Hooray for low calorie comfort food. Lunch (my boyfriend was here so I made him one too, don't have a picture of that). 270 calories, made with weightwatchers pita, 21g tomato puree, 10g olives, 3g fresh basil, 33g mushroom, 16g sundried tomato, 31g brown onion, 20g reduced fat cheese, and 22g extra lean ham.
Amy's weight loss diary
- Thread starter amy1985
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Jeanette401
New member
Ooh, that dessert definitely looked yummy! I may have to try the cauliflower rice... I'm a little hesitant just because when I've tried things in the past like cooking cauliflower under a roast kind of like they were potatoes and then mashing them were not well received by my husband. They tasted fine to me, but not so much for him...
Also, PMS sucks.
Also, PMS sucks.
I'm not sure how other people will take it the way I made it- it was just blended cauliflower for me- but there are other recipes out there on low carb recipes and such where they promise their SO's thought it was regular rice until they told them otherwise (do involve butter and such).
That dessert was definitely delicious, will be making again
Just had some unsolicited advice on a Facebook group I'm a member of. Two people told me (I'd mentioned calorie counting- this is a food group so it's sort of relevant) to stop starving myself and exercise portion control instead (and to exercise, haha). Starving myself?!!!
They even told me I could enjoy (they named a certain food) in moderation. Um... no shit. That's what I do. I don't get it. People hear "calorie counting" and assume a) it takes hours of worth and complex mathematics, and b) I must be starving myself.
That dessert was definitely delicious, will be making again
Just had some unsolicited advice on a Facebook group I'm a member of. Two people told me (I'd mentioned calorie counting- this is a food group so it's sort of relevant) to stop starving myself and exercise portion control instead (and to exercise, haha). Starving myself?!!!
They even told me I could enjoy (they named a certain food) in moderation. Um... no shit. That's what I do. I don't get it. People hear "calorie counting" and assume a) it takes hours of worth and complex mathematics, and b) I must be starving myself.
Sunflower2
New member
Yeah, it's a shame. People associate it with eating disorders and stuff. It's just a healthy way to safely lose weight. I know that (back when I was dieting extremely) that I would think I'd had loads of food, add it up and it would be under 1000. Calorie counting started as a way to make sure I was eating *enough* and that I was eating my calories spread out all over the day as I had a tendency to eat nothing all day and then eat 1500 calories for dinner.
ramble ramble ramble.
People are dumb.
ramble ramble ramble.
People are dumb.
I
ItalianGirl
Guest
I totally agree with you.
If you're eating the right way, your food wouldn't be caloric. And i have to admit that someday it's very difficult to me to eat enough calories.
I don't weigh my food to eat less...i weight it to eat enough
If you're eating the right way, your food wouldn't be caloric. And i have to admit that someday it's very difficult to me to eat enough calories.
I don't weigh my food to eat less...i weight it to eat enough
I definitely have to weigh my food to eat a small enough amount- unfortunately I have a great big appetite. But if I know what I can eat I don't have to just continually try to eat less and hope, stab in the dark, pray, something like that, that maybe it'll make me lose weight. I've pretty much always eaten healthily- just tried to eat less and not eat "bad" things very much. That made me miserable (due to hunger/ feeling deprived), led to binges, and I kept putting on weight. I'm in control now- and as I keep saying, I'm also eating more, I don't go hungry, and I'm eating more of the things I like. And I'm actually losing weight, unlike everything else I've tried before!
Dinner I've just posted this in the "omnivore club", but I made this tonight (adapted for one, as pork doesn't make great leftovers): The meat, apple, and spices as I made it came to 355 calories, and I served with roast potato as I'm in need of comfort food (stupid PMS), which was another 200 calories, and steamed veg. All up 645 calories, which is a lot given I'm trying to aim towards the low end of my calorie range now (but nto too high if thinking about the high end of my calorie range), but I actually haven't eaten a lot today, and I think given I have PMS I've done reasonably well surviving with this sorta-kinda binge.
Dinner
I've just posted this in the "omnivore club", but I made this tonight (adapted for one, as pork doesn't make great leftovers): The meat, apple, and spices as I made it came to 355 calories, and I served with roast potato as I'm in need of comfort food (stupid PMS), which was another 200 calories, and steamed veg. All up 645 calories, which is a lot given I'm trying to aim towards the low end of my calorie range now (but nto too high if thinking about the high end of my calorie range), but I actually haven't eaten a lot today, and I think given I have PMS I've done reasonably well surviving with this sorta-kinda binge.Oh, and I showed my boyfriend that "people at your height/ weight" site. He knows he needs to lose weight, but has always said he'd be happy getting out of the obese category (he's currently obese class 2- no, I'm not shallow, I worry about his health) and that people of "healthy weight" (BMI 18.5-24.9) are too skinny and that BMI isn't all it's cracked up to be. I know BMI isn't a perfect tool, but I think it's a reasonable estimate without formal/ specialist medical advice (which both of us have found nigh on impossible to get- he asked his GP for advice, and was basically told to join Weight Watchers. I've talked to my GP about it, and the only indication I've got one way or another was concern I was starving myself using calorie counting- but then approval when I'd explained what numbers I was using and why).
Anyway, I showed him these pictures for his height, his weight, and a weight that would constitute middle of healthy BMI for him. He seemed impressed, and I think is rethinking the "people with a healthy BMI- except you dear, you're gorgeous- are too skinny and need to eat a kebab" business.
Anyway, I showed him these pictures for his height, his weight, and a weight that would constitute middle of healthy BMI for him. He seemed impressed, and I think is rethinking the "people with a healthy BMI- except you dear, you're gorgeous- are too skinny and need to eat a kebab" business.
overtherainbow
New member
First of all Amy, I am not saying that you have a problem, I think your doing really well. But some people CAN take dieting to the extreme and get obsessed and filled with guilt at every little calorie they eat- I was like that. I kept on buying myself packs of tea cakes and biscuits and throwing them back up again. I got a grip after a few weeks of doing it, but the obsession carried on. I used to count calories and weigh everything. I personally am scared of falling back into that obsession of calories, which is why i am no longer counting them. I want to eat now how I'm planning on eating for the rest of my life, and i don't want to be counting calories my whole life. Maybe this approach won't work as well for me this time, but I'll find out soon!
I'm all for "do what works for you". Calorie counting works for me- so I suggest it a lot (in part to try to get the idea out of people's head that it's about carrot sticks and being hungry all the time, because it doesn't have to be, as you've probably seen from looking at what I eat). But if it doesn't work for you or anyone else, I'm not bothered, as long as you're happy. (And I'll take suggestions etc from anybody, no matter what diet/ plan they're on) I can certainly see that if it becomes an obsession that calorie counting wouldn't be the way to go- for me it's just a way to be in control and not have to "ban" foods from my life (for me that's a recipe for misery).
I don't think I'll be counting calories forever- I imagine that by the time I get down to goal weight I'll have a good idea of what's in most of the food I eat, and so I'll be able to eyeball it and be more or less right. If I'm not and I gain weight, well, I can always count calories to lose what little I've gained (because I intend to keep monitoring my weight). That being said, this isn't hard for me- I don't find it a lot of work to keep track (my calorie calculator does most of the work for me, I just weigh and put the info in) and can certainly see myself doing this sort of thing for however long it takes me to shift this weight.
I don't think I'll be counting calories forever- I imagine that by the time I get down to goal weight I'll have a good idea of what's in most of the food I eat, and so I'll be able to eyeball it and be more or less right. If I'm not and I gain weight, well, I can always count calories to lose what little I've gained (because I intend to keep monitoring my weight). That being said, this isn't hard for me- I don't find it a lot of work to keep track (my calorie calculator does most of the work for me, I just weigh and put the info in) and can certainly see myself doing this sort of thing for however long it takes me to shift this weight.
Jeanette401
New member
I think with weight loss it's pretty common for people to assume that there's a kind of one size fits all solution, and we should just do that across the board and - problem solved!
I'm often astonished when I hear about things that work for some people, that have not worked so well for me. And also things that work really well for me turn out badly for others.
I myself find calorie counting a useful tool. I can certainly see taking it too far, but I think that can be said for almost anything. Exercise is good - exercising yourself into the ground and ending up unable to do anything because you over did it doesn't help! Getting your colloidal minerals is probably good, but - I kid you not - you can turn yourself permanently silver from getting too much silver, lol. Look up argyria!
On the previous topics though, I'm not sure I believe the claims of the cauliflower being mistaken for something else... I've tried some recipes that claim that, and I could definitely tell. And so can my husband.
And good on your boyfriend for starting to realize that maybe there's a little something to BMI. I think that it's not always right, but really, if you're not an athlete and you're at really high BMI... there are a lot of health concerns. Healthy BMI doesn't have to be scrawny looking! Oh, and if you haven't seen them, Leigh Peele (the one who put up the 'learn to measure video' I think - has a great page with pictures of people at various body fat percentages.
I'm often astonished when I hear about things that work for some people, that have not worked so well for me. And also things that work really well for me turn out badly for others.
I myself find calorie counting a useful tool. I can certainly see taking it too far, but I think that can be said for almost anything. Exercise is good - exercising yourself into the ground and ending up unable to do anything because you over did it doesn't help! Getting your colloidal minerals is probably good, but - I kid you not - you can turn yourself permanently silver from getting too much silver, lol. Look up argyria!
On the previous topics though, I'm not sure I believe the claims of the cauliflower being mistaken for something else... I've tried some recipes that claim that, and I could definitely tell. And so can my husband.
And good on your boyfriend for starting to realize that maybe there's a little something to BMI. I think that it's not always right, but really, if you're not an athlete and you're at really high BMI... there are a lot of health concerns. Healthy BMI doesn't have to be scrawny looking! Oh, and if you haven't seen them, Leigh Peele (the one who put up the 'learn to measure video' I think - has a great page with pictures of people at various body fat percentages.
Why am I still awake? It's getting on towards stupid o'clock and I'm not well. I don't understand myself sometimes.
Obviously no exercise today, feeling pretty rotten. Quite a bit of pain in shoulders/ arms- not sure whether that's DOMS still or whether it's just "hey, you didn't fall pregnant this month, here, have some pain!" Obviously most of my pain is abdominal at the moment but I know that's got nothing to do with exercise.
Food diary.
Monday 16 May
(late) breakfast: 45g oats, 60g blueberries, 78ml milk, some cinnamon. Subtotal: 209 calories, 7g protein, 35g carbs, 3g fat. 15/68/17 split
Two cups of coffee- first with 56ml milk and 237ml coffee, second with 44ml milk and 284ml coffee. Subtotal: 40 calories, 4g protein, 5g carbs, <1g fat. 39/56/5 split.
(very late) lunch: homemade pizza. Weightwatchers pita, 21g tomato puree, 3g basil, 33g mushroom, 16g sundried tomato, 31g onion, 20g light cheese, 22g extra light ham. With home made ice tea- 208ml of concentrate, forgot to measure how much water I added to it. Subtotal: 275 calories, 16g protein, 29g carbs, 8g fat. 23/47/29 split.
Snack: 115g apple and 308ml water. 57 calories, <1g protein, 13g carbs, negligible fat. 3/95/2
Tea: 36ml milk, 279ml tea. 12 calories, 1g protein, 1g carb, negligible fat. 39/59/3
Dinner: spiced apple pork recipe with side of roast potato and veggies. 120g pork loin, 99g apple, 5g brown sugar, 188g potato, 125g carrot, 222g zucchini, 16g (total) olive oil, 1g salt, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, cumin. Subtotal: 645 calories, 46g protein, 60g carbs, 26g fat. 27/36/37
Total: 1240 calories (70% of new goal), 76g protein (86%), 146g carbs (50%), 39g fat (102%), 1751.3ml water (oops), 1310.6mg sodium (87% of goal). Total split: 23/48/29.
Obviously no exercise today, feeling pretty rotten. Quite a bit of pain in shoulders/ arms- not sure whether that's DOMS still or whether it's just "hey, you didn't fall pregnant this month, here, have some pain!" Obviously most of my pain is abdominal at the moment but I know that's got nothing to do with exercise.
Food diary.
Monday 16 May
(late) breakfast: 45g oats, 60g blueberries, 78ml milk, some cinnamon. Subtotal: 209 calories, 7g protein, 35g carbs, 3g fat. 15/68/17 split
Two cups of coffee- first with 56ml milk and 237ml coffee, second with 44ml milk and 284ml coffee. Subtotal: 40 calories, 4g protein, 5g carbs, <1g fat. 39/56/5 split.
(very late) lunch: homemade pizza. Weightwatchers pita, 21g tomato puree, 3g basil, 33g mushroom, 16g sundried tomato, 31g onion, 20g light cheese, 22g extra light ham. With home made ice tea- 208ml of concentrate, forgot to measure how much water I added to it. Subtotal: 275 calories, 16g protein, 29g carbs, 8g fat. 23/47/29 split.
Snack: 115g apple and 308ml water. 57 calories, <1g protein, 13g carbs, negligible fat. 3/95/2
Tea: 36ml milk, 279ml tea. 12 calories, 1g protein, 1g carb, negligible fat. 39/59/3
Dinner: spiced apple pork recipe with side of roast potato and veggies. 120g pork loin, 99g apple, 5g brown sugar, 188g potato, 125g carrot, 222g zucchini, 16g (total) olive oil, 1g salt, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, cumin. Subtotal: 645 calories, 46g protein, 60g carbs, 26g fat. 27/36/37
Total: 1240 calories (70% of new goal), 76g protein (86%), 146g carbs (50%), 39g fat (102%), 1751.3ml water (oops), 1310.6mg sodium (87% of goal). Total split: 23/48/29.
I actually believe that calories are the be all and end all (and it seems to me that all weight loss strategies that work work on the basis of a calorie deficit), it's the execution that might give people trouble. But I don't want to evangelise- I spend time suggesting things and going through things with people because I want to help them, not because I have a dogma or something to sell. (Except with people who won't eat vegetables. I can get a bit dogmatic about that. Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition!)
Yeah, I've seen people who are sort of blue-ish from too much silver. A lot of things can be taken too far, and I'd rather be cautious with what I put into my body.
Yeah, I was a bit dubious about the rice being anything like rice. It was just tiny little bits of cauliflower. It works for purpose, but people are nuts if they think it's anything else. (Unless they seriously overspice it, but overspicing anything will disguise the flavour- although not the texture. And to me that really defeats the purpose)
I was so pleased he's finally starting to get it. He's really funny about this sort of thing- he sometimes seems to think standards of beauty/ grooming/ weight loss are big conspiracies by commercial companies to get you to buy their crap (I can see it... to a very limited extent. E.g. I don't think the fact I'm not vajazzled- sorry if that's TMI- makes me less desirable as a woman or means I have a low self-esteem like some people claim). I asked him recently if he thought I looked better having lost the weight. He said yes... in a tone that made it sound like I'd made him admit to Nazi tendencies or something. It's another question entirely of putting it into action, and I'm not sure how to help him do that (bribery won't work, I've offered him all sorts of things for milestones). He says he needs to go at his own pace... I just wish I could light some dynamite under his arse and get him going.
Yeah, I've seen people who are sort of blue-ish from too much silver. A lot of things can be taken too far, and I'd rather be cautious with what I put into my body.
Yeah, I was a bit dubious about the rice being anything like rice. It was just tiny little bits of cauliflower. It works for purpose, but people are nuts if they think it's anything else. (Unless they seriously overspice it, but overspicing anything will disguise the flavour- although not the texture. And to me that really defeats the purpose)
I was so pleased he's finally starting to get it. He's really funny about this sort of thing- he sometimes seems to think standards of beauty/ grooming/ weight loss are big conspiracies by commercial companies to get you to buy their crap (I can see it... to a very limited extent. E.g. I don't think the fact I'm not vajazzled- sorry if that's TMI- makes me less desirable as a woman or means I have a low self-esteem like some people claim). I asked him recently if he thought I looked better having lost the weight. He said yes... in a tone that made it sound like I'd made him admit to Nazi tendencies or something. It's another question entirely of putting it into action, and I'm not sure how to help him do that (bribery won't work, I've offered him all sorts of things for milestones). He says he needs to go at his own pace... I just wish I could light some dynamite under his arse and get him going.
imaninjadangit
New member
I use to think that calorie counting meant starving. I also thought a double quarter pounder and large fry was a sensible meal. Lol
Now, I know that I can eat what I want, if I stay in my calories. I eat healthy now, but if I want to splurge once a week, I can. I just need to budget the rest of my day. This is something I could actually live with. I eat what everyone else is eating for dinner, have my sensible lunch, a couple of low calorie snacks, then a small, but filling, breakfast. More often than not, I feel like I'm eating to much, even when I barely make my calories. I'm eating so many different low calorie foods, as opposed to 2 or 3 500 calorie burgers in a meal. It's kind of mind blowing.
I'm sorry that you're getting such a bad reception. The funny thing is that the same people who look down on calorie counting, are the same people who are buying every new fad diet pill that comes out. People are silly.
"Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est."
Now, I know that I can eat what I want, if I stay in my calories. I eat healthy now, but if I want to splurge once a week, I can. I just need to budget the rest of my day. This is something I could actually live with. I eat what everyone else is eating for dinner, have my sensible lunch, a couple of low calorie snacks, then a small, but filling, breakfast. More often than not, I feel like I'm eating to much, even when I barely make my calories. I'm eating so many different low calorie foods, as opposed to 2 or 3 500 calorie burgers in a meal. It's kind of mind blowing.
I'm sorry that you're getting such a bad reception. The funny thing is that the same people who look down on calorie counting, are the same people who are buying every new fad diet pill that comes out. People are silly.
"Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est."
Eh, it's just random people on a Facebook group- most of them friends of a Facebook friend (who I think made the group). It's not a big deal and I'm not all that hung up about it, I just felt a bit dogpiled and annoyed by the assumptions. (They've also been talking about their own diets, and my thought has been "that's silly/ too much like hard work" but I keep my thoughts to myself)
I think that's what I'm going to talk about for my first youtube weight loss vlog. Calorie counting- not all carrot sticks (and how to do it when you're a glutton like me).
Speaking of Facebook, I love my Facebook friends. Yesterday I was bitching on my page about something (I'm not going into it on a public forum, could be considered incredibly controversial) and two of them (who I presume from their attributes wouldn't be "for" this themselves) suggested a radical solution that would put an end to this issue forever. I think they've really got my back (and both of these are "online friends") and are behind me (in an online sense) on this, even if they don't entirely agree with me and my reasoning behind this sort of thing. It's making me rethink the issue and thinking that maybe I should look into it some more (I have thought about it a lot in the last couple of years).
- sorry I'm beign so vague, I sort of want to talk about my friends and how much I love them, but I know I can't really come out and say what the issue is behind it.
I think that's what I'm going to talk about for my first youtube weight loss vlog. Calorie counting- not all carrot sticks (and how to do it when you're a glutton like me).
Speaking of Facebook, I love my Facebook friends. Yesterday I was bitching on my page about something (I'm not going into it on a public forum, could be considered incredibly controversial) and two of them (who I presume from their attributes wouldn't be "for" this themselves) suggested a radical solution that would put an end to this issue forever. I think they've really got my back (and both of these are "online friends") and are behind me (in an online sense) on this, even if they don't entirely agree with me and my reasoning behind this sort of thing. It's making me rethink the issue and thinking that maybe I should look into it some more (I have thought about it a lot in the last couple of years).
- sorry I'm beign so vague, I sort of want to talk about my friends and how much I love them, but I know I can't really come out and say what the issue is behind it.
About your online friend story. I"ve noticed on one forum i used to hang out on a lot that friends will often say anything to support their "friends". They become very loyal. Sometimes it seemed me that people would be willing to throw out all reason rather than agree with the opposition. That's not a bad thing when you are the one being supported but i am telling you to confirm that i've seen how supportive online friends can be in an online debate.
I am curious about the cauliflower rice recipe but i think i might have to flip back to the last page. humph!
I am astounded at how much food and detail you have to type up for only 1240 calories in your last entry. (re May 16).
As a favour, could you space it a little more please to make it easier to read?
Thanks for coming by my diary today Amy.
I am curious about the cauliflower rice recipe but i think i might have to flip back to the last page. humph!
I am astounded at how much food and detail you have to type up for only 1240 calories in your last entry. (re May 16).
As a favour, could you space it a little more please to make it easier to read?
Thanks for coming by my diary today Amy.
For the cauliflower rice, all I did was stick cauliflower in the food processor (chopped up into bits my processor can handle), process it until it was the size of rice (well, I overprocessed it, it was more like couscous when it came out of mine), then heated it up in the microwave (supposed to make it absorb water). It tasted like... really tiny bits of cauliflower. The "recipes" call for butter and spices, but if I wanted something that high cal, I'd just... have rice (I know it's not high cal either, but the whole idea of going through the fuss/ expense of cauliflower rice is to save calories, and I think that adding butter would defeat the purpose).
Stuff like this:
I followed a "recipe" like this one:
I'll be happy to space it out a bit better- would having a line break between meals/ snacks/ entries help?
I probably don't have to type up that much, but I'm operating under the arrogant delusion that someone might steal some of this and have it help them, and if I just wrote "porridge for breakfast, pizza for lunch, pork for dinner" someone somewhere might think they can go nuts and get near 1240 calories. (Although I haven't mentioned the type of milk I use in a while. Should probably do that. For any lurkers, I use 0.1% fat milk, anything else will be different calories)
Stuff like this:
I followed a "recipe" like this one:
I'll be happy to space it out a bit better- would having a line break between meals/ snacks/ entries help?
I probably don't have to type up that much, but I'm operating under the arrogant delusion that someone might steal some of this and have it help them, and if I just wrote "porridge for breakfast, pizza for lunch, pork for dinner" someone somewhere might think they can go nuts and get near 1240 calories. (Although I haven't mentioned the type of milk I use in a while. Should probably do that. For any lurkers, I use 0.1% fat milk, anything else will be different calories)
Let me know when you start that vlog, I will defiantly follow you =)
The channel's already up- it's going to be a collaborative thing: . So far Sunflower's put up two videos. Part of the reason why I haven't put one up yet is because I'm not going to be showing my face, so I need enough photos for a suitable photo montage which I'm talking in the background.
Yeah, a space between each meal would be good. Thanks.
Don't stop listing what's in it. I was just commenting from the point of view of the work you have to do. I know you say its not a lot of effort to count your calories but just typing up that paragraph looks like a lot of effort.
I do like to read how many calories are in your meals but i can't visualise the weights of food in grams so i am a bit loss there. Its why i llke using cups and spoons, we all know what a cup or a spoon is like. Though i guess if i did weigh my food, i would be able to visualise it better. But nevermind. Carry on as you are doing.
Speaking of cups and spoons, when i looked at your video on that topic, i am not one of the average people who heap everything up. I never have done since i bought proper measuring cups and spoons. Its because if you want to make a cake right according to the recipe, you have to know that you have to level it. So that's what i do when i make a cake. I do it also for my diet because i know its objective. So i didn't agree with the conclusion of the girl in the video. (which was, instead of heaping your cups and spoons, you should count calories. Rather i thought the logical conclusion was don't heap your cup, level it. But if someone wants to weigh their food, i really have no objection.
I"m not sure i could go with the cauliflower rice idea. But i do like cauliflower soup. Though the one i make has heaps of butter in it and then a lot of milk. So its not really diet food either.
Don't stop listing what's in it. I was just commenting from the point of view of the work you have to do. I know you say its not a lot of effort to count your calories but just typing up that paragraph looks like a lot of effort.
I do like to read how many calories are in your meals but i can't visualise the weights of food in grams so i am a bit loss there. Its why i llke using cups and spoons, we all know what a cup or a spoon is like. Though i guess if i did weigh my food, i would be able to visualise it better. But nevermind. Carry on as you are doing.
Speaking of cups and spoons, when i looked at your video on that topic, i am not one of the average people who heap everything up. I never have done since i bought proper measuring cups and spoons. Its because if you want to make a cake right according to the recipe, you have to know that you have to level it. So that's what i do when i make a cake. I do it also for my diet because i know its objective. So i didn't agree with the conclusion of the girl in the video. (which was, instead of heaping your cups and spoons, you should count calories. Rather i thought the logical conclusion was don't heap your cup, level it. But if someone wants to weigh their food, i really have no objection.
I"m not sure i could go with the cauliflower rice idea. But i do like cauliflower soup. Though the one i make has heaps of butter in it and then a lot of milk. So its not really diet food either.