Hi bluesfan,

We have a blender, I am buying everything new after dear daughter emptied the kitchen to set up her home. Am currently eating fresh/frozen home made tomato and mushroom soups from the freezer. The Ex cooks in bulk.

How are you getting on? I have this for your spinach:

http://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/ne...a-filo-parcels

Spanakopira was a childhood favourite in Cyprus, and the Feta is a lower cal option than most cheeses. Sorry to say I have to buy mine in ready made now.

I have actually started keeping a Food/Calorie Log these past two days, and with a new set of scales tomorrow (no thanks, daughter) I will have an accurate Calorie intake.

Dave.

Oh, yes bluesfan,

Another spinach idea, and another favourite, homemade spinach pasta. We have never had a pasta machine, but using a rolling pin makes nice sheets for Lasagne. Fresh pasta has far fewer calories than dry, and it tastes infinitely better.

Oh, and just for my own peace of mind, from a Post above, the problem med I'm on is Metoclopramide, not Metoprolol. That was my old beta-blocker, it's been on my mind with the increased Panic Attacks.

Dave.

Since my hip replacement MESS in 2010, and my downhill slide from this mess, I cannot walk much at all anymore, so find myself at home A LOT, and enjoy foods...but am sensible....I've put on maybe 20 lbs in the last 5 some yrs but I bring NO BREAD into my house anymore and have not for some yrs.....started to buy gluten free but stopped that too. Wrap my burgers or whatever meat I choose in lovely romaine lettuce leaves...

Bread is dead food and my body does not need it. There is a huge article on the history of bread in our lives and I found it very interesting when I read it.

I take no prescription drugs that put on weight but I know many do take them and the weight gain is major. Good luck and just DO IT....

My dear daughter went thru some major issues in her marriage and ended up in a rehab situation, and while there the sleep drugs they gave her packed on probably 60 lbs to her lovely body. It took a couple yrs but once she got a grip on, she took it off, Jenny Craig program helped her a lot.

Hi Dave and all,
Here's the soup recipe I mentioned earlier. By the way it freezes well if you want to make up a batch.

Chinese Hot & Sour Soup

Ingredients: Serves 2

2 cups beef stock
100g finely sliced lean rump or topside steak (schnitzel works well)
½ cup sliced mushrooms
½ teaspoon finely chopped ginger
2 teaspoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons soy sauce
125g fresh noodles or 30g dried noodles (plain)
1 tablespoon vinegar (cider or rice wine vinegar works best)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
¼ teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon finely sliced spring onion (green shallots)

Place stock, steak, mushrooms, ginger, tomato paste and soy sauce into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Prepare noodles according to pack directions, drain well and add to soup. Add vinegar, sesame oil, and spring onions. Return to the boil and serve at once.

Variations: Sliced chicken and chicken stock can be used in place of beef. If noodles are not wanted finely sliced cabbage can be used to replace them. Other ingredients can be added to suit: eg finely sliced capsicum, chilli, carrot etc.

Thanks bluesfan - looks yummy and I will give it a try.

With winter approaching I should add to my batches of home-made soup.

Ok, it's been a fortnight, and I have settled in to 1/3 to 1/2 the ridiculous QUANTITIES I used to eat, and hit 920 - 1150kCals a day (around the lower on fish days), again cutting calorific intake by 50 to 60ish%

And what did I find of benefit from this radical reduction? A 9lb loss in the first 2 weeks. I know I have been ultra strict with portion size, this speed of loss is unsustainable, and I have always lost weight quickly in the past, but this amount comes as a shock! I checked 3 times, weighing at noon on Saturday wearing t-shirt and boxers (sorry for that image in your minds). I suppose my Metoclopramide is now working in my favour.

It is not easy. I have hunger pangs and cravings, but I had them before and that is where the weight piled on. There has been no junk, one Baklava treat a week - and that is just 97kCals. It helps that my neck and arms are so painful it slows down lifting a fork to my mouth now, and is deteriorating. Meals last nearly twice as long so I get the chance to savour my food and feel full.

The one thing I have not done is get the tape measure out. That is a once-a-month ritual.

I trust that everyone on this Journey is making progress. I still have a long, long way to go. Maybe I will photograph my scales when I hit my target?

Dave.

Dave, that sounds really great .

I do mindful eating ("I get the chance to savour my food" as well.

Dear david,
congratulations on your weight loss.
that is fantastic!!!!!!!!
I applaud you in your determination to stick with your diet plan.
Losing weight is all about the food.
I am sorry you can lose weight and not do one exercise at all.
I think that you need to eat at least 1200 calories or you run the risk of your body turning into panic mode. starvation mode and turning off your metabolism.
I wish you much luck in this journey....it will take a while but it is worth the effort.
YOU ARE WORTHY OF THIS EFFORT!
bizi

Good Luck Dave on your mission to lose some weight.

I know how hard that "battle" is ... hence the saying " battle of the bulge"
:-)


I try to fill up on lean protein along with my veggies... but I CRAVE those carbs!!!

I noticed that one of the side effects of many meds I've been on is weight gain.

Some meds can slow metabolism , retain water and just make me hungry.

For the metabolism, I started eating more spices that help speed it up like
chili powder, cumin,turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.

Looking forward to your updates....

Good Luck Dave on your mission to lose some weight.

I know how hard that "battle" is ... hence the saying " battle of the bulge"


I try to eat mostly lean protein , soy products, low fat and low salt dairy products and nuts , along with my veggies... but I CRAVE those carbs!!!

I noticed that one of the side effects of many meds is weight gain.

Some meds can slow metabolism , retain water or just make me hungry.


For the metabolism, I started eating more spices that help speed it up like
chili powder, cumin,turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.

Looking forward to your updates....