Gransnet forums

Dieting & exercise

Frugal February

(570 Posts)
OldMeg Fri 26-Jan-18 08:09:59

Anyone like to join me in this?

You can set your own ‘frugal’ guidelines but the aim is to eat and drink in a more restrained (and healthy) manner that usual just for 28 days.

I did this last year and lost those few extra pounds that nobody wants. For those who have more than a few pounds to shift it can kick start a real weight loss plan for 2018.

It can be combined with 16:8 and any other ‘diets’ you are following.

So, anyone out there want to join in for 28 days and we’ll share ideas and support each other? ?

OldMeg Sat 03-Feb-18 19:40:21

Oh dear!

Come on Frugaleers. Rally! Not more food until breakfast time. You can do it.

What suggestions can you come up with to distract you from eating tonight?

Have a nice soaky bath?

Paint your toenails (those who can still see/reach them)

Take the dog/husband for a walk

Read some recipe books

Indulge in mad, passionate sex.

Do a crossword

Any other suggestions??? ?

Cherrytree59 Sat 03-Feb-18 19:53:22

You forgot Gransnet!!

Jalima1108 Sat 03-Feb-18 19:56:03

I don't want anything else to eat tonight (a fairly reasonable meal) but probably two glasses of wine is one too much
hmm
How many calories in a glass of wine?

Knitting? Keeps your hands busy so you can't nibble.

Cherrytree59 Sat 03-Feb-18 20:00:27

Calories?
Well it probably depends on the size of the glass Jalimasmile

Cheerswine

Jalima1108 Sat 03-Feb-18 20:17:27

Well, it's not one of those that holds a whole bottle shock

And it is an organic wine (does that make a difference?)

Tegan2 Sat 03-Feb-18 22:18:20

I've been to the theatre and just had a latte before the show. Had three satsumas when I got in and I've just made a cup of instant miso soup. Had some sort of instant noodle thing earlier; probably not much goodness in it but the calories were low. Might buy a few more of them. Had my turmeric drink and a banana for breakfast [well, late breakfast; reckon if I'm asleep I'm not eating...]. Sometimes I just pootle around the house and nibble things, whereas, if I make a point of watching a dvd and just have a cup of tea it stops the nibbling.

Cherrytree59 Sat 03-Feb-18 22:43:15

Succumed to the fresh pineapple and a yogurt.
So going to bed as 13 hours before I can have breakfastsad

jalima Grapes= one of your 5 a daysmile

OldMeg Sun 04-Feb-18 08:04:41

Sounds like your taking this seriously Tegan - well done ??

whitewave Sun 04-Feb-18 08:39:47

Last food was at 5.30 and just waiting for my porridge to cook, so what’s that? 15 hrs? So that’s ok isn’t it? Yesterday was the first successful day.

We spent the evening engrossed in GOT and then Spiral - both so good that my attention was grabbed away from food. That’s the way to do it I think but the trouble is there is so few good programmes.

It it was light we could go for a walk. The trouble with this time of year I have difficulty getting motivated to anything very much, although today is bright so might wrap up and do a bit of gardening. Sitting is not good as my mind wonders to things like cheese and pate and all things delicious.

cavewoman Sun 04-Feb-18 09:31:19

Just about to join you whitewave with a bowl of porridge,topped with mixed seeds and a handful of defrosted cherries.
That will suffice until this evenings roast chicken dinner with one roast potato and one yorkie. Loads of veg.
Don't know about the rest of you but all I can think of is food!

Maggiemaybe Sun 04-Feb-18 09:53:43

I’ve decided to persevere with the 16:8 to support my frugalling, and I’ve got used to only eating between (usually) 1 and 9, so I’m not craving food outside those hours. I extended my short yomp to 2.5 miles yesterday, and at the start and end I had 10 minutes very brisk walking, as recommended by Michael Mosley. I couldn’t dodge the raindrops though, and got very wet! As a reward I had a small bag of Sensations Pappadum snacks and one measly glass of low alcohol wine before 9. Then another pack of Pappadum snacks blush when I found out how small/low calorie/delicious they were. Just soup, one slice of bread and some fruit for tea.

Tegan2 Sun 04-Feb-18 12:01:46

Yes; sleep is the answer [got up at 11.30]....

whitewave Sun 04-Feb-18 12:04:51

I’m not dressed yet blush ....just about to shower. But I was up at 8am and cleaned the oven. And prepared the evening medal. Too cold to go into the garden today.

Cheese and walnut salad for lunch

Venison Osso buco for later it’s sat in the oven waiting to be completed.

Jalima1108 Sun 04-Feb-18 12:29:47

We were going to go out on a snowdrop hunt but the sun's gone in and it looks miserable out there.

Perhaps a Greek Salad again for lunch as I failed to make any soup! as for dinner, not sure yet.

1lb less this morning though smile

Teetime Sun 04-Feb-18 12:33:41

Fallen off the wagon big time - bucket of wine half a huge bar of Lindt Hazelnut last night - its was lovely! No hope of anything better today. Cheered me up no end. grin

OldMeg Sun 04-Feb-18 12:35:08

Cheese and walnut salad....if only. And Venison Osso Buco. I’m drilling.

Swapping my lunchtime soup today for a Slimfast milk shake as I need to keep my calcium intake high. Going to DD’s for dinner tonight will see if I can manage some salmon and broccoli. Fingers crossed.

Weight dropping nicely. Body fat % down and visceral fat down to 8.5% ? I asked everyone to contribute to a good pair of scales for Christmas as I’m concentrating on reducing body and visceral fat, while maintaining muscle and bone mass.

OldMeg Sun 04-Feb-18 12:35:53

I’m drooling not drilling. Feels slightly sick at the sight of the word drilling ?

Tegan2 Sun 04-Feb-18 13:31:45

Meg; I'm great at dieting (50 years of experience!); I'll lose this weight, do the gym, lose inches. However, as I've been doing for 50 years, at some point I'll just put it all back on. I think I must be the ultimate yoyo dieter.

OldMeg Sun 04-Feb-18 14:25:20

I get that Tegan and I’m guessing when you put it back on you add an extra couple of pounds for good measure?

Perhaps this time it could be different. I’d think the 16:8 (or 15:9?) could be the ultimate maintenance diet ?.

Teetime where did you ‘fnd’ the huge bar of chocolate? Did you go out and buy it or was it already in the house?

Norah Sun 04-Feb-18 14:38:56

cavewoman make veg stock using 2 carrots, 2 stalks celery, 2 onion, 1 head garlic, 8 litre water. Throw in carrot, onion peels saved in freezer, herb stems, and potato jackets. All veg scrubbed, not peeled, even onions and garlic not peeled, and all cut roughly. Boil, then simmer 3 hours or more, strain.

cavewoman Sun 04-Feb-18 14:59:38

Thanks Norah Will certainly try it your way next time.
I did make a few pints the other day but peeled all the veg!
Hadn't thought of freezing leftover peelings.Excellent idea for frugal Feb.

OldMeg Sun 04-Feb-18 15:47:17

Like that idea too Norah

Tegan2 Sun 04-Feb-18 16:54:34

I always buy organic carrots; don't bother with organic for most things but I've heard they spray carrots with some horrible stuff.

Jalima1108 Sun 04-Feb-18 18:48:57

Really? oh dear.

We ate some from the garden this weekend, they are the last though and they had so much more taste.
I would have thought that carrots were the least likely crop to be sprayed. Organic for us in future then.

Cherrytree59 Sun 04-Feb-18 19:12:09

Evening OldMeg and Frugeleers

No breakfastsad.
Had to wait until 11.30am but we were out before to pick up grandsons (3 & 4yr old)
Then off to cinema, very exciting as the littlest ones first visit.

Only bought popcorn for DGS, but as they have lovely manners they insisted that Gran and Grandad sharedblush

Back to our house for tuna and Mayoblush sandwiches.

Only saving grace, evening meal was slimming world's chicken curry and baked potato.

Having relaxing filter coffee and trying to avoid any desserts.

Next meal, Breakfast thankfully 10am.

I have discovered that having to have a much later breakfast has become quite a deterrent.
I now reason with myself that if I were to have a dessert or treat after 6pm then I have a longer wait until my next meal.

I am a breakfast person and if I don't have breakfast other forbidden foods find their way passed my lips (like popcorn) .

Hope others had a more frugel day than moigrin
Onwards and downwards!