General Chit Chat!

I used to love chips but for some reason last night I just didnt want them! I'm also not big on potatoes and I certainly cant have oven chips (oven still broke). I think my brains done what it it did with chocolate and just convinced itself that I dont want to eat them! Either that or I'm just weird!!

When I had some chocolate on Saturday night I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, think I built it up in my head after not having it for so long (about 3 weeks which is amazing for me) But I think now I could take it or leave it, didn't even buy it either my mum brought them back for me from holidays.

Just making my dinner now and realised I was having bagel and cream cheese with salad. Cream cheese has always been one of my fave things, but i've always restricted it percieving it to be too fat and then having it anyway days later and overdoing it.

I've realised that I can have it as long as I account for it and it tastes lovely and means im less likely to overeat in the afternoon if i've enjoyed my dinner.

I've also realised that veg is my friend! Rather than being forced to eat it, veg helps me feel full and is really a good weightloss friend.

I'm the same - 10 months ago I didnt buy any veg apart from mushrooms onions and peppers. Now I'm in love with loads of veg and my fridge is full of healthy stuff whereas before it was empty apart from butter and pesto. (my old eating habits were weird to say the least)

Its strange isnt it how once you get used to eating healthily you dont want to do anything else
e.g chip scenario!

I went for a big supermarket shop today and my hubby said get lots of nice stuff - and when i came back I realised that for me nice stuff is enough fruit n veg to sink a battleship and scrummy stuff like salmon, prawns and stir fry veg mixes - my lads are disgruntled as crisps and biscuits are so rarely bought now, but lots of goodies like pineapple, strawberries and grapes instead. - isn't it great

Ah Irn your kids should like Pineapple and Strawberries cos they are so yummy! i had some mango today, soooo nice! it was only 30p at asda, reduced

Sorry guys ive not been very vocal this week, ive started a new job (working for the dept. for work and pensions!) so ive been soooo tired ive not really been on anything except facebook and msn! I will defo be posting this sunday cos ive had 3 really good food days so im hoping the next few will be good too!


Ive FINALLY got a hospital appointment for a heart scan (its like an ultrasound for the heart apparently), next week, which is great news because it means if everything goes ok and my heart is all normal, i can ask my GP to put me on some medication for my flushing! Wooooo .

I'm a bit nervous about this scan, i dont want to get topless if a male nurse is going to be doing it

i will try to keep my modesty at all costs!

Hope you are all well and staying positive xx

Hi Flax nice to see you back!! Hope the scan goes ok - when is it so we can all keep everything crossed for you

Irnbru I know what you mean about the shopping - I opened the fridge last night and my lodgers stuff was all crap and when I looked at my stuff I realised everything in there was veg! I ended up making a tuna bake with enough veg in there to more than fulfill my five a day - it must have tasted ok though because lodger and her girlfriend also polished off a plateful (although they did top theirs with shedloads of grated cheese).

I also realised that I didnt want any of her crap!

hi all, flax hope all goes ok with scan and you get the good news you want
i've just sat down with a light lunch of grilled chicken breast and wholegrain couscous with spinach, cherry tomato and pepper salad, ooh with a drizzle of x virgin olive oil and black pepper
trying to s-l-o-w down my eating pace as i think i eat far too q uickly and trying to 'taste' the food more
chicken salad is yummy

has anyone tried quinoa? i tried it last night but i made it too watery so am going to have another go soon...!

hope you're having a good day all!

ps good for you stella, it's amazing when you develop the new healthy eating mindset, you start rejecting the idea of things that you wouldn't have thought twice about before! and start thinking about eating and cooking things you would'nt have dreamt of before!
enjoy your new and healthy taste sensations!

I love Quinoa it's a nice change from rice. My fave recipe at the moment is Chole http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=8873.0 served with Quinoa either mixed in a bowl or on the side of a plate.

Quinoa is ace. Full of protein and super tasty. I made a delicious hazelnut and cranberry quinoa for christmas day.

I was up early at the vets so I came back and spent the time wisely. I've now planned out 12 days worth of meals and made a shopping list to go with it. I like doing it this way because I make big batches of what I fancy and have so much choice with leftovers or what I haven't cooked that I get to choose what I want for dinner each day. If I don't have choices I get bored of food really easily. So I'll be taking a trip to the supermarket tomorrow, hoping Asda will have some fruit on offer, or butternut squash at 50p still!

Starbuck wrote:

Just making my dinner now and realised I was having bagel and cream cheese with salad. Cream cheese has always been one of my fave things, but i've always restricted it percieving it to be too fat and then having it anyway days later and overdoing it.

I've realised that I can have it as long as I account for it and it tastes lovely and means im less likely to overeat in the afternoon if i've enjoyed my dinner.

I've also realised that veg is my friend! Rather than being forced to eat it, veg helps me feel full and is really a good weightloss friend.

Starbuck - Do you mean cream cheese like Philladelphia? You can just have Philly Extra Light and no guilt feelings cos:

Per 30g

Energy 140 / 33 kJ / kcal
Protein 3.5 g
Carbohydrate 1.5 g
of which Sugars 1.5 g
Fat 1.4 g
of which Saturates 1.0 g
Fibre 0.1 g
Sodium* 0.1 g
*Salt equivalent 0.3 g

and its sooo good on a cinnamon and raisin bagel! well on all bagels. hmmm bagels lol.

stella100 wrote:

Hi Flax nice to see you back!! Hope the scan goes ok - when is it so we can all keep everything crossed for you

Irnbru I know what you mean about the shopping - I opened the fridge last night and my lodgers stuff was all crap and when I looked at my stuff I realised everything in there was veg! I ended up making a tuna bake with enough veg in there to more than fulfill my five a day - it must have tasted ok though because lodger and her girlfriend also polished off a plateful (although they did top theirs with shedloads of grated cheese).

I also realised that I didnt want any of her crap!

Thanks Stella

Ooh Tuna Bake, can u make me some next time please because it really is one of my fave things, esp with a sauce u get in the packets by Coleman or Schwartz, only problem is they are quite high in cals/fat usually, but if u pad it out with loads of veg like u have done then i think its ok!

You gotta be careful cos they might be asking u to make it all the time if they polished off their plateful! :D lol.

kate36 wrote:

hi all, flax hope all goes ok with scan and you get the good news you want
i've just sat down with a light lunch of grilled chicken breast and wholegrain couscous with spinach, cherry tomato and pepper salad, ooh with a drizzle of x virgin olive oil and black pepper
trying to s-l-o-w down my eating pace as i think i eat far too q uickly and trying to 'taste' the food more
chicken salad is yummy

has anyone tried quinoa? i tried it last night but i made it too watery so am going to have another go soon...!

hope you're having a good day all!

Thanks as well Kate Ill let u all know how it goes on thurs with my scan!

yeh i definitely second eating slowly, i tend to just shove it in as fast as i can cos im hungry but eating slow is the way forward, with sips of water in between bites!

Ive not tried Quinoa but i will defo give it a whirl cos it sounds really healthy! Do you get it from specialist health shops or does Asda/Morrisons do it? If so what section is it in?

hastalavegan wrote:

Quinoa is ace. Full of protein and super tasty. I made a delicious hazelnut and cranberry quinoa for christmas day.

I was up early at the vets so I came back and spent the time wisely. I've now planned out 12 days worth of meals and made a shopping list to go with it. I like doing it this way because I make big batches of what I fancy and have so much choice with leftovers or what I haven't cooked that I get to choose what I want for dinner each day. If I don't have choices I get bored of food really easily. So I'll be taking a trip to the supermarket tomorrow, hoping Asda will have some fruit on offer, or butternut squash at 50p still!

Wow 12 days worth of meals! now that is dedication!!!!!! Did u manage to get a nice selection of fruit at asda? i went after work one day and went straight to the Whooped section... Big tub of chopped mango = 30p, 2 big bags of salad = 45p each, box of blackberries = 30p, it was great!


Does anyone here eat mullerrice? i know its quite high in fat for people on a low fat diet (2.5g of fat per pot or something) but they are quite filling and the chocolate ones are nice if ur craving something sweet!

Flaxseed wrote:

Ive not tried Quinoa but i will defo give it a whirl cos it sounds really healthy! Do you get it from specialist health shops or does Asda/Morrisons do it? If so what section is it in?

I've seen it at Asda and in Sainsburys. It's usually where the wholefood dried lentils and chickpeas are. If not health food shops always do it. Good luck finding some and let me know if you want any recipes!

Flaxseed wrote:

Wow 12 days worth of meals! now that is dedication!!!!!! Did u manage to get a nice selection of fruit at asda? i went after work one day and went straight to the Whooped section... Big tub of chopped mango = 30p, 2 big bags of salad = 45p each, box of blackberries = 30p, it was great!

Haha, being a student I've become very good at cooking big cheap meals. I managed to find apples cheap at Asda but that was about it. I did get these frozen smoothie mix things, they have packets of strawberry and banana in them and you add juice and blend to make a smoothie. Sound yummy and will be good for breakfasts/as a snack. I also got some frozen rasberrys but they were £2, you do get a fair amount though. I'm using them in some rasberry and walnut pancakes nom nom.

12 days worth is great - I have 5 days planned at the moment - but that is enough until i work on my essays - I only have my research project to do - i need to get the rough draft in on Tuesday and i will get feedback on Friday and just have to give that a tweak , then just two 3,000 essays to do and that's me done - the tutor has said that if we can get the essays in on one of the class days he will mark them on the spot - so i am gonna see if i can knuckle down and blitz them all an that will free me up for more gym time. Then I will get a menu system worked out.

I am also going to finish decorating the other half of the house and plan to completely landscape the garden through the summer. I also have a small cardmaking business so I want to get ahead a bit and make my christmas cards. I am also waiting for a book called easyscript which is like an easy type of shorthand, so going to teach myself over the summer so that i can do better with my note taking at uni.

I also got a new gadget today (I am queen of the gadgets lol) I got myself a creative zen stone mp player and a waterproof pouch so just waiting for the waterproof headphones and then i will have music while I swim - I am planning on bumping up the distance I swim, but find it a bit boring and music will keep me going.

phew lol - sorry for the big post lol - I am just getting excited as I am getting close to getting all these things up and running and can't wait

12 days planned!!! Wow - even 5 is good. Due to my bank holiday blip I have nothing planned this week - I promise I will sit down tonight and organise myself.

I've never tried Quinoa, having a blonde moment here but what is it??

Flax - the tuna pasta bake is mega low fat cos I make my own sauce and it was packed full of veg - and was mega tasty too!!

How is everyone doing today?

it looks like a gorgeous day up here , hopefully you are all getting the same sunny day

I am nearly done typing up my rough draft, then off to the gym and a food shop ( so trying to think of healthy things to buy) and then get stuck into the next essay. I think I will tackle the politics one first as that's the most boring one (all about the EU powers and if its eroding British sovereignty) - or else I will put it off and off.

hope the summer is going to be like this as it will be great for doing the garden - or should I say rampant wilderness or nettles, thistles and dandelions

Gorgeous here too - although I'm stuck in work Irnbru - you should get a garden like mine that just requires sweeping lol.

yeah lol - I have this really ambitious plan that eventually the garden will have tons of colour all year round and there will always be something interesting happening. but that is a few years away yet. I am going to plant some veg out there too but have to work out a new design to work out where it is going. I love getting my hands dirty but yes I know what you mean it would be handy just to give it a sweep and that would be it done - great for bbq's

Would have a BBQ but would involve guests standing in line like a bus stop lol (back garden very long but very narrow) I would have to line chairs up against the wall - not very sociable!!

lol yeah? maybe not then - mind we Brits love to stand in a line lol

Have now got vision of all my friends lined up in my garden!!

lol yeah - can you imagine being at the end and waiting for the salsa and dip lol

It was so hot yesterday and is looking like today will be lovely as well. It poured down with rain last night and this morning but it seems a bit cooler and the sun is out. I might go for a walk down the shops or something later.

stella100 wrote:

I've never tried Quinoa, having a blonde moment here but what is it??

Lol, I only discovered what Quinoa was when I went vegan because us veg people seem to love it so much! Here is the Wiki page telling you all about it.

quinoa is alright actually; i tried it the other night with some veg curry i'd made, only my second batch of the stuff as i'd botched the first lot by putting too much water in it
it doesn't taste of much on its own [like rice or pasta doesnt] but it went ok with the curry!

it's supposed to be ultra healthy and makes a nice change from rice and pasta as it's very light

i like cous cous too, 'sammy's' couscous brand is very nice and really easy to make and doesn't have any of the nasties that you get in other commercial brands

stella100 wrote:

I used to love chips but for some reason last night I just didnt want them! I'm also not big on potatoes and I certainly cant have oven chips (oven still broke). I think my brains done what it it did with chocolate and just convinced itself that I dont want to eat them! Either that or I'm just weird!!

i envy you stella, wish i could convince my brain i dont want chocolate