Plenty of 'ooh' and 'ahh' from the crowd tonight, as we all stood around in the chilly night air watching the skies explode above us. And the wicker man and the bonfire pile both caught fire and blazed away, the heat fierce enough to reach us, standing at the barrier some 50m away.
I love fireworks. They're such glorious, ephemeral happenings. R said that the aftermath of the smoke trails were just as amazing, especially when those 'ghost fireworks' were lit up by the next ones. We had a nice time, and maybe next time we go see something like that I will have the energy to traipse around the fairground and maybe even run around waving sparklers!
Today, I went swimming and did 32 laps. Then we went to the allotment, and dug up what potatoes were left after the blight decimated the crop. R said digging them up, he knew how the Irish potato farmers must have felt like...a very disheartening experience. But we have a few spuds, enough for lunch tomorrow.
Food today: 3080 calories on account of the two helpings of apple pie with custard, and the last of the home-baked goodies. Good thing I only bake pie once in a blue moon!
Breakfast: 1 cup sugar puffs, half cup skim milk, roobios tea
Lunch: 1 slice toast, 2 scrambled eggs made with butter, oil & milk, 2 rashers bacon, roobios tea, 2 chocolate rice krispie squares
Tea: 2 wholemeal pitta bread, aubergine & chickpea dip, roobios tea, 2 chocolate rice krispie squares
Dinner: lasagna & salad
Supper: 2 x apple pie & custard
Although I am still overeating in terms of recommended RDA, I have increased my mobility in my daily life, and I am eating far far less than I used to. Even though I struggled a little, walking in South Park up the gentle incline to the fireworks, I am so pleased I made it all the way to the top! We had a good spot right near the barriers. And then I walked all the way back to the car, parked in Cowley Road - without feeling too puffed out. When I contrast this scenario with a similar walk back in mid July, I am so cheered by the difference I can see in my ability to get around. All my baby steps are now getting me to that different place, and the view from my new standpoint is encouraging indeed.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Day 73 Diwali
I didn't realise that 5 November was Diwali, or I would have put out some little glass jars with tealights in them out on the windowsills. It was raining pretty heavily last night, and since R is staying with me this weekend, we were cosily ensconced on the sofa, having a chat and drinking wine. A rather good Lussac St Emilion 2007 Bordeaux. I'd gotten R some chocolate that he used to like but couldn't find any more - Cadbury Bournville's Old Jamaica - which is dark chocolate with rum and raisins, and that tasted really nice with the rich smoothness of the wine. Not that I drank or ate a lot of either - just enough to feel indulgent, and happy, and best of all - no hangover this morning!
Yay - and my calories for the day are 1619. I attribute this solely to the fact I have been busy, out of the house, and entertaining my friend, so I didn't sit around thinking about what to eat...!
I made lasagna for dinner, a low fat version with less olive oil and low-cal cheese sauce, we had that with salad. It tasted great and I was really pleased because 1/6 portion of it comes to around 450 cals, which is a good dinner, but not ridiculous like eating pizza for 900 cals. And we have leftovers, which R is very happy about, as he can have more for lunch today!
Today, Saturday we have plans for swimming, helping out at the allotment, and watching fireworks this evening.
Food today:
Breakfast - 1 cup sugar puffs with half cup skim milk, roobios tea
mid-morning - coffee with milk
Lunch - 2 wholemeal pitta bread with aubergine/chickpea dip, tomatoes, roobios tea
Dinner - homemade lasagna, salad, 2 and a half glasses red wine, 4 chunks Old Jamaica chocolate. A couple of glasses of water before bed.
A good day, hooray!
Yay - and my calories for the day are 1619. I attribute this solely to the fact I have been busy, out of the house, and entertaining my friend, so I didn't sit around thinking about what to eat...!
I made lasagna for dinner, a low fat version with less olive oil and low-cal cheese sauce, we had that with salad. It tasted great and I was really pleased because 1/6 portion of it comes to around 450 cals, which is a good dinner, but not ridiculous like eating pizza for 900 cals. And we have leftovers, which R is very happy about, as he can have more for lunch today!
Today, Saturday we have plans for swimming, helping out at the allotment, and watching fireworks this evening.
Food today:
Breakfast - 1 cup sugar puffs with half cup skim milk, roobios tea
mid-morning - coffee with milk
Lunch - 2 wholemeal pitta bread with aubergine/chickpea dip, tomatoes, roobios tea
Dinner - homemade lasagna, salad, 2 and a half glasses red wine, 4 chunks Old Jamaica chocolate. A couple of glasses of water before bed.
A good day, hooray!
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Day 72 The lowdown
Food stats for today: calories 2976. Have been snacking too much on home made goodies. On the other hand, have been doing a lot of moving stuff around the house today, and lots of tidying and getting rid of clutter. :) So spiritually, I feel lighter ;) It is a great feeling emptying out all those neglected corners filled with things I own and have forgotten about. And tomorrow I'm going through piles of papers, and getting my filing sorted - I have a feeling the round filing cabinet will be extensively employed...
Breakfast: sugar puffs, milk and tea
Mid morning: 1 cup broccoli, spinach, lentil & leek soup
Lunch: vegetable gratin, 3 bacon rashers, 1 cup cabbage, tea, scone with jam & creme fraiche
Mid afternoon snack: tea, 2 chocolate rice krispie cakes
Evening: 4 scones with butter, mincemeat, 2 chocolate rice krispie cakes, tea
Dinner: 2 bowls savory rice, tea
Breakfast: sugar puffs, milk and tea
Mid morning: 1 cup broccoli, spinach, lentil & leek soup
Lunch: vegetable gratin, 3 bacon rashers, 1 cup cabbage, tea, scone with jam & creme fraiche
Mid afternoon snack: tea, 2 chocolate rice krispie cakes
Evening: 4 scones with butter, mincemeat, 2 chocolate rice krispie cakes, tea
Dinner: 2 bowls savory rice, tea
Day 72 Everyday Anew
It is the only way to keep on going. Stumble, pick up self, walk forward.
Yesterday, after foolishly having a bottle of London Pride, I had a couple of bagels, then I also ate lots more chocolate rice krispie cakes, and then decided to make scones...yes, they were very pretty heart shaped ones, and absolutely delicious with some butter. Counting the cost today in calorie terms though, that evening's dissipation came to 1890 extra calories.
The sad thing is that this was typical behaviour and eating patterns of mine. None of it was particularly bad, but cumulatively repeating behaviour like this day after day means I always managed to either maintain my high weight, or I put weight on. And to recollect that before August this year, I would routinely cook with lots of butter, lots of oil, whole fat cream, creme fraiche, unmeasured amounts of cheese...eeek!
Right now, I am making a vegetable gratin - a dish full of potatoes, sweet potatoes, leeks, peas and carrots in a blanket of low fat cheese sauce made with cornflour, skimmed milk, cream cheese and parmesan. Formerly that sauce would have been made with butter & flour, cream, and lots of cheddar...
I like to eat. So I guess the only way for me to eat anything like the amount or kinds of foods I like means I WILL have to become a much more active person, and learn to eat the foods I like in moderate amounts. So that means moving more and being more aware of how much food is in calorific terms. Less time sitting in front of the computer. More time walking about, doing things, cycling places instead of driving, walking as a habit, more swimming!
Not rocket science, nope. I'm not going to be blasting off in a huge expenditure of energy off to the moon of my ultimate aims, nope. What I am going to be doing is making small changes, every day, like I have been doing since August. And next August I will look back and see a whole different kind of life than the one I currently lead - a much healthier, much more active, and as a consequence of all that, a much happier life.
Because, from where I am standing now - 72 days down the line, I can see already that I have made changes for the better. Baby steps instead of seven league boot steps. All those baby steps though have gotten me 8 lbs lighter so far, and who knows, maybe by the middle of this month, I may be lighter still. I certainly feel lots healthier!
Yesterday, after foolishly having a bottle of London Pride, I had a couple of bagels, then I also ate lots more chocolate rice krispie cakes, and then decided to make scones...yes, they were very pretty heart shaped ones, and absolutely delicious with some butter. Counting the cost today in calorie terms though, that evening's dissipation came to 1890 extra calories.
The sad thing is that this was typical behaviour and eating patterns of mine. None of it was particularly bad, but cumulatively repeating behaviour like this day after day means I always managed to either maintain my high weight, or I put weight on. And to recollect that before August this year, I would routinely cook with lots of butter, lots of oil, whole fat cream, creme fraiche, unmeasured amounts of cheese...eeek!
Right now, I am making a vegetable gratin - a dish full of potatoes, sweet potatoes, leeks, peas and carrots in a blanket of low fat cheese sauce made with cornflour, skimmed milk, cream cheese and parmesan. Formerly that sauce would have been made with butter & flour, cream, and lots of cheddar...
I like to eat. So I guess the only way for me to eat anything like the amount or kinds of foods I like means I WILL have to become a much more active person, and learn to eat the foods I like in moderate amounts. So that means moving more and being more aware of how much food is in calorific terms. Less time sitting in front of the computer. More time walking about, doing things, cycling places instead of driving, walking as a habit, more swimming!
Not rocket science, nope. I'm not going to be blasting off in a huge expenditure of energy off to the moon of my ultimate aims, nope. What I am going to be doing is making small changes, every day, like I have been doing since August. And next August I will look back and see a whole different kind of life than the one I currently lead - a much healthier, much more active, and as a consequence of all that, a much happier life.
Because, from where I am standing now - 72 days down the line, I can see already that I have made changes for the better. Baby steps instead of seven league boot steps. All those baby steps though have gotten me 8 lbs lighter so far, and who knows, maybe by the middle of this month, I may be lighter still. I certainly feel lots healthier!
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Day 71 Sticking to simple menus is less mind-boggling
Just the stats today - Food calories 2251, I'm not counting Syns today because I tried out a new recipe - lentil & rice pancakes (dosas) and they were a mite stodgy & oil-laden! I'm going to give up on trying to recreate the paper-thin dosas I remember from living in Malaysia. They're just going to have to remain a treat when I go back to visit.
It is MUCH easier counting calories & syns when I'm eating european style food! I think from now on I'm going to stick to simple.
Breakfast - sugar puffs with milk, roobios tea
Lunch - pitta stuffed with sardines in olive oil (omega3 rich!), then the pancake experiment (tasted okay, but not good enough for me to try again)
Dinner - sliced pork loin chop with carrots & courgettes in madeira sauce, mashed potato, cabbage, applesauce
Snacks - roobios tea, 4 chocolate rice krispie squares (all calorie counted AND the remainder stashed away from casual perusal...!)
Have done lots of work today, so am going to have a well-earned chill-out watching TV, or read my new who-dunnit novel - A Maisie Dobbs Mystery...An Incomplete Revenge.
It is MUCH easier counting calories & syns when I'm eating european style food! I think from now on I'm going to stick to simple.
Breakfast - sugar puffs with milk, roobios tea
Lunch - pitta stuffed with sardines in olive oil (omega3 rich!), then the pancake experiment (tasted okay, but not good enough for me to try again)
Dinner - sliced pork loin chop with carrots & courgettes in madeira sauce, mashed potato, cabbage, applesauce
Snacks - roobios tea, 4 chocolate rice krispie squares (all calorie counted AND the remainder stashed away from casual perusal...!)
Have done lots of work today, so am going to have a well-earned chill-out watching TV, or read my new who-dunnit novel - A Maisie Dobbs Mystery...An Incomplete Revenge.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Day 70 TV evening, and wierd facts rule
I love semi-factual TV programmes, eg Ray Mear's Bush Craft, and faux quiz shows like QI - fronted by Stephen Fry, that wonderful elegantly urbane actor & presenter. Right now they are going through wierd facts about hallucinogenic drugs throughout history. Fascinating - for example, Hitler apparently said tobacco was the Red Man's vengeance on the White Man for introducing liquor...obviously shows like this are full of great "facts" to regale one's friends with when down the pub! heh.
I'm in an excellent mood. There's the possibility of an interesting new project in the pipeline, and food today has been plentiful, yet not overly calorific. :) Big plus day! Calories 1748, Green Day Syns 33.5. No swim today, but I'm okay with that - am just so happy I'm back on top of the food mountain.
Key today was eating soup - I'm going to be making more soups this autumn & winter, especially filling ones with beans & pulses, as they seem to quieten that 'feed me' voice in my head...
Breakfast - sugar puffs with milk, roobios tea
mid morning - bowl of broccoli, lentil & spinach soup, pitta bread & aubergine-chickpea dip
late lunch - turkey, carrots & courgettes in madeira sauce, mashed potato, brussel sprouts
supper - bowl of broccoli, lentil & spinach soup, pitta bread & aubergine-chickpea dip, roobios tea
Water intake is flagging, have only had a glass & a half today. More liquids!
I'm in an excellent mood. There's the possibility of an interesting new project in the pipeline, and food today has been plentiful, yet not overly calorific. :) Big plus day! Calories 1748, Green Day Syns 33.5. No swim today, but I'm okay with that - am just so happy I'm back on top of the food mountain.
Key today was eating soup - I'm going to be making more soups this autumn & winter, especially filling ones with beans & pulses, as they seem to quieten that 'feed me' voice in my head...
Breakfast - sugar puffs with milk, roobios tea
mid morning - bowl of broccoli, lentil & spinach soup, pitta bread & aubergine-chickpea dip
late lunch - turkey, carrots & courgettes in madeira sauce, mashed potato, brussel sprouts
supper - bowl of broccoli, lentil & spinach soup, pitta bread & aubergine-chickpea dip, roobios tea
Water intake is flagging, have only had a glass & a half today. More liquids!
Day 69 Gulp.
That emotional see-saw struck again. I started out the day SO well, making myself some gloriously green veggie brimming soup to eat for lunch. But then as the day progressed by about 3pm I was thoroughly depressed, miserable, and despite holding out for a long time (several hours) I finally gave in to profligate eating, and making, and consuming of lots of chocolate, nuts and bread products.
Day's total stands at 4701 calories, I haven't bothered with the Syns.
I also didn't go swimming at lunchtime, nor in the evening, by which time I was comatose on the sofa, sleeping off my late afternoon gorge.
Good things here. I did think quite seriously about getting drunk to forget. I didn't, thank goodness - a sore head this morning on top of a tender stomach - hmm not the most joyous of starts. Other good things - my chest muscles are a tad sore, as are my leg muscles - that's a GOOD sign, that I have been working them, and that the fibres have been busy realigning themselves into proper muscle! I slept plenty. And I've posted about this. I did consider missing out a day. However detailing my struggles is as important as detailing my successes. I can only hope as my journey goes forward, these kinds of days will become less and less, and the successful days will number more and more. :)
Food list for today:
Breakfast - 1 cup Sainsbury's hooplas cereal with milk & 1 mug tea
Snack - I cup broccolli, lentil, spinach, leek soup
Lunch - big spinach salad, 1 pitta & half tub taramasalata, rosehip tea
mid-afternoon snack - bowl of peanuts, pecans, walnuts, dried fruit, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, and an apple
dinner - 2 quorn sausages, half tin of baked beans with sausages, 2 eggs fried in 1 tsp olive oil, half baked potato
Evening eating - 4 pittas & whole tub of hummos, a whole pan of chocolate rice krispie cake, 2 mugs roobios tea
Okay. Misdeeds accounted for. Today I can only do better. :)
Day's total stands at 4701 calories, I haven't bothered with the Syns.
I also didn't go swimming at lunchtime, nor in the evening, by which time I was comatose on the sofa, sleeping off my late afternoon gorge.
Good things here. I did think quite seriously about getting drunk to forget. I didn't, thank goodness - a sore head this morning on top of a tender stomach - hmm not the most joyous of starts. Other good things - my chest muscles are a tad sore, as are my leg muscles - that's a GOOD sign, that I have been working them, and that the fibres have been busy realigning themselves into proper muscle! I slept plenty. And I've posted about this. I did consider missing out a day. However detailing my struggles is as important as detailing my successes. I can only hope as my journey goes forward, these kinds of days will become less and less, and the successful days will number more and more. :)
Food list for today:
Breakfast - 1 cup Sainsbury's hooplas cereal with milk & 1 mug tea
Snack - I cup broccolli, lentil, spinach, leek soup
Lunch - big spinach salad, 1 pitta & half tub taramasalata, rosehip tea
mid-afternoon snack - bowl of peanuts, pecans, walnuts, dried fruit, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, and an apple
dinner - 2 quorn sausages, half tin of baked beans with sausages, 2 eggs fried in 1 tsp olive oil, half baked potato
Evening eating - 4 pittas & whole tub of hummos, a whole pan of chocolate rice krispie cake, 2 mugs roobios tea
Okay. Misdeeds accounted for. Today I can only do better. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)