Stabilization Dukandebut steps into the scary unknown...

[dukandebut]

Well, I've actually been on Stab since 2nd July, but haven't had the chance to visit the forum for a while. So this first post is a bit of a catch-up.

It seems to me that everyone has to find a way of making Stab work for them as we all react differently, both psychologically and physically, to food. I decided that my Stab would involve carrying on as before (like Anja and Laura's Consostab, really), since that seemed to be working well for me - with a few additions and amendments.

So I'm following virtually the same kind of menus as I was on Conso, but using cornflour or sauce or whatever whenever the recipe calls for it. I'm not overdoing the additions, just being a bit more generous and flexible than before. I'm also adding a few potatoes or a little rice to meals if I feel like it - although, the funny thing is that I don't always feel the need for carbs now.

Obviously, I've upped my daily ration of oatbran to the recommended level of 3 tbsps, which is handy as it gives me more to play with.

Once a week, I have my PP day, but I'm not following the strict white version. I just have my normal Conso PP food instead. Of course, if needed (for instance, if I start putting on weight or after a holiday), I'll opt for the stricter choice.

This seems to be working well so far. Despite my breaking my scales by dropping them (my wrist gave out on me), my new set show exactly the same weight as before. (Mechanical scales seem to give me far more accurate and consistent readings than digital.)

I put on 1lb after my first week of Stab, then lost it again afterwards. So I'm now exactly the same weight as I was when I finished Conso.

 

[anjuschka]

Great stuff and WELCOME! Reassuring to see that you agree that Stab means conso+ extras (or minus extras when I've got to make up for a weekend with birthday meals and cakes!!)

 

[dukandebut]

Thanks, Anja! It's very nice (if a little scary at first) to be aboard the Consostab train.

Inbetween catching up on posts whilst also trying to catch cat vomit as it is projected directly from my vomity cat's mouth, I forgot to post some menus. So here we go...

These are from last week and for this week. I'm just posting main meals now. Please bear in mind that I'm being more lenient with the tolerateds and occasionally having some extras now (eg, squares of dark choc).

Last week:
M Piquant pork stirfry with noodles, followed by crème au choc
Tu Minty lettuce & spring onion soup with cheese garlic pizza, followed by choc truffle torte and single cream
W Roast red pepper beef with WM pasta and Parmesan, followed by crème au choc
Th (PP) Oriental meatballs, followed by Dukan muffin
F Galette, burger, gherkins, grilled onions, homemade ketchup, cheese, followed by crème au choc
Sa Chicken, leek & sweetcorn cobbler, carrots and savoy cabbage, followed by dark choc brownie
Su Vicky's cheeseburger pie (with the cheese!) and mixed salad, followed by crème au choc


This week:
M Dukan quiche and mixed salad, followed by crème au choc (I also had a Nature Valley cereal bar mid-afternoon after hiking over rough, hilly terrain for 6 miles)
Tu Farmhouse veg soup (with pearl barley), cheese garlic pizza, followed by choc truffle torte and single cream
W Roast red pepper beef with WM pasta and Parmesan, followed by crème au choc
Th Em's frittata, followed by Dukan muffin
F Galette, burger, grilled onions, gherkins, cheese, tomato ketchup, followed by crème au choc
Sa Gammon & veg cheese topped, baked tortillas, followed by dark choc brownie
Su Sunset oven-cooked pork with new potatoes and green beans, followed by crème au choc

 

[dukandebut]

+1lb at the my last weigh in, but still quite a bit under target.

Yesterday was a bit naughty as a friend came to visit and I bought some amazing cakes to cheer her up as she's been going through a rough time. The hummingbird cake was particularly delicious and I've already looked up with recipe - made with fresh pineapple, banana and nuts.

Otherwise, I've been pretty good and don't think that I've overdone things, although (inspired by Em) I shall be having a go at some truffle making as soon as my new grater arrives. We've invited some friends over for a meal on Saturday night and I want to spoil them a little, so thought that homemade truffles would be perfect to have with coffee after the meal. Now I just have to hope that I can refrain from "taste testing" them too much beforehand!

Here's this week's menu:

Mon Lemon thyme chicken with summer veg and new potatoes, followed by crème au choc
Tues Creamy celeriac soup (which will now be made without the celeriac as I couldn't find any!) and cheese & garlic pizza, followed by hummingbird cake
Wed Steak fajitas made with WM tortillas, along with fromage frais & chive dip and grated cheese, followed by crème au choc
Thurs (PP) Dukan meatloaf and galette, followed by Dukan muffin
Fri Burger, galette, onion, ketchup, cheese, gherkin, followed by crème au choc
Sat Gooseberry sorbet, followed by stuffed marrow gratin and crisp salad, followed by chocolate truffle torte and single cream (I'll be missing the cheese course, but will likely have a homemade truffle or two afterwards)
Sun Dukan-friendly beef stew and broccoli, followed by crème au choc

 

[m-mouse]

I have made that Hummingbird cake as I have the book so I can help out if you need/want any recipes from it. I made the Hummingbird cake for my Sister's Birthday and it was apparently gorgeous.

 

[dukandebut]

Thanks so much, Mouse. Must admit that I've put the book on my Amazon wishlist as it sounds right up my street.

 

[dukandebut]

The special dinner on Saturday went tremendously well. Just had one temporary hiccough - despite the supermarkets being flooded with hundreds of marrows the week before, they'd all vanished on the very day I needed them to make my stuffed marrow main course. Panic ensued - until I found two lonely, ridiculously enormous ones in Morrisons. They did look a little weird plonked on a dinner plate, overspilling the sides by a considerable length, but tasted lovely.

My truffles were a success, although I think the sea salted ones were possibly a little too salty. I'd like to try to make them again when I'm not in so much of a hurry, but want to learn how to temper the chocolate and create a lovely, crisp shell for the next batch.

I behaved myself pretty well, eating my starter, main and dessert, but leaving the cheese and truffles to my husband and our guests. I'm helping to use up with leftover cheese as my daily ration in omelettes and am having the occasional leftover truffle (made far too many, as usual). This is a vast improvement as we would normally gorge ourselves immediately on leftovers; I'm being much more sensible and restrained now, thankfully.

I did drink more than I usually would on Dukan, but not excessively and it's not something that I do often. I had a Kir Royale, followed by a small (Alsacien) glass of Tokay Pinot Gris and a tiny sherry glass of Pineau des Charentes.

This week's menu (I haven't planned for the weekend yet, but will try to remember to edit that in later):

Mo Chinese chicken with stir-fried veg and brown rice, followed by crème au choc
Tu Courgette and mint soup, cheese garlic pizza, followed by (if it turns out okay when I try baking it!) a slice of courgette cake with lime cheesecake butter icing
W Roast red pepper beef with WM pasta and Parmesan, followed by crème au choc
Th (PP) Rosemary and mint meatballs, followed by Dukan muffin
F Burger, galette, grilled onions, cheese, gherkin, ketchup, followed by crème au choc
Sa Chinese takeaway - probably mini spring roll, followed by mushroom foo yung, then a chocolate brownie
Su Chicken with summer veg

ETA my weekend menu.

 

[m-mouse]

Yum - I'm living that meal with you

 

[scrumper]

I have made that Hummingbird cake as I have the book so I can help out if you need/want any recipes from it. I made the Hummingbird cake for my Sister's Birthday and it was apparently gorgeous.

that book is a nightmare i want it but know i shouldnt !!!!!

 

[dukandebut]

It was one hell of a good meal, Mousie, even though I say so myself. Not one I'd dare to eat every day, though!

Scrumps - Whatever you do, DON'T go and look at the further book recommendations on the Hummingbird book page on Amazon. I literally started drooling.

At the moment, I am being tortured by the smell of courgette loaf baking in the oven. I'll need to wait until it cools before icing it. Smells amazing as it has cinnamon, mixed spice and mace in it, amongst other goodies. Thank goodness I've resolved myself to giving half of it away to our kind neighbours!

 

[Lausanne]

At the moment, I am being tortured by the smell of courgette loaf baking in the oven. I'll need to wait until it cools before icing it. Smells amazing as it has cinnamon, mixed spice and mace in it, amongst other goodies. Thank goodness I've resolved myself to giving half of it away to our kind neighbours!

A courgette loaf - only on Dukan! I see from your stats that you are below target and a teeny 7st 10lbs - well done! Proof that Dukan works! Hopefully I'll be in here sneaking tips for Stab at some point in the future.

 

[Red Heart]

If you like baking, I love The Great British Book of Baking. The brownies are gorgeous and so simple to make.
I made them for my children last week but alas none for me. :cry:

 

[jaqys]

Really glad youve moved on to stab and it seems to be going really well. Youre really following in Anja and Robins footsteps very neatly.

How was the courgette loaf ?

This is probably the safest place to say this, after reading of cake here (even cake I could never eat, and cant even imagine what it tastes like) and a post on another board about a bakery that specialises in english cakes, Ive been craving rock cakes like no ones business. Even though I always find they have that baking soda taste and dont like them that much.

 

[Maintainer]

I wanted to come and congratulate you, and have skimmed over the other posts avoiding any food mentions (a bit wobbly at the moment out of ketosis and in no man's land...!).

Well done DD... You're in Stabilisation (not Consostab...). Normality is yours six days a week, whatever that is! Conso plus extras sounds good but no more losing weight, hey?

 

[dukandebut]

The courgette cake was incredibly delicious, thanks - one of the nicest cakes I've ever made. Our neighbour even popped around yesterday morning to ask for the recipe, so I'm guessing that they must have enjoyed the half I gave to them!

I do feel a bit guilty sometimes, posting about all of these cakes and naughty foods, as I remember how it felt like self-torture whenever I'd read Anja's and Laura's diets before I started on Conso. But then I remind myself that this is the kind of info I'd want to know about Stab - that it is possible to get back to some semblance of normality during the 3rd and final phases. So I hope it's not too cruel for anyone still on Attack or Cruise to read!

jacqys - I love rock cakes. You've got me wondering now whether I could make any with grated courgettes in them!

 

[m-mouse]

It sounds mad but I think the courgettes would be nice!

 

[dukandebut]

It sounds mad but I think the courgettes would be nice!

Now that I've tried making the cake, I most definitely agree!

 

[dukandebut]

Damn. I didn't have time to weigh myself last Saturday morning as I was rushing around, then forgot to do it this morning. Since I'm paranoid about always weighing myself at around the same time on the same day of the week in order to give a truer picture of how my weight is moving (or, hopefully, not moving), I shall wait until next Saturday.

My husband gleefully pointed out to me this morning that a man was admiring my bum, which made me smile.

Anyway, next week's menu (minus the weekend, as I've not planned it yet) should go something like this:

Mo Oriental-style minced beef and cabbage stir fry, followed by crème au choc
Tu Garlic mushroom soup, then cheese and garlic pizza (garlic breath galore), followed by courgette and pistachio cake with lime cheesecake icing
We Meatball and pasta bake with salad, followed by crème au choc
Th (PP) Frittata and galette, followed by muffin
Fr Burger, galette, ketchup, cheese, grilled onion, gherkin, followed by crème au choc
Sa Bangers and mixed root veg mash with fresh garden peas and red onion & brandy gravy, followed by chocolate brownie
Su Roast beef, Yorkshire pud, roast butternut squash, broccoli, a couple of roast potatoes and gravy, followed by crème au choc

ETA weekend part of menu.

 

[m-mouse]

That cake sounds good!

 

[Lausanne]

[/QUOTE]My husband gleefully pointed out to me this morning that a man was admiring my bum, which made me smile.[/QUOTE]

"I see you baby, shakin that ass" :giggle:​

Bet you've had a wee spring in your step since this and hey don't you deserve it! Xx