Friday:
I'm starting Whole30 tomorrow - 30 days of no grains, alcohol, legumes, sugar ... and no cheese! My true love cheese! Day 0 is supposed to be prep for the days to come. My shopping trip yesterday included compliant foods for the weekend, I'll need to plan again for Monday onwards. I've also spent some time going through recipe magazines, looking at all my flagged recipes and seeing which ones I can use or adapt.
I haven't done the recommended pantry and fridge purge because I live with three people who aren't doing the Whole30 (and still have two other houseguests) but I'll make sure I don't have any of my trigger foods in the house. That will probably just involve offering around (and eating) some chocolate tonight.
Today I read a timeline of what to expect when on the Whole30, including some headaches in the early days as you get used to no sugar/grains. I am a bit worried about getting enough carbs without grain. The Whole30 is not deliberately low carb, but the high carb vegetables on the list are mainly ones I don't like: the whole pumpkin/squash family and sweet potato/yams. I already know that low carb makes me miserable so I am going to have to make a big effort to eat carby fruit and vegetables.
I thought I'd make a note of how I feel now so I can compare it to later. Both of the last two days I've been very tired in the afternoons and had a nap. I did 20 mins of vigorous exercise this morning and felt completely trashed afterwards. Otherwise I'm feeling quite good. I've been trying not to binge just because I'm going on a diet tomorrow, but I have had various things.
See you tomorrow!
Friday, October 11, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Too much sugar
Thursday:
I am actually really looking forward to starting Whole30 on Saturday. With guests here, more sugar and refined carbs have crept in. Two desserts so far this week, I made chocolate macarons for afternoon tea (and they lasted over three snack times, so I had quite a few), wine and cider, the usual D&D binge supper. Lots of cheese because I am giving it up in a couple of days. I've been feeling a bit over-sugared. My tongue got sore after eating macarons.
My dad's girlfriend is the polite kind who will only let you make her a cup of tea "if you are having one yourself" so I ended up having more cups of tea (with sugar!) than usual. I already mentioned my wide-awake night after having a cup after dinner. I'm just not used to that much caffeine. I didn't do that again, but I was having up to four cups a day.
Yesterday before they left we were chatting before lunch and it came up that garlic upset her stomach. I had been told this before, but had forgotten. And she also mentioned that she didn't like chilli. I had a sudden panic (not showing on my face, I hope!) as I had steak marinating in chilli and garlic in the fridge to make Thai beef salad! Not much chilli, I wouldn't serve something spicy when I don't know the eater's tolerance, but there was still the garlic. Luckily I had a chicken in the fridge so they went for a walk to the park with the kids while I got that bird hacked up and oven baked in about 30 minutes. I'm sure they would have been fine with sandwiches or anything, but it was a real stress moment for me until I worked out my lunch alternative. I am the planning kind. And I really didn't want dad's lovely girlfriend to feel like she was being "too much trouble" so I couldn't mention the problem.
So, anyway, they've gone and my mum and brother are coming today for two nights. I had originally planned two desserts and other stuff but I've toned it right down. I've bought ice cream and raspberries (the same as we had earlier in the week) for dessert one night, and I will make a batch of chocolate cookies as my mum can't have preservatives in most bought stuff. Apart from that we have plenty of fruit and I'll make normal healthy meals. I do not have to add cream to everything just because we have visitors! My mum is always a challenge to cook for because of her extensive food intolerances (it's me who spends a lot of time on it, she'd be happy to have the same thing every visit) but I've got that sorted.
And on Saturday (they'll leave after lunch, but I'll start first thing in the morning) I'll be on Whole30 and I bet my body will thank me for a break from sugar and alcohol and refined grains. Going to miss cheese though!
While shopping this morning I looked at every brand of packaged bacon and every one had sugar. I usually buy from the deli but didn't trust them to know whether it had sugar or not. Sigh. But I read somewhere the idea of dipping asparagus spears into a soft-boiled egg and that sounds really nice.
I am actually really looking forward to starting Whole30 on Saturday. With guests here, more sugar and refined carbs have crept in. Two desserts so far this week, I made chocolate macarons for afternoon tea (and they lasted over three snack times, so I had quite a few), wine and cider, the usual D&D binge supper. Lots of cheese because I am giving it up in a couple of days. I've been feeling a bit over-sugared. My tongue got sore after eating macarons.
My dad's girlfriend is the polite kind who will only let you make her a cup of tea "if you are having one yourself" so I ended up having more cups of tea (with sugar!) than usual. I already mentioned my wide-awake night after having a cup after dinner. I'm just not used to that much caffeine. I didn't do that again, but I was having up to four cups a day.
Yesterday before they left we were chatting before lunch and it came up that garlic upset her stomach. I had been told this before, but had forgotten. And she also mentioned that she didn't like chilli. I had a sudden panic (not showing on my face, I hope!) as I had steak marinating in chilli and garlic in the fridge to make Thai beef salad! Not much chilli, I wouldn't serve something spicy when I don't know the eater's tolerance, but there was still the garlic. Luckily I had a chicken in the fridge so they went for a walk to the park with the kids while I got that bird hacked up and oven baked in about 30 minutes. I'm sure they would have been fine with sandwiches or anything, but it was a real stress moment for me until I worked out my lunch alternative. I am the planning kind. And I really didn't want dad's lovely girlfriend to feel like she was being "too much trouble" so I couldn't mention the problem.
So, anyway, they've gone and my mum and brother are coming today for two nights. I had originally planned two desserts and other stuff but I've toned it right down. I've bought ice cream and raspberries (the same as we had earlier in the week) for dessert one night, and I will make a batch of chocolate cookies as my mum can't have preservatives in most bought stuff. Apart from that we have plenty of fruit and I'll make normal healthy meals. I do not have to add cream to everything just because we have visitors! My mum is always a challenge to cook for because of her extensive food intolerances (it's me who spends a lot of time on it, she'd be happy to have the same thing every visit) but I've got that sorted.
And on Saturday (they'll leave after lunch, but I'll start first thing in the morning) I'll be on Whole30 and I bet my body will thank me for a break from sugar and alcohol and refined grains. Going to miss cheese though!
While shopping this morning I looked at every brand of packaged bacon and every one had sugar. I usually buy from the deli but didn't trust them to know whether it had sugar or not. Sigh. But I read somewhere the idea of dipping asparagus spears into a soft-boiled egg and that sounds really nice.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Frying
more Tuesday:
I was looking up on the internet whether you can reuse peanut oil and a couple of the responses that came up were "thank goodness you can otherwise frying a turkey would be too expensive" and a recipe for chicken-fried bacon. Really, people? Who deep-fries a whole turkey? Or dips bacon in batter before deep frying that? You want some more fat with your fat?
Ok, so I had used the peanut oil to fry some chicken wings (for an Asian recipe that I will never make again, too greasy and didn't like the flavours) so I can't really talk. But the mental image of a fried turkey really boggles.
I was looking up on the internet whether you can reuse peanut oil and a couple of the responses that came up were "thank goodness you can otherwise frying a turkey would be too expensive" and a recipe for chicken-fried bacon. Really, people? Who deep-fries a whole turkey? Or dips bacon in batter before deep frying that? You want some more fat with your fat?
Ok, so I had used the peanut oil to fry some chicken wings (for an Asian recipe that I will never make again, too greasy and didn't like the flavours) so I can't really talk. But the mental image of a fried turkey really boggles.
Whole30
Tuesday:
Tim is back at work today after a week off (plus it was a public holiday yesterday - Labour Day to celebrate when the Unions negotiated eight hour working days). He set his alarm which he never usually needs to do, but we just started Daylight Saving on Sunday so with that and being on holidays we've been sleeping in until about 9.30 every day! Back to the daily grind.
My dad and his girlfriend came to dinner last night and I served an entrée of melon cubes with freshly squeezed orange juice poured over, casserole with mashed potato and salad, and a small serve of ice cream with chocolate and raspberries. Right up until about 2 seconds ago I thought that the Vienetta (ice cream with chocolate flakes) wouldn't have many calories because we only had a small slice each, but I just went and had a look at the empty box and even that was 250 calories! Dessert is definitely a "sometimes food".
After dinner I had a cup of tea with our guests. I have no idea why, I never drink caffeine after about 3pm. If offered, I will decline and say it keeps me awake. But last night I was just in automatic social mode and had a cup. And it most certainly did keep me awake! Still staring at the ceiling at 1am and after.
I am going to do Whole30, starting on Saturday which is when my mother and brother leave after their visit. The timing will mean there are a couple of big parties near the end of the 30 days, but I figured that if I got that far it would be easier to resist junk near the end than if I tried to start now with school holidays and houseguests etc. I've signed up for the daily motivational emails.
I don't know if I 100% agree with the Whole30 diet principles, but as you know by now I like trying new things and reading up on this stuff. There is lots of info on the website and I've ordered the book from the library. It's only 30 days, so it won't do any damage even if humans are meant to eat grains after all. I have a lot of issues with inflammation so I am hoping the food restrictions will help me. I suppose I'll put the calorie counting on hold for the month, or maybe keep track just for interest sake. I'm not supposed to weigh myself during, just at the start and the end. I've gone from weighing myself every day (for 3 years) to once or twice a week, but I think if I feel like I've lost weight I'll want to check and see how much! So that might be hard. I'll have to remember to take other measurements and a photo too. We took photos at the Tulip Gardens so I do have recent ones (can't seem to post any pictures to this blog though! Annoying, I used to be able to) but you're supposed to have an underwear one. (No way I would post that one even if I could!)
Tim is back at work today after a week off (plus it was a public holiday yesterday - Labour Day to celebrate when the Unions negotiated eight hour working days). He set his alarm which he never usually needs to do, but we just started Daylight Saving on Sunday so with that and being on holidays we've been sleeping in until about 9.30 every day! Back to the daily grind.
My dad and his girlfriend came to dinner last night and I served an entrée of melon cubes with freshly squeezed orange juice poured over, casserole with mashed potato and salad, and a small serve of ice cream with chocolate and raspberries. Right up until about 2 seconds ago I thought that the Vienetta (ice cream with chocolate flakes) wouldn't have many calories because we only had a small slice each, but I just went and had a look at the empty box and even that was 250 calories! Dessert is definitely a "sometimes food".
After dinner I had a cup of tea with our guests. I have no idea why, I never drink caffeine after about 3pm. If offered, I will decline and say it keeps me awake. But last night I was just in automatic social mode and had a cup. And it most certainly did keep me awake! Still staring at the ceiling at 1am and after.
I am going to do Whole30, starting on Saturday which is when my mother and brother leave after their visit. The timing will mean there are a couple of big parties near the end of the 30 days, but I figured that if I got that far it would be easier to resist junk near the end than if I tried to start now with school holidays and houseguests etc. I've signed up for the daily motivational emails.
I don't know if I 100% agree with the Whole30 diet principles, but as you know by now I like trying new things and reading up on this stuff. There is lots of info on the website and I've ordered the book from the library. It's only 30 days, so it won't do any damage even if humans are meant to eat grains after all. I have a lot of issues with inflammation so I am hoping the food restrictions will help me. I suppose I'll put the calorie counting on hold for the month, or maybe keep track just for interest sake. I'm not supposed to weigh myself during, just at the start and the end. I've gone from weighing myself every day (for 3 years) to once or twice a week, but I think if I feel like I've lost weight I'll want to check and see how much! So that might be hard. I'll have to remember to take other measurements and a photo too. We took photos at the Tulip Gardens so I do have recent ones (can't seem to post any pictures to this blog though! Annoying, I used to be able to) but you're supposed to have an underwear one. (No way I would post that one even if I could!)
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Tulips
Sunday:
Today we went to the Tulip Top Gardens. It is less than half an hour away, a private garden out in the country. When we first saw it, ten years or so ago, it consisted of plentiful but slightly boring tulip beds laid out around a house on a large property. Over the years the owners have gradually cultivated the valley below the house and now it is a beautiful protected area with tulips and pansies and flowering fruit trees and sweeping lawns and a waterfall and gravel paths. The area around the house itself is no longer accessible, so they have their privacy back, but for four weeks a year the valley is open to the public (for a small fee). It is really lovely, and it was a great day for it.
They can't make a lot of money, certainly not enough to pay for all the work that goes into it, and they even let kids in free and had a free sausage sandwich at lunchtime and free tea & coffee and a two-piece jazz band entertaining the visitors!
Tim's father was still visiting so he was with us, we had a picnic on the grounds and wandered around for a couple of hours then grandad went back to Sydney and we came home. My dad is arriving tomorrow. He thinks. Plans are still a bit liquid.
I am fully well again (yay! I was only sick for a couple of days this time) but Aiden is still recovering. We thought he was better yesterday but after an excursion to ten pin bowling and then a play in the park he had a bit of a relapse and went to bed very early after a couple of bites of dinner. He seems ok today so maybe he is over it now.
Today we went to the Tulip Top Gardens. It is less than half an hour away, a private garden out in the country. When we first saw it, ten years or so ago, it consisted of plentiful but slightly boring tulip beds laid out around a house on a large property. Over the years the owners have gradually cultivated the valley below the house and now it is a beautiful protected area with tulips and pansies and flowering fruit trees and sweeping lawns and a waterfall and gravel paths. The area around the house itself is no longer accessible, so they have their privacy back, but for four weeks a year the valley is open to the public (for a small fee). It is really lovely, and it was a great day for it.
They can't make a lot of money, certainly not enough to pay for all the work that goes into it, and they even let kids in free and had a free sausage sandwich at lunchtime and free tea & coffee and a two-piece jazz band entertaining the visitors!
Tim's father was still visiting so he was with us, we had a picnic on the grounds and wandered around for a couple of hours then grandad went back to Sydney and we came home. My dad is arriving tomorrow. He thinks. Plans are still a bit liquid.
I am fully well again (yay! I was only sick for a couple of days this time) but Aiden is still recovering. We thought he was better yesterday but after an excursion to ten pin bowling and then a play in the park he had a bit of a relapse and went to bed very early after a couple of bites of dinner. He seems ok today so maybe he is over it now.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Halfway through the holidays
Saturday:
Well the first week of school holidays is over. My husband will be back to work on Tuesday. We haven't done a lot this week, both Aiden and I have been sick (yes, again! so frustrating). My father-in-law is visiting for several days at the moment, then my dad and his girlfriend will come for a couple of days, then my mum and brother, so we are pretty much booked up for the rest of the holidays with houseguests. It's nice to see them all, but a bit tiring, when I'm not well I'd really just rather sit around and watch TV and read rather than have to be social. Luckily they are all family so I have a fair bit of leeway on how I behave! Tim has done most of the housework and some of the cooking so that has made it a lot easier.
Yet again I am napping instead of exercising. It makes me sad and angry and frustrated and I have to keep reminding myself that my very minor illnesses are a mere blip in a great life.
On the up side my new contraceptive pill seems to have fixed all the girly problems.
I find having houseguests very challenging in terms of my diet. I am learning, to my sorrow, that I am a food pusher. I use guests as an excuse to cook fancy (unhealthy) food to impress them. Afternoon tea. Dessert. Supper. I get cranky with my dad when he doesn't eat my dessert because it's got cream in it (poison!) as he washes down his heart medication with a bottle of wine and then eats half a block of chocolate. I go to a lot of trouble cooking for people instead of spending time with them. I need to get a handle on that. It's not good for my diet, or for theirs! Why I am forcing unhealthy food on people? I need to keep all that celebration food for Christmas.
Well the first week of school holidays is over. My husband will be back to work on Tuesday. We haven't done a lot this week, both Aiden and I have been sick (yes, again! so frustrating). My father-in-law is visiting for several days at the moment, then my dad and his girlfriend will come for a couple of days, then my mum and brother, so we are pretty much booked up for the rest of the holidays with houseguests. It's nice to see them all, but a bit tiring, when I'm not well I'd really just rather sit around and watch TV and read rather than have to be social. Luckily they are all family so I have a fair bit of leeway on how I behave! Tim has done most of the housework and some of the cooking so that has made it a lot easier.
Yet again I am napping instead of exercising. It makes me sad and angry and frustrated and I have to keep reminding myself that my very minor illnesses are a mere blip in a great life.
On the up side my new contraceptive pill seems to have fixed all the girly problems.
I find having houseguests very challenging in terms of my diet. I am learning, to my sorrow, that I am a food pusher. I use guests as an excuse to cook fancy (unhealthy) food to impress them. Afternoon tea. Dessert. Supper. I get cranky with my dad when he doesn't eat my dessert because it's got cream in it (poison!) as he washes down his heart medication with a bottle of wine and then eats half a block of chocolate. I go to a lot of trouble cooking for people instead of spending time with them. I need to get a handle on that. It's not good for my diet, or for theirs! Why I am forcing unhealthy food on people? I need to keep all that celebration food for Christmas.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Calorie counting
Thursday:
For variety, I'm going to switch to counting calories. I tend to think that any efforts towards weight-loss are helpful; whether it's following a specific diet or counting calories or whatever. No method is perfect but they are all useful tools. I'm not very good at being consistent so I'll just keep changing the plan whenever I get bored with the last one. I'm the same with exercise; I'll be really into using the rowing machine or dancing or whatever then after about three months be bored with it. And that is ok, I think, as long as I then move on to something else.
Calorie counting is a very imprecise tool. My understanding is that they work out how many calories are in something by burning it to ash and seeing how much energy it gives off in the process. But this would mean that wood or coal would be rated as high calorie - it doesn't take into account how the human body digests the substance. A beaver might be able to live on wood, but I think a human would have trouble extracting enough calories to live on, even if we disregard the whole issue of nutrients. You would starve to death while chowing down on thousands of calories of tree trunk a day.
But I don't plan on eating wood, and although I don't believe in a straight calories-in vs calories-out equation I think it gives a good enough approximation for the purposes of trying to manage weight. And it gives me something to track, which helps keep me mindful about what I am eating.
Calorie counting forces you to reduce fat and starchy carbs and processed foods, and eat more veges, just because of the calorie load of different foods. Tomato soup for lunch!
For variety, I'm going to switch to counting calories. I tend to think that any efforts towards weight-loss are helpful; whether it's following a specific diet or counting calories or whatever. No method is perfect but they are all useful tools. I'm not very good at being consistent so I'll just keep changing the plan whenever I get bored with the last one. I'm the same with exercise; I'll be really into using the rowing machine or dancing or whatever then after about three months be bored with it. And that is ok, I think, as long as I then move on to something else.
Calorie counting is a very imprecise tool. My understanding is that they work out how many calories are in something by burning it to ash and seeing how much energy it gives off in the process. But this would mean that wood or coal would be rated as high calorie - it doesn't take into account how the human body digests the substance. A beaver might be able to live on wood, but I think a human would have trouble extracting enough calories to live on, even if we disregard the whole issue of nutrients. You would starve to death while chowing down on thousands of calories of tree trunk a day.
But I don't plan on eating wood, and although I don't believe in a straight calories-in vs calories-out equation I think it gives a good enough approximation for the purposes of trying to manage weight. And it gives me something to track, which helps keep me mindful about what I am eating.
Calorie counting forces you to reduce fat and starchy carbs and processed foods, and eat more veges, just because of the calorie load of different foods. Tomato soup for lunch!
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