Dumpy's diet diary

Dumpy

Dumpy

New member
We gave up smoking in 2005 and gained a massive 6 stones (14lbs=1 stone) We are both grossly overweight and since the death of our daughter in 2010 she was 32 and we had been her carers for all that time, instead of out and about hill walking, or working in the garden, we have just sat.
We moved house in February, and its a case of new house new life style. We can hardly get upstairs our knees are so painful. We want to enjoy our retirement so have been to our doctor for help he has told us to just eat sensibly and take gentle walks to start off. Not to jump on and off the scales, but to look at the gradual loss as all part of our new lifestyle We've done all the quick-fix diets in the past, but always put the weight back on. Next month, I am 63 and hubby 65 so its no longer a vanity thing, its now loosing weight for our health. We have to aim to drop 2lbs a week, so this will be a slow old job and we will need a lot of help.


Well, that’s the old me. The new started today. Nothing world shatteringly different, just drank at least one glass of water an hour and a big one before meals. Had breakfast… Weetabix, it surprised me that our doctor told us we could have porridge. I’ve always made ‘proper’ porridge in the winter, but thought it would be a no no because of the fat content. However the doctor explained that yes, it had a fat content on the high side, but the benefits, it would give us fuel all morning, out-weighed the fat content. This afternoon we had a lovely gentle walk along the riverbank with our dog. We’re taking it one day at a time. We don’t use much ‘fat’ for cooking, we both love to cook and try to cook healthily HIOWEVER! My husband adores full fat chedder cheese and I have a weakness for butter. Its low fat spread, just a scraping now and only low fat cheese as a treat now and again.

BIG thanks to Omega and Blues for the tips, advice motivation and the welcome. All much appreciated
 
Welcome to the forum! I wish you success in yours and your husbands journey :) Keep posting and keeping us updated!!
 
Sounds like a great start and one you can keep up! Best of luck and make sure you keep us updated!
 
Thaks for the welcome and the encouragement. We are leaning towards pitta bread today instead of ordinary bread. I know its not the bread that does the damage its what you put on it, but we have found that 1 low fat/salt pitta is more filling than 1 slice of bread.
Home made vegetable soup for lunch followed by Muller light Greek style low fat yogurt.
This evening we are having savoury low fat mince with a jacket potato and a virtually fat free jelly (jello) to follow.

I know its important to have some good fat in your diet, so we are watching the food values very carefully when we shop.

I'm in 2 minds about coke zero. I can't believe it has nothing bad in it!
 
Hey there, welcome to the forum! Definitely keep us updated, it looks like you are on the right track.

As for coke zero, it doesn't necessarily have nothing bad in it for you. I'm not criticizing, as I drink one can (12oz or 7.5 oz) a day, but I think it contains Aspartame (as do many diet drinks). I think Aspartame isn't very good for you (Sorry I don't have solid facts, just little rumblings I've heard.) In general any kind of pop isn't good for you, but if you limit yourself, I think you will be fine. A few years ago I was drinking multiple cans/glasses of regular coke. (I've loved coke ever since my parents first let me have it!) Anyways, I began trying to lose weight and trimmed myself down to only drinking one regular coke a day. Then I made the switch over to coke zero. What a difference it has made. I can no longer drink regular coke, or really any other type of pop (besides root beer for some reason.) without it being too sugary. I find it's the same with lemonade. We used a sugar substitute for our lemonade at home and any other kind is too sugary for me. This has helped me out a lot because now when I do go to a restaurant, have if they don't have a zero calorie pop, I just get water. No matter how you look at it it's zero calories! :) Granted, you don't want to drink a lot of zero calorie pop just because it's zero calories, like I said, pop of any kind still isn't very good for you.

Keep up the good work!
 
I think you'll find plenty of water is better than even diet soft drinks. It's really good for your body as a whole, not just weight loss and drinking plenty of water will fill you up too!
 
Thanks Munch Now and again, its nice to suck up a coke isn't it?
We are still learning. Being retired we are used to waking up, having a coffee in bed, and greeting the day slowly. This morning we had to go to the dentist at 8.30am so we were all sixes and sevens and missed breakfast, not to mention the glass of water every hour. We are back home now and having breakfast for lunch!

We've picked up a lovely quick fix tip. Instead of reaching for the biscuit tin when you have a cup of tea mid afternoon, cut a pitta in half and fill with mashed up banana. I was surprised, i always thought you had to be careful with bananas because they were pretty high in things, but no, they are fine.
 
Oh yes, it certainly is. I can't get through my day without it!

I think I may try that pita and mashed up banana. Sounds yummy!
 
Munch said:
Oh yes, it certainly is. I can't get through my day without it!

I think I may try that pita and mashed up banana. Sounds yummy!
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Hope you enjoy it love. Does anyone know how to open a blinking pitta bread without it disintegrating. I've found that toasting it makes it puff up a bit, but its too hot then for filling with shredded lettuce and chicken. I've tried cutting it length ways and width ways with no success so perhaps the secret is to toast it and let it go cold? I dont know
 
Dumpy said:
Hope you enjoy it love. Does anyone know how to open a blinking pitta bread without it disintegrating. I've found that toasting it makes it puff up a bit, but its too hot then for filling with shredded lettuce and chicken. I've tried cutting it length ways and width ways with no success so perhaps the secret is to toast it and let it go cold? I dont know
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toast it and let it cool slightly :) I always prefer the wholemeal ones they are tasty and nutritious!
 
Welcome to the board :D

About pita bread: It often says on the back side of the package to make it wet with running water, just quickly on both sides before heating it, it will prevent it from cracking when toasted.
 
Clarissa said:
Welcome to the board :D

About pita bread: It often says on the back side of the package to make it wet with running water, just quickly on both sides before heating it, it will prevent it from cracking when toasted.
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Keep 'em coming Clarissa:drool5: I'm writing all these tips in a little note book
 
Tried a new breakfast this morning. We put skimmed milk, a no fat raspberry yogurt and some fresh raspberries in the blender and made a couple of smoothies. They were absolutely lovely. We don't a sweet tooth so didn't need any sugar. If they had been a bit tart, I'd have added a tad of honey (I used to be, up until last year, a beekeeper)

I'm not a big fan of artificial sweeteners. Our autistic daughter also had epilepsy and I noticed when I totally cut out Aspartame from her diet, it wasn't easy, it is in blinking everything, her seizures were cut by half and not so severe. What professionals say about Aspartame depends on where you live. Each country seems to have a different opinion. However, I went by my own experience to decide for myself
 
The breakfast sounds nice Dumpy!

Spring is beginning here and I hope I can find the time to a walk on the beach later today. -And some luck; my stomach is a bit upset...
 
Clarissa said:
The breakfast sounds nice Dumpy!

Spring is beginning here and I hope I can find the time to a walk on the beach later today. -And some luck; my stomach is a bit upset...
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Sorry to hear that Clarissa. Hope its just a 12 hour thing. My knees are the very devil today. Just doing what I have to. Are you away for the bank holiday? We are staying at home just pottering in the garden. I chitted (encourage the sprouting) my spuds this week, they didn't need much doing so I hope to get them in the dustbin over the weekend. Much easy to grow in a tub than the ground... less bending
 
We do not have bank holiday, but we have a holiday thursday next week where I plan to go swimming or skating with the children.

Sorry about your knees, have you tried or considered swimming for exercise, it should be easy on the joints and rheumatism (warm water).

Gardening, I wish I had one.
 
Dumpy, if you fancy a healthy sweet treat, you should try grilling some bananas/pears/strawberries until they're very slightly charred and then serving with a dollop of 0% fat greek yoghurt, a dash of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Super nutritious, low calorie and satisfying for a snack!

You can do it with any fruit you like, grilling it really brings out the sweetness.
 
Where abouts in the world are you Clarissa. We are in the west midlands of the UK. Hereford. Any improvement on the tummy problem?

We are weighing tomorrow, first W.I. As this is week 1, and you go on gaining for a few days after you start a diet, and as we aren't on too stringent a one, we will be thrilled if we have just maintained this week.

We are planting potatoes this afternoon. In a barrel, well its a dustbin (trash can) really!
 
I am in Scandinavia. Stomach problem lasted some hours yesterday and started again after morning's exercise.
Hoping for a good result tomorrow om your and hubby's weight!
Have a nice day in the garden.
It's Japanese evening in my family, we get together and eat it, yummi :D
 
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