eating them.

They tasted quite nice and I enjoyed them. I'd say tho, they didn't really look like the picture! The fondant was slightly messy and all over the place and the cherry weren't the central. Too critical perhaps! I'd buy them again for sure!

Lazy Day Foods Free From Millionaire's Shortbread

I picked this up in Asda a good few weeks ago. I had fancied some Caramel Shortcake and this is it!

You get a few bites out of the pieces. I think it tastes okay and would have it again for sure! The chocolate is lovely and the shortbread part is nice too. And the caramel, well yum yum!

I noticed both Tesco and Asda carry this brand, but different items.

Asda Toffee Popcorn

Spied this in Asda over Christmas, so not sure if it is still available. Not been to Asda in a wee while! Hubby does most of the shopping.

This is very tasty and buttery (no butter) and toffeey (did I just make up a word)! The only issue I had with this was that some of the kernels hadn't popped, so be careful with your teeth!

Mug Shot Spicy Tomato

Another Mug Shot, not ideal for a fasting day as this one is quite high in cals.

Oh man they ain't lying when they say 'spicy'. The first time I had this it nearly blew my head off. My lips were nippy for a while afterwards! I liked it but I think it was too spicy for me. The only other time I've eaten one is when I was a bit bunged up and it certainly did the trick clearing me. So I'll probably have it when I'm bunged up again. I tend to have spicy things when I've got the sniffles or issues with my nose. Since having the sinusitis, these things seem to happen more often :-(

Lee's 14 Mallow Dreams

I've been tired a lot recently so not really been posting! Oh dear.

I picked these up in Home Bargins just before Christmas. I was quite surprised to fine that I could actally eat them! These things normally have milk in them.

They are very jammy! I found the problem was I wanted to eat them all :-( they are very tasty.

Love coconut too!

Rochester Grape Vine

Picked this up in H&B just before Christmas, I think they had an offer on! It's really tasty, I think! And it didn't last long. Better than Shloer for sure and more expensive.

Asda Free From Jam Tarts

Hubby picked these up for me a Christmas time. They are okay, nothing great!

I think because they are gluten free too, they are quite heavy. The filling is okay, but nothing special.

I doubt I'd buy them again, or even get hubby to buy them again. There are other better Free From cakes out there!

Asda Free From Choc Orange Bar

Yum yum!

This is very very tasty and very orangey! Yum yum indeed. They currently have it for 45p. Not great for a fasting day tho ;-)

New York Bakery Co 4 Blueberry Bagels

Hmmm more bagels!

These are quite sweet and have lots of blueberries. I usually toast them and have them with marg.

The other day I had them with bramble jam, which was nice - sugar overload tho!

Mug Shot Peri Peri Flavour

I'm fasting today, so don't fancy posting anything too high in calories. Just finished a rather strong decaf coffee and I still feel like I'm flying lol!

I tend to eat these on fasting days or when I've come home from a hard nightshift! This one is quite spicy with a little kick, but not too bad. I do like the fact it has sweetcorn! I love sweetcorn. Yeah it's nice and I'd buy it again!

Asda Free From Belgian Chocolate Rocky Road

OMG!

These taste amazing and just as I remember rocky road! They are very moreish and my waist line has suffered lol! I will certainly be buying them again and may even try to make my own at some point!

Get them now :-)

Fabulous Fudge Factory - Dairy Free Fudge

This was a Christmas gift from my Husband. Oh how he knows me!

This is very, very tasty. It tastes just like I remember fudge tasting lol. And so vanilla-ish too :-)

No calorie info but I won't be eating this on a fasting day!

5:2 Diet, well sort of!

Sometime last year me and the husband started doing the 5:2 diet. We both fasted on the same days, which was easy for us both. I found it okay and kinda got used to the fast days, drinking plenty of tea/coffee/water helps! Hubby lost quite a lot of weight but I lost it a little slower.

About October time I decided to try fasting for 3 days instead of 2. This worked fine and it didn't really bother me. I had a few bad days where I had bad shakes and didn't feel great, but this tends to happen maybe once a month.

I suffer from terrible, terrible period pains and I found the fasting really helped with that. I've been to the docs so many times and I refuse to take the pills they have on offer (stubborn). I had previously tried the Atkins diet, which is quite difficult if you are LI even with eating cheese! I found this really made a big difference and didn't have any problems whatsoever: cramps, mood swings, messy hormones and general feeling like crap. Haha most of the time I forgot I had a period at all! One thing led to another and my lactose intolerance was too much of a barrier for that diet.

I stopped for two weeks during Christmas, fatal! So over the festive period I decided to try one day fast, one day normal, one day fast and so on. Just to see how I get on. I guess I'm playing about a little with it. If I'm not that keen on it then I can always go back to 5:2. I work nightshift and find this can be a bit of a pain, but I get around it.

So we'll see how I get on with it!

Vegetable Oxo Cubes - nice drink

I often find myself wanting to drink something different from tea or coffee. Enter the Veg Oxo cube!

I usually add a little salt to mine, as I feel it needs some! I think it's about 14 cals per drink too.

Bendicks Bittermints

Oh I love these!

I picked these up in Tesco when they were 2 for £6. They are normally quite dear so I was happy to pay £3 for a packet. I used to eat the other Bendicks mint selection pack but they may have milk in them, where as these ones don't!

If you like mints and dark chocolate, you are bound to love these!

Home made dairy-free Vanilla Cheesecake

I sometimes cry at the price of some of the dairy free cakes, so have decided to try and do some baking myself. I'll find a recipe then follow the instructions vaguely, sometimes I fail but sometimes my hap hazard approach works! Mr non-LI keeps telling me to follow them!

So enter the vanilla cheesecake.

What you need:
Digestive biscuits - I used these
Marg - Vitalite
Tofu - big block that I got from the Seewoo
Maple Syrup
Baking tin - one with removable base is best
Oven
Patience

Beat up the digestive biccys so they are crumbs. I put a few into a sandwich bag and beat them with a rolling pin. Makes a terrible noise that scared my cats! But it works. Once you have enough for a thick base melt some marg, about 1/4 of the tub (Vitalite).

Mix the melted marg and crumbs in a bowl then transfer to your baking tin. Press down and try not to burn yourself! Put to one side.

Now in a bowl break up the tofu (about 500-600g worth). Add about 80-90mls of the syrup. Blend with an electric handheld blender. Once it is of smooth consistency, taste to make sure it's sweet enough. If you want it more vanilla like, add some essence. BUT I find the maple syrup does the trick!

Pour the consistent mixture on the base (in the tin), spread evenly.

Pop into the oven for about 20 mins at gas mark 7. Or 200 C.

The result:

Many inches added to our waist and many lbs gained.

I don't claim to be the world's best cook ;-)

Asda High Juice Orange & Mango

Another artificial sweetener free diluting juice!

This one tastes okay, but you can really taste the mango. I can't say I'm that fond of it and I've not purchased it again.

I may buy it again, I may not!

Asda 6 Mince Pies

Happy New Year!!!

I had hoped to post this sooner, but I've been a little out of sorts the past few days. I'm a good bit better.

I was looking for mince pies that I could eat and most seemed to have butter or milk products in them, then I stumbled across these in Asda.

These are very tasty and I wanted to eat more lol! You can really taste the orange peel and the spices. I think they are lovely and hope they produce them again this Christmas. :-)