Gluttonous gourmet turns fit foodie- My Diary

Hello everyone

I am Breaking Flab, and I am fat.

I have also had the worst history of yo-yo dieting, having probably lost and gained my bodyweight many times over in the past 18 or so years- I have tried absolutely every diet & fad under the sun, pills, fasting, hypnosis- everything. I lost over 10 stones at one point but developed eating problems due to subsisting on under 700 cals a day. Needless to say once I conquered those demons the weight flew back on.

The thing is I understand nutrition, I know allllll about daily requirements, calories etc. Cooking and baking is my favourite hobby and I am good at it! (Sorry to toot my own horn). So why on earth am I constantly yo-yoing up and down?

I have recently turned 30 and found myself close to my heaviest ever weight again
:cry:I am devestated and disgusted with myself. Having Endometriosis too makes it harder to exercise as I am often in chronic pain and on strong meds but I am no longer going to use that excuse. I have to do this now as I would like to try for a baby in the next year or so and would like to be in the best health possible.

So- here I am! If you have read this far and would like to follow my diary and progress please do :) I like to be as adventurous as possible (money and time permitting) and love making Indian, mexican, thai etc....

Oh, and by the way I have over 9 stones to lose, so I may be here a while, lol!
 
Day 2- Tuesday 7th January 2014


Breakfast: Black coffee, Kelloggs chewy milk choc bar (B Choice) and a pear.

Lunch: Batchelors mild curry rice, Bernard Matthews turkey tikka chunks, diced fresh mango, diced tomato, red peppers, spring onions and cucumber, squeeze of lime juice.

Dinner: 150g Chicken breast fillet, rice noodles, Tesco aromatic thai stir fry veg with lemongrass. Home made sauce of fresh garlic, ginger, chilli, spring onion, coriander, pinch of sweetner and dash of water & rice vinegar.

Pudding/evening snack: Activia 0% Fat peach yoghurt, 1 satsuma
 
Day 3- Wednesday 8 January 2014

Breakfast- 2 satsumas, 1 conference pear, Black coffee (all free)

Lunch: Rainbow Salad bowl (Morrisons, free), Lonley Farm FF Cottage cheese with chives, 2x Mediterranean Herb Ryvita (B Choice)

Dinner: Home made salt & Pepper pork (Szechuan peppercorns, 5 spice, sweetner, salt, chilli) with roasted aubergine, pak choi, babycorn and spring onions. soba noodles dressed in soy sauce.

Snacks: 1 x Activia FF yoghurt, 1 x pack Melon, pineapple & mango wedges.

No syns today.

Exercise: 40 mins walk around town on lunch break, 20 mins on exercise bike.

 
Day 4- Thursaday 9 January 2014

Breakfast:
1x large tropical fruit salad tray (Morrisons, Free), 2x cups black unsweetened coffee.

Lunch: 1x can of Tesco 3 bean salad, 1/2 bag of rocket, 1 pack Bernard Matthews turkey breast chunks, chopped spring onions, cucumber and Fat free vinaigrette (all free).

Snack: Activia 0% Fat raspberry yoghurt, coke zero (free)

Dinner: 1.5 chicken breasts (skinless/boneless) marinated in jerk seasning (free) and oven baked, served with 1 x mini corn on the cob sprayed with Fry light butter spray, Slimming world syn free chips and a grilled tomato. 1 tbsp tomato ketchup (1 syn?) 2 x slices of wholmeal bread from 400g loaf (HEX B).

 
Day 5- Friday 10 January 2014

Breakfast: Melon wedges (x3) Plus large handful of Raspberries. 2 x Black coffee, no sugar.

Lunch: (Out at a steak restaurant) 1 x Flattened rump steak with chimichurri sauce, 1 large green herb salad.

Dinner: Home made root vegetable soup (Carrots, onions, potatoes, garlic, stock, broccoli), 2 x slices Wholemeal Nimble Bread (HEX b).

 
Day 6- Saturday 11 January 2014

Breakfast-
3 Egg omelette with 35g Light cheddar (HEX a), mushrooms, spinach, sauteed potatoes. 1 x Black coffee, no sugar.

Lunch: 1 x Pasta n Sauce Hi Veg Mushroom & Garlic (No milk or butter) 2 x slices Nimble Wholemeal (HEX b)

Dinner: (Steak restaurant again!) 1 x Ribeye steak, 1 green salad, 3 tbsp red wine Jus (2 syns), a few chips (about 3 syns?)
 
Day 7- Sunday 12 January


Breakfast: 1 pear, 2 x coffees (Black no sugar)

Lunch: 1 x Broccoli & Cheese Pasta n Sauce (No milk, no butter), 2 x slices Nimble wholemeal bread, toasted (HEX b)

Dinner: Home made Chicken Jalfrezi (free) made with:

Serves 2

2 xChicken breasts
Spray oil
4 x Red Chillis
4 x Garlic cloves
1 tsp Turmeric
1 tbsp Garam masala
1 tbsp Ground cumin
1 tsp sweetner
0.5 tsp salt
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 red onion
1 green pepper
2 eggs
200ml water
Squeeze tomato puree
Freshly chopped coriander
Squeeze of lime juice.

Served with steamed basmati rice.
 
Day 8- Monday 13 January 2014

Weigh in day
: Weight lost for week 1: 10 pounds :) The first week is always the kindest!! Despite having 2 steak dinners in 2 days, I still managed a great loss. This week will be tougher, as the body usually likes to hold onto the pounds in week 2 (according to the wisdom of Bob Harper on the biggest loser USA.....).

You will have seen- I'm not a breakfast person. I do make myself eat something first thing, even if it is only a piece of fruit but I am slowly training myself to boost my morning appetite. I went over 15 years with not having anything in the morning so baby steps! I am far more inclined to make a nice brunch dish on a weekend though.

Breakfast: 1 pear, 2 cups of coffee (Black no sugar).

Lunch: 1 x pack batchelors mexican rice, chopped cucumber, tomato, red onion. Bernard Matthews turkey breast chunks, 3 tbsp sweetcorn.

Dinner: 1 oven baked cod fillet with lemon juice, 1 portion syn free chips, 1 can mushy peas, 1 tbsp tomato ketchup (1 syn), 2 x slices Nimble wholemeal bread (HEX b).

Snacks: 2 x satsumas
 
Well done on your loss - I always lose big in the first week as well. It really keeps you motivated! (And you feel a bit smug about it for a few days) Subscribing to see your recipes - would be interested to see recipes when you make mexcian food - i'm drooling at the thought of guacamole, rice and salsa!
 
Thanks Paisley :)

Yup- I looooove mexican food and am planning on making something later this week- thinking shredded mole chicken and green rice.
 
Day 9- Tuesday 14 January 2014

Breakfast-
Black coffee, no sugar/milk. 2 x Satsumas. 1 x Chewy Delight Cereal Bar (HEX b)

Lunch- 1 x pot Tesco cottage cheese with onion & Chives (free), 2 x Mediterranean herb Ryvita.

Snack: Melon & Grape snack pot.

Dinner: Butternut squash & sage risotto:

Serves 2

Arborio Rice
3 x Garlic Cloves, crushed
Vegetable stock
Butternut squash- cut into cubes and pre-roasted with fry-light spray.
1 onion, choped finely
Salt & Black pepper
3 tbsp Quark
1 tbsp shredded sage leaves.

A little parmesan/ low fat grated cheese to garnish and some wild rocket on the side.
 
Day 9- Tuesday 14 January 2014

Breakfast-
Black coffee, no sugar/milk. 2 x Satsumas. 1 x Chewy Delight Cereal Bar (HEX b)

Lunch- 1 x pot Tesco cottage cheese with onion & Chives (free), 2 x Mediterranean herb Ryvita.

Snack: Melon & Grape snack pot.

Dinner: Butternut squash & sage risotto:

Serves 2

Arborio Rice
3 x Garlic Cloves, crushed
Vegetable stock
Butternut squash- cut into cubes and pre-roasted with fry-light spray.
1 onion, choped finely
Salt & Black pepper
3 tbsp Quark
1 tbsp shredded sage leaves.

A little parmesan/ low fat grated cheese to garnish and some wild rocket on the side.

This sound gorgeous!!! subscribing, inputting and watering at the mouth for the next recipe. Huge congrates on a 10lb loss xx bring on week 2 xx
 
Day 10- Tuesday 15 January 2014

Breakfast:
Pineapple & Mango slices dipped in a weight watchers coconut greek yoghurt. 2 x coffees, black no sugar.

Lunch: Leftover risotto from last night with rocket.

Snack: 2 x satusumas

Dinner: Green Minestrone Soup:

(I made this up, so the measurements are approximate)

1 can broad beans
Veg stock
1 x bag of shredded greens or spinach
1 x chopped leek
1 small can of peas
3 x garlic cloves, crushed
A couple of handfuls of small soup pasta, or chopped up dried spaghetti
2 tbsp green pesto
Salt & Black Pepper
Shredded basil

N.B add any green veggies you like- broccoli, asparagus, kale, spring onions, peppers, sprouts etc will all work well. If you do not have broad beans then any canned bean (ie: Cannelini, soy, haricot) will work well

- Sautee the Leek and garlic in spray oil until softened, add the stock and seasoning and bring to a simmer. Add the pasta and broad beans and simmer for 10 mins.

- Add the shredded cabbage/spinach and pesto and simmer for a further 5 mins.

- Check seasoning and adjust if need be, add the shredded basil & serve.

I'm having mine with 2 x wholemeal warburton bread (HEX b) and 1 tbsp parmesan scattered over the top (HEX a).
 
Your jalfrezi sounds amazing, I would love to try it. Can you give me a brief rundown of the best way to cook everything etc. Thanks!

The butternut squash soup sounds lovely too, I make mine with just the squash and carrotts and some chili flakes and thats it, but I'm gonna give yours a go as well.

Congrats on the 10lbs loss too, great way to start off on SW! :D
 
@ Paddy C.

Thanks :) Here is how I made the Jalfrezi:

1. whizz/chop 2 of the chillis and garlic and sautee with the onions until softened.

2. Add the dry spices and stir through. Add the other 2 chillis either whole or chopped in half lengthways

3. Add the chopped chicken and stir fry for about 4 mins until beginning to colour.

4. Add the chopped tomatoes, sliced peppers, tomato puree and water and simmer for approx 20 mins.

5. Break the eggs into a bowl and beat. then pour slowly into the curry at the end. These will cook in the liquid and provide the characteristic thick 'Jalfrezi' style sauce.

6. Garnish with fresh coriander & Limes.

N.B would work wonderfully with a firm fleshed fish like monkfish or with king prawns too! Or even with tofu.
 
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Mmmm, my mouth is watering at the thought of it already! I think I'll make this for tomorrow night's tea!

I am not sure if I would want all that chilli in it though, so instead of 4, could I use 3 instead and chop them up into small pieces to fry with the garlic at the start? I wouldn't imagine that would do much to the taste or do they need to be left whole/halved to give it more spice?
 
That would work fine :)

I used the recipe from the Hairy Bikers curry book (with a few SW friendly tweaks) and the whole/halved chillis are in there for heat but obviously not for chomping on. So you could either use less and pick them out, or use 3 chopped finely as you suggested.

N.B- I used the big long fat chillis as they are milder than the smaller bullet/finger chillis.
 
Day 11- Thursday 16 January 2014

Breakfast: 2 x Kiwi Fruit, 2 x cups of black unsweetened coffee.

Lunch: I drained the leftover soup veggies (peas, broad beans, spinach, leek) and put them into a frittata with some mint and sliced new potatoes (from a can). I had this cold with some rocket.

Dinner: Mexican feast (Recipes to follow)

N.B: I am having friends over for dinner- all the food below is not just for me!! ;)
 
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