Onwards And Downwards Continues In April 2013

[AB Editor]

Hello all,

I heard the other day that fat-free salad dressing is one of the biggest "No No's" you can eat, mainly because of all the extra stuff they put in to replace the fat!

So as we are almost heading into salad season (even if the weather doesn't quite agree yet) how about some low calorie salad dressing recipies or even some interesting salads that might not need dressing?

We welcome anyone serious about losing weight and we offer support and kind thoughts - not magic fixes, just sensible help.

Don't forget your weekly weigh on Wednesday and remember we don't judge!
Here is last months thread

[xstitcher]

Good Morning All,

I find myself in the same situation as yours Maydup. I'm sorry that you are feeling down about it. That is how I felt when I started this thread. I get the feeling that there are quite a few of us out there just dangling about waiting for something to happen and nothing does. In my case it is usually the size of the portions I am eating albeit good healthy food. I know if I remove myself from the table as soon as I finish and go and do something that takes my mind away from food within 20 min. I am feeling very full. Instead of thinking dress sizes how about settling for one pound down for next week....that is quite obtainable and might put you on the right track again....good luck.

[RATTER15]

Well im very pleased, I have lost just under 3lb but im still just over the 13 stone mark, I thought I may have got under 13 stone but it didn't happen. either way im still pleased. will be under 13 for next week I hope!

Onwards and downwards.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm really getting fed up with this. It's making out I'm UP yet another ½lb. Not sure I have the enthusiasm to bother at this rate. It's no wonder the last time i actually achieved a loss it just crept back up again. Sorry, I was really anticipating a decent result this week.

[RATTER15]

OG, sorry to hear it isn't going so well, I think you need to kick the bread into touch mate. Ive just switched to weight watchers harvest brown, 48 calories a slice, it doesn't make great toast as it gets very brittle but apart from that it is fine. I know you are reluctant to give up on your home made bread but...

[Old_Geezer]

Re the flour question. I may be the only one interested, but so far I've managed a trip to Tesco and noted what the nutrition stated on the packs are for the various bread flours, and the upshot is there seems little to choose between them: which I suppose is to be expected given that they are all wheat flour.

The one interesting pack was the Tesco Crusty Bread Mix, which whilst coming in small bags, was a little lower, possibly because it has an unspecified portion of chickpea flour in it ?

Calories per 100 grams
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Allinson's Strong White 342
Allinson's Very Strong Wholemeal 335
Dove's Farm Wholegrain Spelt 330
Tesco's Crusty White Bread Mix 245
Tesco's Organic Strong White 345
Tesco's Strong Brown 335
Tesco's Strong White 345
Tesco's Strong Wholemeal 335
Wright's Strong White 341
Wright's Wholemeal 310

Not sure comparing further bags in other supermarkets will add much. Need to try to find advice on what other flours can substitute for part of the wheat and lower the calorie count.

[Old_Geezer]

If i kicked that into touch I can't see the quality of life making losing weight worthwhile. It fills me up. Besides it wasn't a problem last time. I need a different solution but I'm not sure what. Maybe I could cut down if i stopped my woman making them for me, but even then I'd need something just as filling as a substitute.

[Old_Geezer]

Or, of course, I could freeze half a loaf each week, have it the next, but the substitute issue would still be there. I'm not going to sit there continually thinking about how I want something.

[wendilla]

Very interesting reading but only one solution cut down on the bread. I dare not make bread as I find I eat more of that.
I completely forgot to weigh when I got up but will do it first thing tomorrow.

[xstitcher]

Oh dear OG I share your bread problem. I think I shall start by cutting it down slowly...one slice of toast in the morning instead of two...see how that goes, then one slice to make ½ a sandwich at noon with soup, salad or something but that will be after a week of the first cut down. I'll begin tomorrow...I'm sure all you "cut out the bread people" are right....care to join me OG??

[Old_Geezer]

At present I get given a loaf a week, and not wishing to waste food (nor gift) I use it. But to be honest I tend naturally to eat that much each week anyway.

In some ways I think my bread intake is getting more attention than it warrants. I first mentioned it because I realised I had been counting a slice of bread at a lower value than it turned out to be. But it clearly hasn't been an issue when I first started so I'm unsure it is the single cause of problems now, now that I know I was undercounting it. Just one thing to irk.

Been trying to cut them 'thin sliced' since, but it isn't easy. Bread seems to have a mind of it's own, whatever corner one isn't looking at whilst one slices, that the one which will either reduce to zero, or increase to triple width. I'm unsure how it does it. Turning the bread around as one goes helps.

I need to work out how to take in less each day without feeling deprived. I'm not sure how, to be honest, but I'll give it some thought. Perhaps some things have been creeping up. I'm wondering if I can somehow get into the habit of having the evening meal within minutes or getting home, rather than thinking, "I can't be messing about in the kitchen immediately, i need a break, what low cal things can I have to keep me going." I suspect that may be an issue, but what meal is ready immediately anyway ?

[xstitcher]

I'll take that as a no OG......

[wendilla]

Maydup since Xmas I have hardly shifted anything as long as I stay the same I don't get too worried but I know I cannot stay the same I have to shift this stone. Xstitcher has given you good advice just go for a pound I know it will take longer but will be worth it in the long run. I will weigh tomorrow as I forgot this morning. Good luck.

[RATTER15]

OG, try a banana or full fat yoghurt, I just have 100 grms on my sliced banana, not very low in calories but it is very filling, I also have an apple if I am fighting an urge to eat something. Apples are very low in calories.

[xstitcher]

An apple always fills me after a meal. I think it is because I am not particulary fond of them so they don't give me the "I want more" feeling. Quite often I just have ½ an apple cut up into bits.

[RATTER15]

Here you go OG.

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/230910681636?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&;cbt=y&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&;ff13=80&ff14=63

[Old_Geezer]

:-)

Got one of those stored somewhere Ratter. Used to be my woman's, she didn't get on with it, gave it to me, I tried it and didn't either. Back of some cupboard somewhere.

Yes fruit. I have been contemplating it. I'm not eating much fruit at the moment since they aren't so appealing, and they don't really have an effect for long. I sometimes have an apple mid afternoon, but chances are 30 minutes later I'm wanting something else. But it may cover in the evening though. Full fat ?!?!? Hmmmm.... I'll check it out. Cheers both.

[Jan1957]

Sometimes it does help to change around what you eat Maydup. I love bread, pasta and rice but find I can only eat it now and again, maybe once or twice a week, or it affects my weight loss. I got fed up wasting bread so now freeze it in sandwich bags, 2 slices at a time (haven't had any for a while so will get some out now while I remember). Anyway 1lb off for me this week so back on the downward trend again. Let's hope it continues. Good luck all.

[Old_Geezer]

Congrats to all who have done better than I.

Hey I do have some advice for folk. Always read the packet very carefully. Sounds obvious ? Well...

I sometimes buy things I don't intend to eat immediately, but think that I might like to try when I want something different for a change. As a result I had 3 packets of instant mashed potato on a shelf awaiting use. Well last night I realised I'd not replaced any potatoes when I used the last, I didn't feel like rice or pasta (or bread sandwiches) and so was looking around wondering what to have. I espy these packets and take the one with added onion. A 100 gm pack, and it states it is only 74 kc per 100 grams. Great, just add hot water, and water is zero Calories ! In fact that is sufficiently low I can afford to use their recipe suggestion, even though one of the other ingredients is a little high in calories. It's been a reasonable day, I can afford it.

Of course after the meal I re-read the pack and then spot that their figure was for the reconstituted product, not what they sold me. At 390 kc it is over 5¼ times more than it appeared to be.

I'm sure a single meal can't make that much difference but it was the last thing I needed, especially on a Tuesday evening.

[xstitcher]

I do read the packets but wonder now if I am not understanding what I read...

[RATTER15]

Lol OG, one meal over the top like that will not make a huge difference but I would try and counteract it a little by reducing calories in other meals for a couple of days, that's what I do if I have a treat day.