Frugal February

May I join you? Whitewave, my motivation is zilch today. Am doing 16/8 but I am fantasising about food- and not the good stuff, I cant force myself to go and cook kale, it just seems wrong on a cold February day

We've been out and cbb to cook so we're having a M&S lasagne
oh dear, calorific

I know jalima but I started last Monday before oldmeg posted her idea, so I ve joined in and started. I think too the M&S idea is a runner.

I am totally demotivated today though.

At least those meals are portion and calorie controlled (and pointed for WW too if anyone is doing that).

However, it's not February yet.

Yes; when we were away we bought several of those [3 for £10 I think, but some were reduced further as they had reached their use by date]. I know it costs more than cooking from scratch, but it's good to just be able to get home and cook a calorie controlled meal in 4 minutes [which is what we did on Sunday]; had Chow Mein [sp] I think. The S.O. said it wasn't as good as the stir fries I used to make but when I did that we'd eat at least twice as much. Sometimes it's the cooking and having to think about meals that's the problem with me. Today I've had my turmeric drink [milk/honey/turmeric/cinnamon] and a banana for breakfast, a load of fish fingers just now, and three satsumas [or clementines]. Easy peelers and really sweet. Am now going to go to the gym; there; I've said it so I HAVE to go....

If you live near an M&S Food, they do some nice ready meals, calorie counted.

If you’re not cutting carbs WW then poached egg on toast is quick, warm and easy.

Thank you ww. I am going to cut out as much carbohydrate as I can, as a lot of it seems to disagree with me now anyway. I shall aim for the 16:8 but as I work irregular hours there will be one day a week (occasionally two) when the pattern will be 14:10. And cutting out the red wine too?, except on special social occasions.
Unfortunately going away with friends for 3 days, prearranged, and our hostess is an overly generous provider. Then a few days later I shall be attending a friend’s 50th...(how young that seems now.) But then that’s it. So only four lost days out of 28. Maybe I will do the odd ‘fast day’ here and there to make up for it...that’s 500 calories only, I shall give it a go.
I can’t recommend any specific low cal meal, although I make some but it’s only me and I would imagine that if cooking for two then it would have to be something acceptable!

mrsallboys I’ll speak for us all

The more the merrier!

I’ve actually just come on to get ideas about a cba day like today.

I’d planned vegetable soup and a vegetable lasagne and feel in a totally bored with cooking frame of mind.

So has anyone got any good ideas for low calorie dead easy meal when one can’t be bothered to cook please?

old meg et al. May I join? I have lurked for a while but not a very courageous poster! I tried the 16:8 before Christmas and it wasn't too difficult and seemed to be working. But went out of the window over the festive period and then there were all the uneaten goodies calling me! I think I need the incentive of other people to keep me up to the mark. Will you accept me?

I have devised my own combination of low carb, 14/10 (16:8 didn't quite fit the lifestyle!) and no wine Sunday to Thursday. If invited out I just do what I can without making it an issue. In three weeks I have lost a very gratifying 6lbs and I feel I can keep the eating regime up long term. Also, DH who is the evening chef in this house, after a bit of grumping has managed to tweak his favourite dishes and is now on board.

At last I have found some non sweet non alcoholic drinks, which for me has probably been the biggest challenge. I am also working on waist measurement. A whole inch gone already and 4 to go. Now off to a Pilates class!

Actually it will be a bit interesting if we could work out the most successful diet. But the trouble is there will be so many variables that I guess it will be meaningless really.

But I will study the results with interest

Two more sleeps ??

Has everyone decided on a diet regime they think they could stick to? I’m going to allow myself a Cadbury cream egg on Valentines Day, because it’s the half way mark and to give myself something to look forward to.

I’m also going to give myself a wine ration. One very small glass with my dinnner and a medium sized glass Friday and Saturday. To me, it’s important I can stick with this for 28 days and not fall by the wayside, so have worked these treats in. We all need a little something to look forward to.

I like the idea that we are also being frugal with the pennies and have several recipes in mind for tasty, filling meals from leftovers.

??

Tegan it is lack of walking for me too - the weather is just miserable and my ankle is playing up.
We did have a bit of a dance on Saturday (ceilidh) but I don't feel any slimmer.

tegan I’m exactly the same. I know exactly what I’m doing wrong.

Up until quite recently I always weighed more the next morning than I did the night before [unless I'd had a huge meal etc]. But, these days, I just weigh the same. Even when I was away from home the other week, cut out bread, cheese and sugar and went to the gym several times [which included sitting in a sauna for 2 hours!] I still weighed the same next day. However, I have stocked up on satsumas and bananas and, when I fancy a snack or something sweet, I eat one of those. Have cut out bread again [although did have a slice last night as I had to do a last minute babysit for DS and felt peckish at around 9]. What I am not doing is getting any exercise; can't face going for a brisk walk and haven't been to our local gym for ages. Spending far too much time on the computer as well. The thing is, I KNOW what I'm doing wrong but can't get the motivation to stop.

I have a fridge full of veg slightly past its crisp best (we went out several times to eat last week) so I am going to make some soup now! We used to keep Marigold Bouillon Powder in the cupboard as a stand-by when we didn't have any fresh stock; I think I'll put that on this week's shopping list.

The other thing is to try to eat dinner a bit earlier as we normally eat it at about 7pm.

According to DH, I'm always right, whitewave - but it's definitely not said as a compliment!

Anyway, well done and keep keep up the good work

mamma you we’re right!! in fact I have lost 1 and3/4lb now yippee.

So that’s since last Monday.
That’s on the NHS diet of 1400 calories a day.

This week the pitfalls are
Meeting a friend Wednesday evening for a meal
Going to my sisters for supper on Thursday

DH tried to buy some kefir in ASDA, but couldn't find any even though online shows 2 brands available . Will try and look in Tesco this week.

Well Wilma why don’t you be our guinea pig, give it a go and report back. It certainly sounds worth a try.

I was a bit tired when I posted last night. What I was trying to say is that most of us are starting on Thursday but there are a couple who have been on a diet for a while and might be flagging or losing incentive. These will join us on Thursday as an incentive to keep going.

My cupboards are bare of temptation. My only alcohol left is red wine. My soup maker is at the front of the cupboard and I have a a couple of crustless loaves in the freezer.

I’ve decided to keep to the 16:8, to cut way back on carbs, I’ll up my veg and the only treats I’m allowing myself are those I bake myself ?

What have others decided? Remember this is finding what suits you best and finding something you can stick to.

Three more sleeps???

I'm not starting until Thursday either.

suzie I like your tip about 3 ingredients.

Not heard of Marigold stock before, so I will be giving it a try.

I'm keen to increase my level of healthy gut bacteria and I wondered if anyone uses kefir in their diet?

Welcome Millbrook let’s get you back into your work suits.

I don’t think we’ve actually started yet Jalima but we’re under Starters Orders (put that on for Tegan!) and a couple are already on a diet so this is to spur them on and keep them going.

Only 4 more sleeps.

I'd like to join in too please OldMeg ? I need to start job hunting and have realized that none of my 'smart' clothes fit me properly any more! It's far too easy on wet winter nights to curl up with comfort food, so having mutual support ( & distraction!) on this thread sounds like a great idea. Will try not to rush out and eat all the cakes in Yorkshire between now and Thursday....

on not one
not even one