THE NEW ME... A WAY OF LIFE (DAY16) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Chicken escalope with chickpea salad

 



A busy day yesterday, but nice busy as in nice because it was a constructive and creative day. 

Went to the gym, did some weights and then cut 1/2 minute off my brisk walk on the treadmill.  Returned home and knocked off some things from my 'To do list' and made fairy cakes (small cupcakes) to take to some sewing machine experts I know.

I waited in for the postman to deliver the bank statements so that I could do the monthly accounts - I hate clockwatching.  By 10.30 he still hadn't arrived, so I went out and bought a pre-loved sewing machine from a local family business I know.  They're great guys (father and son), who have been working with sewing machines, repairing them, servicing them etc. for decades.  They managed to find exactly what I was looking for, a 'Brother' which is all singing, all dancing, that should last me for ever.  A machine that includes the capability of creating running stitch, zig-zags for hems, blind stitch, zips even button holes.  They also gave me a comprehensive lesson in how to use it. 

Got some bargain material from the 'end of roll' section.  Then fed some swans, took pictures in the rain and got soaked.  Arrived home starving to find the bank statements had now arrived and discovered that the photographs I'd taken were awful as rain droplets had been caught on the camera lens (there must me a knack to avoid this... I'll do some research online later),

Made some chickpea salad and yaffled that whilst checking the arrived e-mails.  I had been tempted to grab a sandwich when I was out, but then it would be full of gluten so I decided against it.  Being on a diet has become a way of life, a routine, a ritual... if I can't live it on a daily basis then there's no point doing it.

Then I made 2 cushion covers.  WOW... they look amazing.  Well it wasn't me really, it was the lovely material design and the Brother sewing machine, which I'd been waiting for all my life.  OK so I didn't manage a zip, but I did create a cushion in a pillow-case design with button hole and button.  I was well chuffed.  I was so excited that I told some neighbour-friends when I delivered their fairy cakes, offering my services if they ever wanted cushions.

By the time I'd done my rounds it was evening.  Taff created a lovely meal for me as usual.  I also had some wine (no surprise there then), chilled out watching 'Grand Design Challenge' and a documentary/fly on the wall series about a group of Mormon families in America, then went to bed.  Had a fantastic sleep and slept straight through for 7 hours.

What I ate yesterday (Day 15)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 dessert spoon mashed potato with butter
1 piece coconut flour cake
1 mug tea + 1/4 sugar
Another mug of tea + 1/4 sugar


Breakfast
Fried mashed potato with spring onion and cheese
1 glass water

Lunch
Chickpea salad - olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, cucumber, red onion, chickpeas, fresh
    coriander
1 glass water

Dinner
Chicken escalope fried in butter and seasoned
White sauce - cream added to the jus of the buttery seasoned chicken liquid
Chickpea salad
Cucumber
Cherry tomatoes
Wine

Busy day today.  Accounts and cleaning to do.  Plan for a no alcohol night tonight... must find a home remedy for sleep too.

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME.... I'M SO LUCKY TO BE IN MY SHOES (DAY 15) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

 



Woke up for the second time yesterday to a more constructive day, in fact a very constructive day.  Taff got up early and started writing a new book, which meant I had the whole day to concentrate on paperwork.  I managed to get my 'Things to do' and 'Awaiting a reply' folders up to date, rather than postponing them for another day, week or month.  I was on a roll and there was no stopping me.  I even did all the filing! 

I also had a good day on the diet.  The only treat I had was 2 mugs of tea, each with 1/4 teaspoon of sugar rather than Stevia.  So I'm back on the tea.  There is a god, as I am rather a tea belly.  I even managed to have no alcohol yesterday, but with it came the usual side effects, cold feet, and taking ages to get to sleep, only having 3 1/2 hours sleep and then being wide awake with a head full of ideas, music and poetry.  Even a hot bath and hot milk failed to do the trick to get me back to sleep.  I'll have to look for some sort of herbal remedy for sleep, as I'd rather not take sleeping tablets if I can help it.

We also managed to squeeze in an Orange Wednesdays (2 for 1) at the cinema.  As usual most of the films tended to be directed towards males, or had male leads. Now I understand why Hollywood actresses get frustrated with the lack of strong female roles.  Particularly as writers of both sexes can create parts for females as well as males.  Refreshingly, Taff's first e-book trilogy  is about a female heroin, called Emma Curtis Trilogy which should be due out in the next month.

After much deliberation we decided to watch 'Lone Survivor' with mark Wahlberg as the lead, including other great actors such as Ben Foster.  Very much a man's film, which assumed some prior knowledge of American military jargon and locations - thankfully Taff acted as my interpreter.  There was also some artistic license.  But... I'm not going to go into details as I don't want to spoil the film for you and I'll let you make your own judgements.  That aside, the acting was fantastic, and I had a few tears during the final few minutes of the film (I rarely cry, if I do it will be a film that does it).  War is so tragic and such a waste of lives. It's so sad we can't all live in peace and harmony.

In memory of all those that have died striving for peace

I ask you to remember me
When I am dead and all alone
And just a distant memory
So many miles from home

With pride I served my great country

To end all wars for worldwide peace
Though now a poppy I may be
My spirit will not cease
 

A survivor I was born to be

Strong red with courage standing tall
And when you glance and look at me
Good times you will recall

From here until eternity

You’ll see my seeds of life dance by
Take comfort I’ll watch over thee
In vain I did not die
 



Signing out

Pam


Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)




What I ate yesterday (Day 14)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 mug tea + 1/4 tsp sugar

Breakfast
2 slices smoked bacon dry fried on enamel pan
1 cherry tomato lightly fried on one side
Mushrooms fried in butter and coconut oil
Leaks fried in butter and coconut oil
1 glass water
Prunes in fruit juice

Snack
1 mug tea + 1/4 tsp sugar

Dinner
Pork
Cucumber
Cheese
Apple
Cherry tomatoes
Fried potato + tomato sauce
2 large glasses of chilled Asda white grape and elderflower spritzer



THE NEW ME.... I'VE GOT NO STAMINA (DAY14) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

More neutral mash... YUMMY 

 

Just had my usual 5 hours sleep raring to go, with so much to do and never enough hours in the day to do everything that I want.

As a creature of habit I like to wake up to peace and quiet, giving me time to write my daily blog, do some tweeting, plan my day's work etc.  However, this morning I woke up to the wind, gustily blowing round the home.  I must admit though I do like the wind, or the wind and rain, when I'm in the warmth of our own four walls... as long as we don't blow away that is!  But I also woke up to the noise of the TV.  Marriage is a compromise, which is why I'm hiding away in another room writing this blog, on a laptop (I can't stand laptops, they're so much more inefficient than a tower and keyboard) with Nancy, our fluff-ball of a pussycat.  Nancy likes quiet too.  I think I must have been a cat in a past life!

So yesterday was a disaster.  I woke up with good intentions, a massive pile of paperwork to do, cushions to make.  Wrote the blog, tweeted, did some knitting whilst waiting for Taff to rise and get the news and weather thing over and done with so that it's quiet again and I can get on with my work.  No sign of Taff, I made my first ever cushion cover.... DISASTER.  The zip was too short, and the hem too thick.  The second cushion later on in the day wasn't much better, even though it had the correct length zip this time.  Rhubarb, rhubarb!?!?!  Recommended by some lovely sewing machine experts I use an electric Singer.  The only problem is that it doesn't sing, or dance or do anything other than ....a plain sewing stitch (lockstitch/straight stitch); no fancy overlocking facilities, that are essential to decent sewing to a novice like me. Very frustrating.  I'll have to see if I can find a budget sewing machine that sings.

Then helped a neighbour-friend organise his paperwork for an hour, as he couldn't find some important motoring documents.

With my routine all to pot, and Taff now risen (having thought of ideas for a new book), we went out to look at some pre-loved places to inspire ideas.

As Taff's a fish lover, we went for a take-out of fish and chips from a chippy.  Interested about a sign 'First Monday in the month gluten-free day for coeliacs, ask at the counter for more details'... I asked for more details.  There were none, the only reply I received was 'You should have come yesterday!'  Silly me, I should have used my telepathic powers.

With gluten-battered-fish, chips, mushy peas and water ordered, I took a new loyalty card intending to get it stamped, urged by another sign 'Get 10 stamps get fish and chips free'.  Alas, my psychic abilities weren't up to scratch as they had conveniently omitted the words 'Spend £10 or over for each stamp' (we had only spent £7).

The conversation about chip-week (later in the month) as advertised by the bunting was a no starter too.  There weren't any special events organised, the guy serving thought it had happened last week, rather than in a couple of weeks time.  It must just be me.  I obviously live on a different planet to everyone else!

So, that was pretty much how my day went.  Even making a coconut flour cake for my neighbour-friends didn't work.  Had it have been almond slices or millionaire shortbread then maybe I may not have turned to drinking wine.  The problem is I've got no stamina. :(  

What I ate yesterday (Day13)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 slice turkey
3 grapes
1 slice ham

Breakfast
1 dry fried egg - used this amazing enamel pan
Neutral mash - this time with sprouts, swede, carrot, celery, butter, seasoning
1 glass water

Lunch
1 mouthful gluten-battered-fish + 4 chips
1/2 bottle water

Snack
Slice of mature cheddar cheese
2 grapes

Dinner
Tuna
White sauce - made with cream cheese
Grape, nut and celery salad
Cucumber
Cherry tomatoes
Wine

Signing out, and fed up

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones

THE NEW ME.... THANK HEAVEN FOR NEUTRAL MASH (DAY 13) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Breakfast - Bacon on a bed of neutral mash



 

A normal busy day yesterday, catching up on paperwork, which seems to be never ending, and it will be much the same today.  But, I did manage to go to the gym first thing, and even walked briskly on the treadmill for 1km (which took me just over 11mins to achieve).

It was a good day for the diet with regards food intake i.e. no goodies such as yummy Sarah Lee Chocolate Cake or delicious home-made sugar rich pavlova.  In particular, Taff had cooked some neutral mash the previous day, which I ended up having for breakfast, and was I chuffed or what!

We call it neutral mash based on a philosophy by Howard Hay who created the Hay Method (a way of eating more than a diet).  The idea being that you don't mix foods that fight, you don't mix proteins and carbohydrates in one meal.  OK, so the Hay Method is a little more complex than just one rule, but neutral mash is straightforward.  Comprised of veggies, but excluding potato, you can have different versions (a bit like bubble and squeak with leftovers).  The version I had comprised cauliflower, swede, carrot, celery, butter and seasoning.  It's fantastic for snacks, is very light on the stomach, and keeps it's shape, so that you can be a little more creative.

Talking about creativity, being addicted to the American TV Series 'Extreme Cheapskates' (TLC channel in the UK), I've become more courageous in my bargain hunting.  I ended up going to the local DIY store (B&Q - created in the late 60s by Richard Block and David Quayle) to pick up some white paint, but more excitingly wallpaper samples.  Such fantastic vibrant colours and designs. I was like a kid in a sweet shop.

Then I arrived home, and there it was staring me in the face, a whole load of ironing to do.  Ironing is one of my pet hates.  Don't know why it just is.  I do it under duress, but a glass of wine helps it go much quicker.  Even though in this case, as much of it had dried on the washing line outside, it took twice as long to iron.  So that was the end of me being 'dry ' for the evening. 

I'm more positive about today as I've no ironing to do.  I've got cushion covers to make instead.  Fingers crossed.

What I ate yesterday (Day 12)

Snack
1 glass orange juice with water (50/50)
1 glass milk
1 small glass water

Breakfast
Neutral mash - cooked cauliflower, swede, carrot, celery butter and seasoning
3 cherry tomatoes stewed in passata
2 slices smoked bacon grilled
1 pint water

Snack
1 cup hot milk with Stevia

Lunch
Anchovy salad - 4 anchovies soaked in red wine vinegar + cucumber, spring onions, 3 cherry
    tomatoes, leftover new potatoes
1 glass elderflower presée

Dinner
Turkey schnitzel (in butter and seasoning)
Coleslaw - lettuce, carrot, onion, pear
Rice pudding over the stove - Basmati rice + sultanas, cashew nuts, milk
Wine

I STILL MUST TRY HARDER

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME.... I'M OFF TEA (DAY 12) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

A lunch of lightly fried veggies

OK, so yesterday was Sunday, semi chill-out day.  I still did some work in addition to tidying the home, a whole load or washing and going out with Taff (better half) to look at some pre-loved stores (AKA charity shops).  I just love looking at different styles, fashions and designs; not just of clothes but also brickabrack.  I find them a breath of fresh air and very inspirational.

Watched 'Made in Dagenham' while Taff saw the 6 Nations Rugby.  A very moving film, based on a true story about the strike of 1968 by the female Ford Sewing Machinists fighting for equal pay.  Did some knitting at the same time, as I always have to be doing something constructive.  I'm not a great knitter as I'm self-taught, but I get by with knit and pearl.  That's where sometimes I wish I'd have had a mum in much of my teenage years, to learn all her secret recipes and tips on sewing and knitting.  Obviously not meant to be.  I'm grateful for having known her.  She tried to be a good mum, although we never really saw eye to eye.  I'd love to meet her now, as I would the rest of my blood family.  I'd take them out to the seaside, cook them some curry with Taff, and play them some music, and get Taff to tell his stories and role-play poems with different accents.  If only I had a TARDIS.

At 5 o'clock (2 hours later than normal) I fancied some chilled wine, so I did.  I know I'm supposed to be giving up, but the thought of having no treats, and having a restless sleep, with time standing still doesn't really rock my boat.  I figure that if I alternate days, 1 day alcohol 1 day Elderflower Pressé, then I've halved my alcohol intake already and given my liver a rest some of the time.  Not ideal but it's a start.

As soon as I had the chardonnay my feet warmed up immediately and I went to bed at normal time and had 6 hours solid sleep, which helps me function normally, so I don't regret it... yet.

What I ate yesterday (Day 11)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 blob leftover curry & rice salad (no turkey)

Breakfast
1 mug of tea with Stevia - Awful, so I'm off tea (I used to love a hot cup of tea, now it's gone for
    ever)
Leftover cream, sour cream and mandarins - Pavlova thrown away as it was now uninspirational

Lunch
Mushrooms, celery, spring onion, cheese lightly fried in coconut oil and butter with boiled pepper with cashew nuts.
   - I was going to do stuffed pepper but I overcooked it while I was multi-tasking tidying the home.
1 glass water

Snack
2 tsps. chilli that Taff had on the stove - mince, peppers, onions, seasoning,passata
3 heaped tsps. Greek style yoghurt

Dinner
Turkey tikka with lemon on a bed of lettuce - Turkey marinated and cooked in Greek style yoghurt
     and curry powder
3 slices coconut flour banana cake
1 glass water
Wine

Plans for today - Really busy day on paperwork but will go to the gym first thing, after I've gone back to bed for a couple more hours kip.


Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME..... ELDERFLOWER PRESSÉ IS THE NEW CHARDONNAY (DAY 11) - A gluten free, natural sugars, no alcohol diet



Pavlova made with Stevia



 

So, it was Saturday yesterday, and a full day working.  Luckily as I'm a morning person I usually manage to do a few hours in the middle of the night, and often go back to bed, and then do lots more.  It means I can squeeze more into one day and have the evening free. 

Managed to crack a writing piece that I was working on, cured of writers block, for that day at least.  Then was about to start another piece when our blacksmith friend came round with a massive home-made cheesecake for tea-break.  Luckily our friend, who is sometimes on a diet herself, wasn't offended when we didn't partake in the loveliness of the cheesecake.  I'm quite proud of myself as normally I would have stuck right in there and had 2 large slices without thinking twice. 

However, what was only supposed to be 5 minutes probably ended up being 3/4 hour, but it was nice to see her and have a few laughs. She also gave me some suggestions on non-alcoholic drinks that I may like to try.

Wrote my other piece, and then did some abdominal crunches with Taff standing on my feet and me laid on the floor.  I've found it's the only way that I can get my back off the ground!

Later in the afternoon having finished my writing for the day, I went supermarket shopping for some fresh air.  Found a couple of non-alcoholic bottles of liquid, having read the labels in detail, which looked promising.  Also managed to get some lovely material from the 'bargain bucket' as I call it, at the local fabric shop, for 50p - a piece large enough to make a cushion cover or something.

Came home and watched 1/2 hour of a 'fly on the wall' programme we'd taped, in between 'The Six Nations' rugby matches that Taff was watching.  Then made a pavlova with Stevia sugar replacement (used 1/4 cup to replace 6 oz sugar), which was OK, but nothing like the wow factor of a genuine pink, gooey, crisp, home-made pavlova with caster sugar.  Although, it did give me ideas for other puddings like lemon meringue pie and Angela cake.

2 hours after normally starting a glass of chardonnay, I poured myself a glass of Belvoir Fruit Farms Elderflower Pressé, which I'd chilled seriously in the freezer.  The bottle was similar to an alcoholic bottle.  The glug sound when pouring the nectar was the same.  Slightly frizzante (bubbly) and not too sweet.  I ended up having 3 large glasses, some of which was with my evening meal, and it went down a treat.  I even stayed up an extra 2 hours before going to bed.  The only downside is that I had to force myself to go to bed, and it took me a while to get to sleep, and here I am now, wide awake after only 4 hours of restless sleep instead of the normal 5.  But, at least it gave my liver a rest, which I suppose is a good thing.  Maybe I'll have to have some hot milk before I go to bed to wind down.  Another challenge to face.

What I ate yesterday (Day 10)

Snack
1 glass milk
4 desert spoons neutral mash - cauliflower, swede, carrot, celery, leek, salt and pepper

Breakfast
1 banana sliced + grapes + cashew nuts + sultanas + milk
1 mug tea with milk and 1/2 teaspoon Stevia

Snack
1 glass milk

Lunch
Dollop of leftover turkey curry with rice + celery + cherry tomatoes + sultanas mixed in
2 slices ham
1 glass water

Snack
1 glass elderflower pressé

Dinner
Ploughmans - 1 slice turkey, 1 hard boiled egg, 3 cherry tomatoes, grated carrot in a vinaigrette (olive
    oil, red wine vinegar, horseradish sauce as we had no mustard), grape nut and celery salad in 
    Greek style yoghurt and dash of salad cream
2 glasses elderflower pressé
2 small slices of Stevia pavlova with cream combined with sour cream and 1/2 tin of mandarins


Writing about all this food has got me hungry.  Well I'm not hungry really, as on this diet I'm always full, but I just fancy something.  Aha, a dollop of leftover curry and rice salad.  Yummy!

Signing out

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

 

THE NEW ME.... VANITY COSTS (DAY 10) - A gluten free, natural sugars, no alcohol diet.

 

My creative breakfast - stuffed mushrooms with chipettes



Another busy day writing and doing paperwork.  This time my research was not about biscuits, or cakes for that matter... and anyway even if it was, I could help myself to the coconut flour banana tray-bake I'd made the previous day.  So, I felt pretty good.  I also managed to go to the gym, and did some ab work, and felt OK.

However, there's nothing worse than clocking watching.  Used to working straight through, for 12 hours, just breaking for snacks, I had to put everything on hold to go to an optician appointment to consider contact lenses.  In a massive rush with 15 minutes to get dressed (as I was still in my dressing-gown after having bathed earlier as my feet were freezing) and cook something for lunch, I yaffled some curried some vegetables.  I must admit though, with this diet, I do feel full on it, even with just a handful of veg.

Excited about the possibility of not having to wear glasses all the time, I turned up for my appointment to see the contact lens expert.  I sat in the big black chair thinking 'This is it, I'm going to look a little more pretty.'  Thinking that I was considering only 'dailies' the expert carried on talking, until I explained to him that I didn't know what my options were.  Al I knew was that I had only worn contacts for a couple of weeks some 15 years earlier, had a sensitive body, and didn't like the feel of them then. 

He went on to explain that things had improved since then, as there were not only dailies, but monthlies and bi-monthlies.  My options depended on how regularly I was going to wear them, whether every day, or only a couple of days a week, to ensure sufficient oxygen got to the eyeballs.  The optician also said that as I have astigmatism the price of contacts would be greater.  It wasn't so much the price that I was little miffed about, it was the fact that for the 20 years that I've been seeing an optician, I never new I had it.  I felt a bit of a defect! :(

What I thought would be a simple appointment, where I'd just be able to buy 2 boxes of daily contact lenses, like I did 15 years ago, was not to be.  I had to decide the regularity of my usage.  How did I know?  I couldn't get used to them then, so I may not be able to get used to them now. 

Then we spoke about price.  I couldn't do the one off trial, as was suggested when I booked the appointment last week.  I had to commit to the type (regularity) and a contract. The suggested type were to be bi-monthlies at £28 per month.  Dailies would be cheaper at £17.50 but I could only wear them a couple of times a week (not daily as the name suggests).

If I was financially rich, I would indeed consider the contract as money would then be no object.  But, the NEW ME is on a BUDGET, and even though VANITY COSTS, at present I'll remain ugly.

So, the alternative option was to look at some specs.  The 2 for 1 offer sounded great.  There were glasses that were £25, £45, £79, £99 and beyond for the designer type.  When I was an employed accountant I may have considered spending £99 + anti glare and all the added costs on top.  The lower price range is now more my style, picking a lovely pair for £45.  Perhaps I could get the free version converted into sunglasses?  Alas no, the 2 for 1 offer only kicked into action from £79 onwards.  Silly me!  I left.

Did some retail therapy and window shopped at Fabric Land for inspiration, and bought some lovely, what looked like new, material from a pre-loved store to make cushion covers.

Having writers block, after 9 hours of working on a piece earlier that day, I chilled with Taff and chardonnay, watching the TV.  I know I'm weak.  Oh, and coconut flour cake too!  But that's allowable.  The cake I mean.

What I ate yesterday (Day 9)

Snack
1 glass milk

Breakfast
1 stuffed mushroom with blue cheese - a little lively for the morning, would try Cheddar next time
      poached in butter
4 cherry tomatoes - poached in butter with the mushroom
Leftover potatoes, made into mini chips and fried in coconut oil
Lettuce, leak and cheese fired in coconut oil.

Snack
1 glass milk
1 glass milk

Lunch
2 pieces curried turkey - which Taff had on the stove (yummy)
Curried leak and mushrooms - Steamed in butter and coconut oil, with Mr Naga curry paste
  tomato puree and water
1 glass water

Dinner
Turkey curry with leftover curried leak and mushrooms  - Onion, garlic and ginger gently fried in
      coconut oil, with turkey escalope cut into pieces, curry paste, curry powder, passata, coconut
      milk, coriander, salt and pepper.
Basmati rice
Blob of yoghurt
Green pepper, cucumber, tomato salad in red win vinegar
1 glass water
wine
4 small slices home-made coconut flour cake


Next step, low alcohol or alcohol free wine.  Wish me luck.

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)