Thursday 31 March 2011

Day Eighty One

My stomach hasn't been feeling too good since the day after I thought I had under-cooked the pork! :( I have a kind of burning sensation in my tummy, like heartburn, but not near my heart! - Any ideas on what it could be?

6.30am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt with mixed nuts and a mug of Green Tea.

Its Friday tomorrow!!! WOOOO! I am extremely tired from my long day yesterday and fely myself nodding off on the m25 on the way back from Portsmouth so I opened the car window and turned the radio up! No exercise last night as I got back so late and just wanted food! Then I felt too full up and tired to exercise!! But I did have some good news yesterday... I won £300 on work's social club lottery!! woo! That should cover my car tax, MOT and service - all due this month!


8.30am Pot of Green Tea

I'm actually getting quite annoyed about some of my work jumpers being too baggy now! lol I have to keep adjusting them as they move off my shoulder and my bra strap keeps showing! - Not very professional!! :/ Need some smaller work tops I guess, but no point in getting jumpers as the sun will be out soon! Plus there aren't many places selling jumpers at the moment!! lol


10.30am Snack
Granny Smith apple.



11.00am Pot of Green Tea


12.30pm Lunch
Chicken Fajita salad with lettuce, cucumber, tomato and spring onion.

Just had a colleague that I haven't seen in a few years tell me that I look well, that I look very well in fact! - Bless her :)


I did my 30 minutes of Wii Fit jogging today to burn some calories. Like a good girl :)

18.30pm Dinner

Pork, red pepper, onion and tomato skewers with lettuce and a mug of White Tea.




The lady at Boots suggested Gaviscon chewable tablets as she said my burning sensation sounded like indigestion, 2 to 4 to be taken after meals.

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Day Eighty

4.45am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt with mixed nuts and a mug of Green Tea.

I was up so early as I am in Portsmouth today for work!


6.30am Travel mug of Black Rocket Fuel coffee
I know caffeine is a no-no BUT I have tried the 2 & 1/2 hour drive without coffee before and nearly fallen asleep at the wheel!!


8.30am Mug of Green Tea

9.30am Snack
Granny Smith Apple
10.45am Mug of White Tea

12.00pm Lunch

Chicken Fajita salad (a premade filler from Morrison's) lettuce, cucumber, tomato and spring onion.

13.30pm Mug of Green Tea


I was sooo hungry when I got home about 19.00pm so I had some fresh seafood cocktail to stop my belly rumbling before I did some washing up and cooking




19.30pm Dinner
Beef mince with onion, passata and oregano with a Green Tea

 

Why are all my photos looking so yellowy lately?!

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Day Seventy Nine

I'm feeling a bit rough today! I'm wondering if I didn't cook the pork for long enough last night? :/

6.30am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt with mixed nuts and a mug of Green Tea.

8.30am Pot of Green Tea

Its Weigh Day again today!! :/ Feeling bleugh so again I am not sure how much I will have lost? If the jogging every day hasn't done anything, I'll either jog for longer or go back to my other exercises!

9.30am Snack
Granny Smith apple. Hoping it will ease my stomach ache :(

10.30am Pot of Green Tea



12.30pm Lunch
Morrisons salad. All the low carb stuff except the little bit of grated carrot in the coleslaw.


14.30pm Pot of Green Tea



I did the 2 Step exercises and the easy hula before doing 30 minutes of Wii jogging.





The weight loss graph :)


18.30pm Dinner

Barbecue ribs and the rest of last nights garlic mushrooms with bean sprouts and a mug of White Tea.


20.30pm Mug of White Tea

Monday 28 March 2011

Day Seventy Eight

Well, its Monday, Pay Day and I think lots of people forgot that the clocks went forward as the work car park was pretty empty!

6.30am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt with mixed nuts and a mug of Green Tea.

I'm still feeling pretty full up from that feast last night and a bit dehydrated still from Saturday night so LOTS of Green Tea for me today I think :)

8.00am Pot of Green Tea

10.15am Pot of Green Tea

11.30am Snack
Granny Smith apple.


12.30pm Lunch
Pepperoni and cheese with lettuce, cucumber and tomato




13.45 Pot of Green Tea


I did my 20 minutes of Wii jogging again today.


18.50pm Dinner
Chinese flavored pork belly with garlic mushrooms and bean sprouts with a mug of White Tea.



Sunday 27 March 2011

Day Seventy Seven

I skipped breakfast today as I was feeling rather hungover!!


10.30am Can of Diet Coke


13.45pm Lunch
The last 2 slices of the low carb pizza and a Green Tea.


15.00pm PG Tips tea


16.00pm Pint of Diet Coke


19.30pm Dinner (at Beefeater)
Chicken and pepper skewers





Main course: Mixed grill with salad



I had a cup of Tea instead of a dessert :)

Saturday 26 March 2011

Day Seventy Six

8.30am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt with mixed nuts and a mug of Green Tea.

I received my FREE Atkins bar through the post today! It says it only contains 1.8g net carbs :) I'll let you know if it was any good or not :) Not had chocolate since January though!! :/



12.15pm Mug of White Tea

I have just tried on a load of clothes in my wardrobe, I found quite a few size 12s that fit me really well! Including 4 pairs of size 12 jeans and quite a few skirts! That will save me some money!! :D All the clothes that are too big have been put in a bag for charity :)


I want to wear my target jeans today when I go out for my friend's birthday, so need to find a top to go with them as they are quite funky ;D

Some courgette crisps while I was waiting for my dinner to cook.



14.00pm Lunch
Chicken with rosemary and Pepperoni accompanied by roasted mushrooms & courgettes with green beans and a diet coke.


I ate the Atkins bar before I went out drinking on Saturday, it was pretty tasty! I was expecting to get food when I went out later, but we didn't end up getting any food so I had a LOT of Bacardi and Diet Coke and no dinner = very drunk!!

Friday 25 March 2011

Day Seventy Five

6.30am Breakfast
Activia natural yoghurt with mixed nuts, linseeds and a mug of Green Tea.


Friday again and I'm due for a haircut! Woo! Got my cheap Tesco size 12 jeans on today as its 'Free Style Friday' the sun is shining, its a half day and I'm feeling gooood! :D Might see how the target jeans feel on tomorrow as I am out drinking Bacardi again for a friend's birthday drinks! Hopefully with all the jogging I have done this week, I will have burned enough fat/calories to lose more than a pound by Tuesday's weigh-in!!


8.00am Pot of Green Tea


8.30am Snack
Mini Pepperami


12.45pm Lunch
Low carb pizza with salad.




14.45pm Low Carb ice cream I'm not sure on this! It was VERY hard and a nightmare trying to get it out of the tub!! lol


20.45pm Dinner Chicken, mushroom and pepperoni omelette with curry powder.


Thursday 24 March 2011

Day Seventy Four

6.35am Breakfast
Scrambled egg whites!!! - Stupid idea, it tasted really odd and I can still taste it now and its gone 8am!!! I just had the whites left over from my ice cream I attempted last night, so thought I'd use them!





Speaking of the ice cream, I read that I could put it in the freezer and take it out every 30 mins to give it a stir if I don't have an ice cream maker! Well, I stirred it once last night, gave it a quick defrost in the microwave this morning and stirred in again, 30 mins in the freezer, then stirred it again, and its back in the freezer! It looks like a soft ice creamy texture but does taste very creamy still! (I liked the fork I stirred it with)

Similar technique to the one I found last night:

Making Ice Cream Without A Machine
1. Prepare your ice cream mixture, then chill it over an ice bath.
2. Put a deep baking dish, or bowl made of plastic, stainless steel or something durable in the freezer, and pour your custard mixture into it.
3. After forty-five minutes, open the door and check it.
As it starts to freeze near the edges, remove it from the freezer and stir it vigorously with a spatula or whisk. Really beat it up and break up any frozen sections. Return to freezer.
4. Continue to check the mixture every 30 minutes, stirring vigorously as it’s freezing. If you have one, you can use a hand-held mixer for best results, or use a stick-blender or hand-held mixer.
But since we’re going low-tech here, you can also use just a spatula or a sturdy whisk along with some modest physical effort.
5. Keep checking periodically and stirring while it freezes (by hand or with the electric mixer) until the ice cream is frozen. It will likely take 2-3 hours to be ready.

Obviously being at work now, I can stir it every 30 minutes, so I might try what I did this morning again when I get home.
I'm going to try the homemade pizza recipe tonight!! :D

DEEP DISH PIZZA
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1 ounce (I used the kind in a can)
1/4 teaspoon oregano or Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
8 ounces Italian cheese blend or mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup pizza sauce
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
Assorted toppings: pepperoni, ham, sausage, 4 ounce can mushrooms, green peppers, bacon, ground beef, etc.
Dash of garlic pepper or garlic powder and some Italian seasoning for top of pizza
In a medium bowl, whisk the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Whisk in the eggs until the mixture is well-blended and smooth. Add the parmesan and seasonings, then stir in the 8 ounces of mozzarella until completely moistened. Spread the cheese mixture evenly in a well-greased 9x13" glass baking dish or lightly greased and lined with parchment paper (see note below). Bake at 375º 20-25 minutes or until evenly browned, but not too dark. Let cool completely on a wire rack. When nearly cooled, take a metal spatula and carefully pry up the edges to loosen from pan. Ease the spatula under the whole crust to loosen. Keep the crust in the pan. This makes it easier to remove the finished pizza later. Refrigerate, uncovered, until shortly before serving time.
Spread the chilled crust with the pizza sauce, then the cheese and toppings of your choice. Lightly sprinkle with the seasonings of your choice. Bake at 375º about 15-20 minutes or until toppings are bubbly. Let stand a few minutes before cutting.
Makes 8 servings
Can be frozen
Per Serving: 304 Calories; 25g Fat; 17g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 2g Net Carbs

I don't recommend making this in a metal baking pan as it will stick making the pizza very difficult to remove and the pan very hard to clean.
I think I may have discovered the secret to a crispy crust. I left the baked crust uncovered in the refrigerator for several hours. I think that allowed it to dry out a bit so that it became crisp during the second baking with the toppings. I was able to pick the pizza up in my hands.

NOTE: If you lightly grease the pan and line it with parchment paper, you'll have no trouble removing the pizza from the pan later. Greasing the pan makes the parchment stick to it so you can easily spread the crust batter.

8.30am Pot of Green Tea

10.00am Snack
Mini Pepperami

10.30am Pot of Green Tea

12.30pm Lunch
Chicken (with a small amount of mayo as I'd run out!) salad with lettuce, cucumber tomato and parmesan cheese.



17.30pm Mug of White Tea while I cook the pizza

I didn't have 8 oz of mozzarella, I only had 4, so I added some more Parmesan and cheddar to make up for the lack of mozzarella. So here is the cheese pizza base going into the oven...


I was too busy doing 20 minutes of Wii jogging to keep an eye on the cheesey base and I think it went a bit more brown than it was meant to, but it was okay, it didn't burn! I was too hungry to wait for the base to chill in the fridge, so I let it cool until it was slightly warm then put the tomato sauce and toppings on it:


Here it is out of the oven...


And on my plate!


I have loads more slices left, so might have a couple tomorrow with a salad or something and then freeze the rest. I was able to pick them up and eat them with my fingers, they were slightly floppy and greasy, but it actually tasted like pizza and pizza is a taste that I miss doing low carb. So, this low carb pizza recipe gets a big thumbs up from me!! :) - Next time I will make it when I have time to let it cool and try it with 8oz of mozzarella!! ;)

19.30pm Mug of Green Tea



Wednesday 23 March 2011

Day Seventy Three

6.30am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt with linseeds, mixed nuts and a mug of Green Tea.

I brought some Joe Browns jeans in September, they were a size 14 (so the label says) and a very skinny/tight fit, I couldn't even pull them up past my thighs as they were so tight!! Last time I tried them on was when I went to Ikea with my Mum and Hayley, which was nearly 4 weeks ago now, and they did up, but were pretty tight and the crotch didn't sit right. I was about 7 lbs heavier then but am worried they still won't fit if I try them on! lol :/ 7lbs is quite a bit, so they might fit now, and I am more of a big 12/small 14 now... just want them to be a perfect fit the next time I try them on! lol

My legs ache a little from not warming up before my 10 minute jog last night! I'll remember to stretch it out tonight before jogging! Silly me! I know 10 minutes doesn't sound like a lot but for someone that used to sit/lay on the sofa every evening it is a lot of effort and very tiring, but you do improve with practice, so I must crack on! It is also difficult jogging around my tiny front room! HAHA!! :)

Here is my BMI chart on my iPhone (an app called TargetWeight - click to enlarge image). The banding shows I am only 2lbs away from the 'normal' category and the black line is my first target line! :) I say first as I guessed at the weight I wanted to be, I may want to lose more weight when I reach that target!


8.30am Pot of Green Tea

I have just realised I have lost 19cm from my waist now!! :-o - Thats 7.5 inches! YIKES!! Maybe I should try the 'target' jeans on now! They might fit me now, 6 months after purchasing them!! HA!

10.30am Snack
Granny Smith apple

11.30am Pot of Green Tea

12.30pm Lunch
Chicken Mayo salad with lettuce, cucumber and tomato with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.




13.45pm Pot of Green Tea

I did 20 minutes on the Wii Fit which included 10 minutes of the Wii jogging.

18.00pm Dinner
Mackerel with roasted pepper and courgette


I also made some courgette crisps, but I didn't take them out the pan quick enough! D'oh! So coated them in parmesan.


I then made some low carb ice cream, I say made, I followed the recipe that I posted the other day. It is currently at the 'put in fridge for 4 hours' bit, then I noticed it mentions the directions from your ice cream maker.... er, I don't own an ice cream maker so might have to research more, or just try putting it in the freezer after the 4 hours.


I tried the target jeans on and they are very nearly a good fit! Just a little bit tight at the top of my thighs, It doesn't show though and maybe I can stretch them in? Jeans normally stretch after they have been worn a bit don't they! ;)



Tuesday 22 March 2011

Day Seventy Two

Weigh Day AGAIN!
No idea on how much I have lost again, I had a naughty Chinese (it was lower in carbs than what I would normally get, but you can never tell what they put in their sauces) as well as a night on the Bacardi and diet cokes with little exercise... I keep saying I must exercise more, and I really MUST!! I'm hoping for 1lb loss, then at least I am just 2lbs overweight on the 'ole BMI scale ;)

6.30am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt, linseeds and mixed nuts with a mug of Green Tea! So glad I decided to have nuts with my yoghurt rather than fruit as this packet of mixed nuts is lasting me ages!!

8.15am Pot of Green Tea



I have just tried to research which is better, Green or White Tea and they both seem pretty similar, although there isn't much research on White Tea, it seems Green IS better for weightloss, but they are both full of anti oxidants so are both good for you... read up for yourself here: http://www.amazing-green-tea.com/white-tea.html Although, the website is a Green Tea site so it may be a tad bias?!

HAHA and a White Tea site says it can help with weight loss! http://www.whitetea.com/benefits-of-white-tea.php don't think I'll ever find my answer! White Tea seems better for bones and teeth though and DOES contain more anti oxidants, so that must be a good thing?!

If anyone wants to follow me on Twitter, I have added a 'Follow Me' button to the right, under my About Me section :) or follow @lowcarbdiet2011.

11.04am Snack
Mini Pepperami


11.15am Pot of Green Tea


12.30pm Lunch
Chicken Mayo salad with lettuce tomato and cucumber (as usual).



Don't miss my 'Donate' button on the right hand side! Help fund my new wardrobe as nothing seems to fit any more!! ARGH!! (cheeky aren't I! :P)


Remembered to take my fibre supplements 30mins before lunch today :)


14.30pm Pot of Green Tea

I did my 10 minute jog and had a better burn rate than yesterday. Think its a fat burn rate? Then I did a few of the Wii Fit exercises.


My Wii Step screen in motion:





My weight loss result (phew):





The weight loss chart.. 2lbs til I'm no longer classed as over weight now... jogging seemed easier today as I paced myself more... my fitness WILL improve!!







18.15pm Dinner
Mackerel with lettuce, cucumber and tomato.






18.45pm Mug of White Tea


God I really need a shower now pewey!!!


21.30pm Mug of Green Tea

Monday 21 March 2011

Day Seventy One

6.30am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt with linseeds and mixed nuts with a mug of Green Tea.

I would like to announce that my bowel movements are practically back to normal again now!!! WOOO :D ...AND the cat hasn't pee'd on the sofa all weekend, she is eating her special diet food and has less litter tray visits! Onwards and upwards!!


I'm getting my hair done on Friday and am so looking forward to it! It hasn't been cut since September and is in need of a nice trim and a colour to hide the grey ;)

8.45am Pot of Green Tea

Hmmm a Low Carb Pizza Recipe that doesn't mention how many carbs:

For the pizza crust, you will need:

2 eggs
1 8oz package cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese, brought to room temperature (Philadephia?!)
1 cup parmesan cheese - shredded or grated

9x13" baking pan
cooking spray to coat pan


For the sauce, you will need:

1 6oz can tomato paste
1/2 cup sangria
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cloves of garlic, minced


Toppings of your choice, we used 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella and sliced pepperoni.


I have asked on a new site that I found called http://www.lowcarbsite.com as they all seem very knowledgable on there :) Think I'd miss the sangria out though!

Oooo Low Carb Icecream!!!

Ingredients:

* 500ml heavy cream (double cream in UK!!)
* 4 egg egg yolks
* 5 tablespoons of granulated sugar substitute
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
In a medium, heavy saucepan, heat cream until bubbles form just around the edge of the pan. Meanwhile, whisk together yolks, eggs, sugar substitute Very slowly whisk the hot cream into the eggs. Pour the mixture back into the pan. Place over medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly, just until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat and pour into a clean bowl. Stir in vanilla. Cover the surface of the custard with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 4 hours. Freeze according to the directions for your ice cream maker.


11.15am Pot of Green Tea

12.30pm Lunch
Chicken Mayo salad with lettuce and tomatoes... think something was on the turn as it smelt a bit eggy and tasted odd! - Oh well






Still hunting for a decent low carb pizza idea that doesn't have a meat base or a very eggy base... anyone help?

Just found another one...

http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/forum/Blah.pl?m-1254426613/s-6/highlight-pizza+base

I think I'll try the last recipe I posted! I'll get the ingredients tonight but I won't cook it till later in the week, think I have some fish to use up in my fridge :)

I did a 10 minute jog on my Wii Fit and my face, chest and arms were bright red and burning!! Apparently that means I am pushing myself according to TC so I will try and do that every day to try and improve my fitness level, maybe one day I will be able to venture outside for a jog?! lol

18.00pm Dinner
Cheese and bacon salad with lettuce, cucumber, tomato and mayo. It was YUM :) and a mug of White Tea.






19.30pm Mug of White Tea (when the cat finally got off my lap! - She is so clingy at the moment!!)

Sunday 20 March 2011

Day Seventy

10.00am Breakfast
Bacon, lettuce, tomato and Mayo in a low carb wrap with a mug of White Tea.


13.15pm Lunch
The meat and beansprouts left over from last night's Chinese with a mug of White Tea. I left all the bamboo shoots, carrots and peas like a good girl! lol



18.15pm Dinner
The mince, tomato and onions I had in my freezer with a can of diet coke.





I did 30 minutes of cardio on my Wii Fitness Coach.

I had a few cans of diet coke and a few mugs of White Tea. I seem to slack on here at weekends as I only update via my iPhone so I don't have to turn my laptop on :)

Saturday 19 March 2011

Day Sixty Nine

12.00pm Brunch
Bacon and scrambled with Mayo in a low carb wrap


16.00pm Snack
Mini Pepperami

I have had a couple of mugs of White Tea and two cans of diet coke. Just been naughty and ordered a Chinese on my credit card, avoiding the dishes with sweet sauces and rice, noodles etc. As I've not eaten much today I'm sure I'm in my carb allowance :)

Poo update: I have been again a couple of times today so hopefully my body is finally sorted out in that department!!

18.45pm Dinner
Chinese


I didn't eat it all, this is what is left:




I didn't eat the carrots or bamboo shoots



Friday 18 March 2011

Day Sixty Eight

Woooo Friday again!

I went to the pub last night for Paddy's Day (15 minute brisk walk both ways) and I had one diet coke. My friend Holly said there was a noticeable difference in my weight and she hadn't seen me for a while, so its going well! Its good to hear people say they notice the weight loss as it encourages me to keep it up :)

6.30am Breakfast
Natural yoghurt linseeds and mixed nuts with a mug of Green Tea.

8.00am Snack
3 dried apricots

Cleaning the flat when I get home and then I'll fit in some exercise! I know I keep saying it but I really must do it! Want to get some White Tea today too :)


8.15am Pot of Green Tea


9.30am Snack
Mini Pepperami


Off to a Beef Festival tonight, I'm not drinking beer though, sticking to the spirits :)


14.30pm Lunch
Baked Camembert with 3 low carb wraps.


 
I have cleaned my flat and drunk two cups of White tea, it's lush :)



18.15pm Dinner
Chicken Mayo salad with cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and green chillis




I did 40 stomach crunches and some squats and then a 20 minute brisk walk into town, followed by lots of Bacardi and diet coke!


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