WEIGHT LOSS ALREADY ...

I've been keeping a diary for 1 week (so far) of ABSOLUTELY everything I eat and drink, calculating the calories.

I haven't started the HD's recipes yet. I will be making the Beef Lasagne (probably) over the weekend.

I have made the Crumpets & Berries with Yoghurt and Honey. In fact I've had it twice.

It's a recipe from a member of the HD's dinner group ... and it was much nicer tasting than I thought. It takes 5 minutes to make and wash up after. So easy.

Crumpet & Berries, topped with Yoghurt and Honey

In about a week of keeping my diary and eating the foods I normally eat ... I have lost 1.5kg.

CALORIES CONSUMED:
- Friday 24/8       -  1436 calories
- Saturday 25/8  -  2153
- Sunday 26/8     - 2096
- Monday 27/8    - 2128
- Tuesday 28/8    - 1576 

I haven't craved for anything or felt deprived. Keeping the diary helps to avoid doing anything silly. So, there has been no entire packets of bikkies or packets of sweets consumed (or bought).

I do have my chockies ... the Milky Way bars I previously wrote about.

My treat. But with a cup of tea, I can have 2 chockies

I even had a friend over during the week and we cooked (and ate) all day. One solid day of eating.

Yet ... by keeping a diary (which is a plain old notepad) ... I can already see a weight benefit.

YIPPPEEEE !

CALORIE COUNTING - MADE EASY

I'm analysing my diet by recording EVERYTHING I eat and drink, to assess how much change is required and to learn my patterns and tendancies.

I currently target 1500 calories per day (the average being 2500 per day), which requires reading labels and measuring (for portion control), so I use the following links frequently ... 

THESE ARE HANDY LINKS:

-  Best Calorie Database is        http://www.calorieking.com.au

It is Australian and the information is HIGHLY brand specific for Australia. You will find thorough information quickly and easily. Not only for shopping, but also takeaways and food brands we see, buy and use every day.

-  Kj to Calorie Converter     www.unitconversion.org/energy/kilojoules-to-calories-nutritional-conversion.html

This link is useful for calculating calorie content when nutriotnal info is given as Kj only.

Other items to keep handy while calorie counting are:

- a pad or pen (or iPhone/iPad with dieting app)

- a magnifying glass (to read microscopic nutritional info on packaging)

- scales and a measuring jug

AND THEN ... THE ARVO MUNCHIES SET IN

The day has been busy busy busy.

I am now sitting down to an online poker game and some munchies.

Basically, it is a cup of coffee and a chocolate bar.

I like my coffee and I drink a lot of it.  I drink flat white ... a shot of espresso and frothed low fat milk ... no sugar.

I have measured out my coffee's, they way I make it for two. But when it is me only, I use a slightly larger cup.

So, my normal cup of coffee (done my way) is 95 calories ... but in my larger cup, it is 124 calories.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS:

I don't have to give up chocolate. If I don't make changes ... my weight won't change ... and that's a fact !

Sweets in general are high calorie ... even the fat free ones.

I can have a Milky Way bar. Limit it to 1 well savoured, carefully pulled apart Milky Way bar ... very consciously resisting just popping the whole thing in my mouth and chowing down in one go.

DIETARY INFO for a Milky Way Bar :

I buy a pack of Milky Ways ... 18 pieces in a 216g pack  ... or ... 12g per piece.

Each piece has 226Kj, which is 54 calories (or 3% or your daily dietary intake).

And leisurely consumed with a nice cup of coffee ... it's (all up) 178 calories and still a treat that makes me feel good     : )

MY LUNCH ... FISH & CHIPS

I haven't started eating the HD's recipes yet.

However, I am eating up the food I have in my fridge, freezer and pantry that doesn't warrant throwing out for temptationary reasons.

And I have bought the ingredients to trial making the Beef Lasagne.



So ... today's lunch is FISH & CHIPS.

The fish is packaged and frozen with a Tempura batter. (NOTE: Tempura has about 1/3 less calories than batter or beer batter).

The chips are also frozen ... but Heart Foundation approved. I am hungry today because I woke late and only had a coffee for brekky ... so I have 1 1/3 servings of chips.

BOTH the fish and the chips are DRY OVEN FRIED.

There is a side salad made of Mesculin greens, a small tomato and dressed with a squeeze of lemon.

The drink is sparkling mineral water with a squeeze of lemon and a lemon wedge.



THE CALORIES:

Fish   (134 calories per piece)       -  268

Salad & Lemon Juice Dressing     -     24

Chips (120 calories per serve)      -   161

Drink:

Mineral Water                                 -      0

Lemon wedge & juice                     -     1

TOTAL:                                             454 calories



So ... for a quick and easy out of the freezer meal ... it stacks up quite well. Quite happy now after working that out.



Chow for now .........

HAIRY DIETERS - HOW TO LOVE FOOD AND LOSE WEIGHT

OK ... in Australia we haven't seen the Hairy Dieters on TV yet. So this entry will bring you up to speed.

Last TV series of the Hairy Bikers was "BAKEATION" where the lads toured Europe feasting on pies, pastries and cakes like it was a race to the Coronary Heart Disease clinic.

And this is how they looked ...

BEFORE

The series currently running in England is a 4 part series called ...

"HAIRY DIETERS - HOW TO LOVE FOOD AND LOSE WEIGHT"

And check out the lads on the cover !!!

AFTER

This transformation took 12 weeks.  So ... what did they do ???

Well ... they love food and love to eat. So, starving themselves or eating foods more akin to animal husbandry is OUT OF THE QUESTION.

Simply, they analysed and changed the way they cook.

They still eat curries, pies, pastries, rich meat stews, hearty breakfasts, sumptuous desserts and treats and takeaways (or Fakeaways as their version). But much healthier versions, sacrificing nothing in flavour, texture or the sheer delight of eating great food.

Si & Dave view lost weight as lard (38kg or 19kg EACH)

The book of Hairy Dieters (cover above) has rocketed to top best selling book in UK.

You can buy the Cookbook here, which is were I ordered mine. Unfortunately, it is currently sold out so it won't get posted until they re-stock.

Another BEFORE shot

I have been following this "food revolution" online and feedback by those that have tried the recipes, endorse that these meals taste great and bring weight reduction results.

Dave Myers at 2012 BAFTA's

THE CATCH:

Yeah, I know ... you have been asking yourself "What's the catch?"

1. You won't buy this food at a "Drive-Thru" ... so you have to cook it yourself.

2. Most of us will lose weight  just by eating these meals. However, exercise (even moderate) will speed the process along.

THE UPSIDE:

There are many. Mostly, you will cook and eat great meals ... the foods you (and your family) already love.

You will become healthier, look better and weigh less. You may even become a better cook ... I know I will.

I now understand calories and if 100 calories is a lot or not ... go figure !

OK ... if you want to know anymore ... follow the links on this page.

P.S. 

I am not eating these meals yet ... so I will record a 'weigh-in' for the record and as my starting point. 

So with embarassment and shame ... here it is ...

Hairy Dieter - Australian Style (22/08/2012)

AGE:             53

WEIGHT:     101.5  KG

WAIST:        117   CM

BLOOD SUGAR:    17.0 mmol/L

MEDICATIONS:    Lipitor, Ramipril, Metoprolol, Aspirin, Fish Oil, Diamicron, Lipidil, Diabex, Nitro Lingual Spray (when req'd) and I sleep on a CPAP.

DINNER MENU #1

ENTREE:

Fetta, Black Olive & Watermelon Compote

DRINKS:

Lemon/Lime Spritz or Lime Spritz

MAIN COURSE:

Beef Lasagne

Side Salad

DRINKS:

Red Wine - Khatz Pysse Merlot 2006

or

Lemon/Lime Spritz or Lime Spritz

DESSERT:

Berry Tiramisu

DRINKS:

Cappuccino or Tea

Total calories for entire meal is 850 calories (approx) depending on drink selection and quantity.

WELCOME ...

This is my attempt to form a group to dine and enjoy food, while learning better ways to cook, thus losing weight without sacrificing flavour and enjoyment.

Not dieting ... but better balancing diet (in it's broader sense).

I have been inspired by the Hairy Dieters who seem to have proved in 12 weeks that it is possible ... and I am driven by health issues to act.

I would like to assemble a compliment of recipes (breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, treats and drinks), learn to cook them ... and adopt them as a staple regime in the meals I consume.

Along the way, I will blog the process and results.

Cassoulet

So far, I have recipes for:

BREAKFAST:

Crumpets & Berries in Yoghurt & Honey

Bacon, Eggs & Tomato


SNACKS:

Nicoise Wraps

Chilli Salad Bowls / Tacos

Beef & Potato Pies


LUNCH & DINNER:

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Egg, Bacon & Asparagus Flan

Beef Lasagne

Roast Masala Chicken   &   Roast Veggies

Chicken Korma

Beachside Paella

Cassoulet (French Rich Meat Stew)


DESSERTS & TREATS:

Berry Tiramisu

Lemon Cup Cakes with Drizzly Icing


Of course, this is the starting point. Most of this menu comes courtesy of the Hairy Dieters. However, I will be adding to it as time goes by.

Low fat Quiche ?? Believe it !

For now, I am emailing and 'word of mouthing' to find 5 local like-minded people. I hope it is not going to be difficult to find 5 people motivated enough to eat dinner ... but in this crazy world ... I wouldn't want to wager cash on it.

More to come .... stay tuned.