THE NEW ME... EUREKA (DAY 9) - A gluten free, natural sugars, no alcohol diet

 

Gluten free, coconut flour, banana tray-bake

With regards food, my day went OK, starting off with a chickpea salad for my early breakfast snack... super yummy!  However, my backlog of writing and paperwork caught up with me yesterday, so I decided to knuckle down.  With a 12 hour working day, sadly I didn't have the energy or inclination to go to the gym.  I think what I'll have to do is go to the gym first thing in the morning and get it over and done with, as I'm a morning person. 

Also, I had a relapse and consumed some wonderful chilled chardonnay as a treat. It was the research on English biscuits that did it, particularly as I'm a Rich Tea addict.  So what have wine and biscuits got in common?  Not dunking, as one dunks a biscuit in one's tea.  It was the fact that I was treatless.  I had nothing to look forward to.  Selfish I know, but I love making cakes, I love eating them, and I love wine.  I'm determined to remain gluten free as much as I can.  Thus I gave way to alcohol. 

Then a 'Eureka' moment came.  Taff walked in with a bag of 100% coconut flour.  Thanks to William Davis (author of Wheat Belly), I discovered that you can use this flour as a gluten flour substitute. 

As most of my cakes are based on the 4, 4, 4, 2 method - 4 oz SR flour, 4 oz sugar, 4 oz butter, 2 eggs - I thought I'd wing it and try and make a cake.  Unlike gluten free flour, where you just substitute gluten flour with gluten free flour, coconut flour behaves differently.  Yet, knowing what consistency I was aiming for I was able to produce a wonderful tray-bake. Even Taff (who's on a special diet, which is also gluten free) had some.  I was well chuffed.

Gluten free, coconut flour, banana tray-bake

Ingredients
4 oz salted butter
1/4 cup Stevia (sugar replacement)
2 very heaped cups of coconut flour
2 bananas (squashed)
ground mixed spice (approx. 2 heaped tsps.)
2 heaped tsps. baking powder
3 eggs
tap water

Method

1. But the butter, sugar and flour into a bowl.  Using your clean hands, mix together as if doing a
    crumble topping (although as you are using coconut flour don't expect a crumble texture).

2. Add the bananas (squashed with the hands or mashed), spice and baking powder.  Mix together
    with your hands.

3. Add the eggs and stir.

4. Add water to get a smooth thickish consistency.

5. Pour into a lined (with greaseproof paper) rectangular tin and press down the top with the back of
    a spoon to level the mixture.

6. Bake in the oven (gas mark 4, 180 °c, 350 °c) until brown on the top and cooked in the centre
    (approx. 20 - 30 minutes even longer depending on how wet the mixture is).

7.  When still warm, empty the cake onto a wire rack or clean chopping board.  Peel off the
     greaseproof paper.

8.  When cool, cut into slices.


Yummy!  Why not have a go.


Going back to my diet, this is what I ate.


What I ate yesterday (Day 8)

Snack
1 pint water
Chickpea salad (olive oil, red wine vinegar, ground black pepper, garlic, cucumber, garam masala,
        sliced raw leeks, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, coriander.
        - different recipe to the previous day as I tend to use up what we've got in the fridge, in that we
          had no spring onion, so I used leeks.  White or even red onion would do just as good.

Brunch
1 slice ham
1 slice turkey
Grape nut and celery salad - with a small amount with salad cream and Greek style yoghurt
1 bowl Greek style yoghurt - pudding
1 glass water

Snack
1 slice turkey
1 small potato with salad cream

Dinner
Ploughmans - mature Cheddar cheese, 1 slice ham, 1 slice turkey, 1 hard boiled egg, fried potatoes
       (coconut oil), cucumber and cherry tomatoes in a red wine vinegar, pickled beetroot
1 glass water
Wine
2 pieces coconut flour banana cake

I still MUST TRY HARDER, particularly when it comes to giving up wine and doing exercise. 


Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE NEW ME... ORANGE IS THE NEW CHARDONNAY (DAY 8) - A diet with no refined sugar, flour nor alcohol.

2 egg omelette with cheese, tomatoes and spring onion

Yesterday was a good day, no unexpecteds, which meant I could plan my dietary intake. 

I had a 2 egg, cheese/tomato/spring onion omelette for breakfast, which looked impressive and tasted nice.  Though the eggyness of 2 eggs was a little too much for my taste.  I'm a 1 egg girl.

As it was Orange Wednesdays we went to the cinema.  No popcorn or fizzy drinks for us.  In fact we haven't done that for years.  If we do have anything we drink water.  It's surprising though how many people you can hear munching on popcorn at 11 o'clock in the morning, supping their drinks noisily through a straw.  Do they not eat breakfast?

So by the time we'd gone to the supermarket to get our groceries (and some reduced bargains!) and returned home we were starving, and it was mid afternoon.  All the way through the film I had visions of eating a delicious chickpea salad, and that is what I had with some cold meat.  For the next hour I was telling Taff (better half/husband) how lovely and satisfying it was.  I think I'll have some more today... maybe for breakfast.

Also, I tried to crack the habit of alcohol.  I figured I needed a substitute, as it's drinking liquid from a wine glass that I like.  Thus, I decided on pure orange juice... diluted - 50% juice 50% water.  I had 2 large glasses and I felt good... and it meant I'd trunk 1 of my 5 (fruit/veg) a day.  Orange is the new Chardonnay.

What I ate yesterday (Day 7)

Snack
1/4 glass cow's milk - full fat
1 glass almond milk - unsweetened

Breakfast
2 egg omelette + cheese + cherry tomatoes + spring onion
1 glass water

Late lunch
1/2 slice ham
1 slice turkey
Chickpea salad - tinned chickpeas, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, cucumber, squeezes of lemon
      and lime juice, spring onion, garam masala, cherry tomatoes
1 pint water

Dinner
Turkey tikka - turkey escalope, marinated in yoghurt and curry powder, then grilled
Lettuce
Lemon
Blob of Greek style yoghurt
1 glass water
2 glasses orange juice - diluted

Must go to the gym today, and do some ab work.

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME....A CREATURE OF HABIT (DAY 7) - A diet with no refined sugar, flour, or alcohol

 

Lettuce carbonara

I started off the day well, and was good.  This lasted until my friend came round for a baking lesson and a bite to eat (no blame on my friend only myself). 

As you may know, I luuuuuuuv cakes, and love to bake.  So my friend and I made a couple of cakes.  The first was an impressive looking Swiss Roll.  Of course I had to take a slice, it would have been rude not to!  However, it was the same, original, disappointing, eggy flavour that I remember as a teenager when I made a Delia Smith chocolate version (Note: This is not a dig at Delia, as Delia is a Goddess).  Our version sadly didn't taste like a shop bought one, even though we were strict to stick to the recipe - a rarity for me - and even had full gluten flour!  I think I'll have to have a go at making my own version with butter and gluten-free flour... not sure if it will roll and crack though.

The second cake we made, rather pudding, was the amazing Banoffee Pie.  I must admit, I'd had 'banoffee' from shops a handful of times but always found it bland and expensive.  Then late last year I made my own from a recipe online.  I was an immediate addict.  I don't know if it's because it was invented in the UK (East Sussex) in the year I was born, but I know I just loved it.  Easy to make, relatively cheap, very tasty, and impressive looking.  But, the recipe we used yesterday was from a book we (Taff, Nancy and I) gave our friend for Christmas.  This time we adapted it, as their quantities were suspect.  This time, I didn't eat a slice, as I could imagine the ambrosial sweet caramel, with gooey bananas and rich double cream in my mouth.  Pat on the back for me.

I then cooked us Spaghetti Carbonara.  My friend had spaghetti, and because I didn't have any gluten-free pasta, I had lettuce instead.  A nice refreshing green taste to offset the rich cheesy sauce.  I was pleasantly surprised.

So... it doesn't sound too bad, just one piece of home-made Swiss Roll to contravene my diet.  But wait, once my friend had gone, to wind down I had some wine.  I didn't even necessarily crave it, I just wanted to wind down... more out of habit than anything else.  Therefore, I have no sympathy for myself waking up with a headache - after all alcohol is a poison.  I wouldn't mind but I didn't have masses. My body obviously is getting used not to having it. 

What I ate yesterday (Day 6)

Snack
1 glass almond milk
2 large mouthfuls Taff's home-made chilli - mince, coconut oil, green peppers, chillis, passata, salt,
      pepper, Worcestershire sauce

Breakfast
Leftover potatoes - gently fried in coconut oil and mixed dried herbs
4 cherry tomatoes - dry fried
1 piece bacon - dry fried
1 poached egg
Heinz tomato sauce
1 mug hot milk - I'm missing a nice hot cup of sweet tea

Lunch
1 small slice gorgonzola cheese
1bowl Greek style yoghurt
1/2 glass milk

Snack
1 small piece gorgonzola

Dinner
Carbonara sauce - garlic, spring onion and bacon gently fried in butter with strong Cheddar and
        Smoked Cheddar cheese and double cream
Lettuce (iceburg)
1 glass water
Wine

I MUST TRY HARDER!

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME... BACK TO NORMALITY (DAY 6) - A diet with no refined sugar, flour nor alcohol

 

Turkey escalope with 2 tasty salads

Thankfully we have returned to normality again, after a busy weekend away.  I didn't have to buy food out and could have breakfast and dinner at home which meant I was in control of my food.

With a pile of paperwork and writing to do, I would normally have done that yesterday.  However, as many of you may know, running a self-employed business, and being independent authors is tough.  Not tougher than being employed, just different tough.  Particularly as cash flows differently.  Therefore, we diversified yesterday. 

I describe our business as 'Writers, Creators and Thinkers'.  So I used my creative and thinking skills to become a 'professional' cleaner, declutterer, shopper and cook.  There is great satisfaction knowing that you can make someone's life a little brighter and less stressful.  Not only that but it did give me time to think of ideas for writing and it was a day's workout in itself.  Scrubbing floors and cleaning carpets on my hands and knees, in addition to lugging heavy shopping, meant I was able to burn a few calories.  Which is why my neck and biceps ache like billio today, and means I probably won't go to the gym.  Instead I'll spend time recovering those stretched muscle filaments. 

Changing the subject.  I haven't looked in the mirror recently, so I don't know if I've lost any weight.  I hope I have, after all the effort I'm making.  I know my belly's still there because I felt it in the middle of the night.  Wishful thinking that it would disappear straightaway! :)


What I ate yesterday (Day 5)

Snack
1 scrambled egg + black pepper
1 glass unsweetened almond milk (nutty and slightly strange but I suppose I'll get used to it)

Breakfast
1 glass water
Dry-fried leftover mashed potato (no oil or butter)
Mushrooms - gently fried in butter
Cherry tomatoes - gently fried in butter

Snack
1/2 mug tea

Lunch
1 banana
1 mug water

Snack
1/2 mug tea

Dinner
Turkey escalope in a white sauce - Gently fried in butter with seasonings (Garlic Italian, Cajun) +
    double cream
Grape, nut and celery salad with a dash of salad cream and Greek style yoghurt
Green pepper and tomato salad in red wine vinegar
2 glass water
1 banana and cream

Got to dash, I've got piles of paperwork and writing to do.... And, this is the second time I've had to write this blog (as I lost the first one uploading a photo), so I'm 20 minutes behind.

Wishing you a stress-free and de-cluttered day.

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME... A RELAPSE (DAY 5) - A diet with no refined sugar, flour, nor alcohol

Luscious turkey escalope with coleslaw



 

Yesterday (Day 4) was a tiring day as we'd had a busy weekend travelling to the West Midlands and back... and because I'm a person of routine, life was temporarily topsy-turvy. 

Woke up to the smell of wonderful toast as we were stopping at a 17th century hotel (The Talbot, Stourbridge) for the night.  I controlled myself with the wonderful arrays of delicious delicacies - pastries, biscuits, fruits, cereals, English breakfast, toast and more toast - having 3 tinned prunes, some tart red stewed berries followed by an adapted English breakfast, at our request.

Had a walk around the town before travelling down to Portsmouth in one hit, in the rain.  We were so glad to be home and see our beautiful fluffy pussycat, Nancy Jones.  Cold and tired, blogged and went shopping before the supermarket closed at 4pm as it was Sunday.  Came back, put the shopping away, emptied the suitcase, put away the toiletries, put a wash on, had a hot bath, while Taff (better half) was beavering away working.

Chilled out watching bubble-gum on TV (i.e. anything that would help me relax) as Taff cooked dinner.  Then I started thinking.... 'What treats did I have to look forward to?' 'There were none.'  'What if it's my last day on planet earth, my last supper (so to speak)?'  I was still cold, even though he central heating was on, and I was out of kilter and needed a treat.  So, I tucked into the delicious meal Taff had made, with a glass (or two) of chilled chardonnay.  It was either that or cake!

Went to bed early... shattered.

Even now, several hours later, I feel all warm and cosy inside, albeit a little guilty.  However, I'm now back on kilter, to start another day.  I'm doing better than I did last year with my 'Rainbow Food Diet', which only lasted 3 days... and I'm still off the refined sugar and flour.


What I ate on Day 4

Breakfast
1 small glass milk
1 small glass water
3 prunes
2 desert spoons stewed red fruits (including strawberries and blackberries) - no sugar
1 poached egg
1 slice cooked bacon
mushrooms
1/2 grilled tomato

Snack
Drink of water
Bowl of Greek-style yoghurt (as a result of listening to a programme on BBC Radio 4 about yoghurt)

Afternoon lunch
Mashed potato - with butter and milk

Dinner
Turkey escalope - gently fried in butter with Garlic Italian and Cajun seasoning
Sauce - cream added to the jus
Coleslaw - lettuce, carrot, onion, sultanas, British apple, salad cream and Greek-style yoghurt
Wine
2 pineapple rings (tinned) in juice with double cream

Onwards and upwards! :)

Signing out

Pam
:)

Pam Jones
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book)

THE NEW ME... LONGER DAYS (DAY 4)

The tub... one of my favourite inventions by man

I'm back and feeling a little thinner today.  I almost saw a glimpse of a neck and chin (rather than the normal triple chin), but maybe it's wishful thinking!

It was a busy day yesterday as we went up to the West Midlands to see friends and attend a family party, which is why I'm late in writing today's blog... sincere apologies.

I've always found travelling such an issue with regards dietary requirements.  The food at motorway service stations is always overpriced and bland, and unless you know where to look, it is the same for many cities.  McDonalds, KFC, Burger King are not an option (for me on this diet), so you either take something with you pre-prepared or forget the diet until you return to normality.

Fortunately, as a planner, I was able to take some meatballs in a tomato sauce with us for dinner, in a tub, with 3 bananas, just in case.  After a loo break at the motorway services, I yaffled half the meatballs, cold, accompanied by 1/2 bottle tap water from home. Although, the Soho Coffee Company was particularly tempting and did look reasonably priced with tasty-looking food, whilst we saw it being prepared by the cooks behind the glass on display (Strensham Services M5 J7-8 Northbound).

Checked into the hotel, drove to see friend, returned to the hotel and yaffled the remainder of the meatballs.  The bananas would have been welcome was it not for having given them to our friend's kids,  marking the skin with smiley faces first, as a present - sadly we hadn't had time to stop off at a shop and get Cadbury Milk Chocolate Fingers (their favourite).

Dolled up, we went to our nephew and niece-in-law's party and had a lovely time, chatting to family and making new friends.  The buffet looked delicious and I managed to find some traditional nibbles.  We also had a boogie (dance) and burned 1 calorie.  I also managed to stay awake until 12.15, rather than the normal 7.30. So, my days are getting longer.  Yet, I am bushed today after a 3 1/2 hour drive, with washing and shopping to do, so it might be an early night tonight.

What I ate on Day 3

Snack
1 glass water
Leftover curried meatballs in a tomato sauce - See Day 2 for ingredients
1 pint water

Breakfast
1 mug tea (no sugar)
1/2 pint water
Leftover Pam Haggerty (see Day 2 for ingredients)

Lunch
1 bottle tap-water
1/2 the meatballs in a tomato sauce
             (1 dish = 2 sausages + garlic Italian seasoning lightly fried in coconut oil, and cooked in a sauce comprising tinned tomatoes, onion, celery, mushrooms, olives, 2 cloves garlic, ground white and black pepper with a dash of balsamic vinegar.)

Snack
1 mug tea

Dinner
1/2 the meatballs in a tomato sauce
1 glass water

Party
1 glass orange juice
1 1/2 pints tap water
10 cocktail sausages
4 cheese & pineapples on sticks

OK so sausages aren't 100% meat and contain rusk but they are yummy!

Signing out

Pam
:)

Pam Jones
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones

THE NEW ME... I'M DRINKING LIKE A FISH (DAY 3)

Delicious vegetables for Pam Heggerty

 





OK... so it's day 3 of being the new me and being on a diet.  I'm still being good and haven't relapsed (if that's a word!?!?)... yet. :)  I've realised that if I'm going to crack this thing, and lose weight, and be on this flour-free, refined-sugar-free, alcohol-free diet, I have to plan.

I decided to go to the gym early yesterday before my dentist appointment.  Unfortunately my pumps (trainers) were in the wash.  Luckily Taff wasn't using his trainers so I managed to borrow them.  The only downside is that he's 1/2 shoe size smaller than me and so my feet were a little squashed - now I know what it's like to be a professional model!

The gym went OK.  I did 3x20 reps, low weights, of the leg press, lats, shoulders, chest, biceps and triceps.  I even did some abdoms, though I'm rubbish at doing them as most of my back still stays on the floor. 

Had a banana and then went to get my tooth out which I'm very sad about.  Although the story's a whole blog in itself I'll be brief.  

We (better half Taff and I) are very much believers in prevention rather than cure.  Hence we were always fans of the 'hygienist' to give our teeth a scrape and polish to try and remove plaque etc.  However, when we moved areas, hygienists weren't evidently visible.  I even wrote to the director of the local hospital to obtain a list of hygienists to no avail.  Eventually we located one.... a hygienist (we have to pay privately) at our local NHS dental practice, obviously hidden away as she'd been there for over a year!  By the time I saw the hygienist, and with a great effort on her part in trying to save the tooth, the gum disease in the cavity was too severe, hence the requirement to remove my tooth.

So why am I sad?  It turns out that, at the time, you could only have a hygienist if you were referred to by your dentist.  So, if no referral, no hygienist, which is what happened in my case.  Things are slightly better now, as the rules for hygienists have changed a little.  However I don't think hygienists can self-promote which is ridiculous as a good hygienist is as important as a good dentist.  Anyway, enough grumbling. All I'd like to say is that I wish every NHS Dental Practice had a hygienist, where you paid NHS rates, and the hygienist was allowed to self-promote to battle the fight against gum disease.

Had my tooth pulled after some anaesthetic and crackling sounds from the root being extracted. Went home, felt OK, did some paperwork, until the numbness wore off, then had a headache (which I never get) and felt really drained with no energy.  Had a magazine interview and then went to bed for a nanna-nap.  Woke up, and relaxed watching some pre-taped programmes on TV whilst doing some knitting.  Went to bed early and now here I am.

I did manage to eat some food yesterday as the hunger pains still exist, but also drank milk and water like a fish.  I was tempted with a glass of chilled white wine last night but refrained from drinking the golden nectar. 

What I ate on Day 2

Snack
1 glass milk (full fat)
1 banana
1 banana again
1 glass milk
1 glass milk

Brunch
Pam Haggerty - a hotpotch of whatever vegetables we have in the cupboards/fridge

• Courgettes, leaks, onion, celery, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, leftover boiled potatoes, lightly fried in coconut oil and sweated in water, black and white pepper added to cooked cauliflower in a dish, and covered in some cheese sauce (cottage cheese, cream cheese, dash of cream) and a sprinkling of parmesan before baking in the oven. 

1 pint water

Snack
1 cup hot milk

Dinner
Curried meatballs in a curried-tomato sauce

• 1 1/2 fat sausages mixed with curry powder and rolled into little balls and gently fried in coconut oil dropped in a sauce (cheap tinned chopped tomatoes, onion, curry paste, tomato puree)

6 prunes in juice (tinned)


As you can see I didn't starve!

Lots of food planning today, but I'll tell you about it tomorrow. 


Signing out

Pam
:)

Pam Jones
website - pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones

THE NEW ME.... I'VE STARTED THE DIET AND I’M STARVING (DAY 2)

Day 1 - Breakfast

So… It’s day 2 of the diet and I’ve been really good.  I’ve had no processed sugar (unless it’s hidden in foods), no flour and no alcohol; and I’ve also eaten some fruit, but I'm starving.  Of course I’m not actually starving as in the true sense of the word as the cupboards are full of food.  However, I am finding that I’m constantly hungry.  It’s probably a psychological thing… as I did hear once that hunger pains were really a symptom from the digestion of food.  All I know is that I’ve just had a glass of milk and a banana and I’m getting hunger pains. 
 

Day 1 was slightly longer than usual i.e. I went to bed an hour later.  I also wasn’t clock-watching to see when I could have a glass of vino later on in the afternoon as a treat.  Instead, I drove to see a friend and came back late (well late for me anyway).

I cleared the cupboards of goodies and gave them to a local food bank (no sure what they'll think of the yummy Shropshire stuffing mix that I bought for Christmas and never ate).  Still kept some gluten flour to make cakes for people when the urge takes me.  Surprisingly there weren't many goodies at all, lots of out of date stuff that we didn’t use, and some foods that we no longer eat. 

I also went to the gym and took it easy for my first session on some weights to ‘remain injury free’ (Taff’s motto).  I don’t ache… yet!

I priced up the contact lenses.  As I haven’t used them for years (since the incident when I lost one only to find that once I’d had a good night’s sleep it had moved to the back of my eyeball, and then re-appeared again!) I have to have 2 optician appointments.  Unclear why, but I’m sure all will be revealed.  Appointment number 1 booked for next week.

I went to Boots and got weighed (cost 70p).  I’ve grown 2 inches and am now 5ft 8 inches tall (obviously a bad hair day).  Hence the figures will be taken with a pinch of salt.  However, I’m heavier than I thought I was 13st 10ib (87.3 kg) which probably puts me in the obese category of the BMI index.  Taff did point out that when Henry Cooper (famous boxer) was in his prime, even he wasn’t that heavy!  Thanks Taff you’re a pal.  J Crazy really as I don’t class myself as super fat, just chunky.  Talking of BMI I am 29.2, whatever that means… probably not good, and my body fat % is 34.8.  So, a third of me is lard… no surprise there then.

My statistics are 42, 38 ½ and 43 ½ (inches) – bust, waist and hips respectively.  I have a man’s neck i.e. 15 ½ inches, mid upper arm of 14 inches, and mid-thigh of 26.

Oh… and I’ve started a food diary, which is really tedious to do but needs must.

What I ate on Day 1

Snack

½ glass full fat milk
1 banana

Breakfast

1 fat sausage (skinned) – mixed with Mr Naga curry paste, flattened into a patty and fried in coconut oil.
2 field mushrooms – steamed in butter and coconut oil
3 cherry tomatoes – steamed in butter and coconut oil
1 eggs – scrambled with black and white pepper, cooked in the mushroom and tomato juice
1 pint water

Snack

1 cup rooibos  tea (black) – good for the heart
2 large dessert spoons of leftover cauliflower curry

Lunch

Home-made soup – mushrooms, onion and celery sweated in coconut oil, whizzed, with cream and ground pepper for seasoning.

Snacks

2 mouthfuls of milk
1 large dessert spoon of leftover cauliflower curry
1 mug white tea (no sugar)
½ glass milk

Dinner

2 flattened small turkey steaks poached in a cream cheese and mushroom sauce (i.e. leftover mushroom soup)
New potatoes lightly fried in coconut oil
1 pint water

OK, so it’s not an ideal diet, but for a first day I’m quite happy.  Obviously, eventually I’ll calculate calories for my meals, but for now I’ll take things easy.

Signing off with hunger pains

Pam

J

Pam Jones
pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones

THE NEW ME.... I'M STARTING A DIET (DAY 1)

Favourite pastime - Eating 'Pompey' Jack cake and glugging sweet tea

OK... so turning 40 just over a year ago was a big deal for me.  I had reached so-called middle-age and had a life review.  My blood family had all passed and I'd hardly achieved anything that I'd wanted to do in life.  Thus, I decided to change things.

A year on, life is slightly more exciting...

My book Riddles by a J.R.R. Tolkien Fan is published (though sales are negligible)... I've started being a freelance writer (no work published yet, but am hopeful).... and we've recently been in the local News and Daily Mail and on BBC Radio Solent.

However, seeing myself in a recent video, I looked fat and rather a simpleton, with laboured breath.  Yet on the inside (and in the mirror) I feel thin and geeky.  Admittedly... I'm never going to be an oil-painting as I'm not photogenic. I'm never going to be a model as I'm only 5ft 6inches tall.  But, I would like to look glam and pretty and lose some weight.

What have I got going for me?

1. I'm only 41 - Not as good as 21 but it's better than 101 when starting a diet.
2. I've got a brain - Well I think I have... I don't hear a rattle or emptiness when I move my head.
3. I'm a great researcher - Addicted to the internet
4. I've studied a little human biology at University
5. I have some knowledge of diet and nutrition - Gleaned from Taff (better half)
6. I know a little about weight-training - Gleaned from Taff
7. I've got a personal tutor if required (i.e. Taff )
8. I can cook

What have I got going against me?

1. I'm no spring chicken - I'm 41 not 21
2. My body type means I will never be a size 10 - I'm not a true ectomorph, in fact I'm more meso-endo.
3. I'm 5ft 6
4. I'm 85kg (187 Ib) which means on a BMI table I'm overweight bordering on obesity.
5. I'm not photogenic
6. I wear glasses.
7. I've wavy hair which means my hair never gets long.
8. I don't really do make-up or metallic jewellery - I get all itchy and sweat with make-up and react to metal.
9. I'm a browny/greying/ginger - Would love to be a rich ruby Scottish red
10. I've never stuck to a diet in my life - The longest success time was 3 days!
11. I love home-made cakes and sweet cups of tea.
12. I drink too much alcohol - According to my doctor
13. I also have a red Rudolph-reindeer nose - Probably due to alcohol
14. I don't do fruit - I'm not allergic to it, I just don't crave fruit... unlike cakes. 
15. I'm not a millionaire so the diet will have to be on a budget.
16. I have heavy periods - I know a taboo subject (which it shouldn't be), but it is restricting e.g. For 12 weeks a year I can't swim or go to a sauna or steam room. 

I have a plan

1.  I'm going to try and write a blog every day to get me motivated. 
2. I must write something helpful or interesting in the blog, so that it's not all about me, in the aim to help others... or at least make them laugh.
3. Cut out alcohol, sugar, and flour.
4. If I have a relapse I can only eat Stevia (sugar substitute with a bitter taste) and gluten-free flour.
5. Eat fruit and more vegetables.
6. Plan my meals.
7. Price up some contact lenses.
8. Empty the kitchen cupboards of goodies.
9. Write a food diary of what I eat... and review.
10. Go to the gym.
11. Oh... and get weighed at Boots for some statistics in addition to getting Taff to measure me.
     
     

So..... hopefully I will achieve Day 1 and see you again tomorrow for Day 2!

Wish me luck.

Signing off

Pam
:)

Pam Jones
pamandtaffjones.com
Mummy of Nancy Jones