♥ ~*~ Tanya's Diary No 3 ~*~ ♥

[irish molly]

Glad you like myfitnesspal. I've been recommending it loads as I think it is a fab site as it really keeps you on track. Being able to update over the phone helps prevent you going overboard as well.
Why don't you up your water intake as well. Try using quinoa instead of rice. It is very GL friendly and you can have quite a lot of it. It is really very tasty.

 

[glammam]

Hiya Tanya. Looks like you are doing really well with your diet. I have failed at my Exante attempt! Started last Thursday and had to eat Friday evening as I had such a bad migraine I thought I was going to pass out! I started at a stupid time really as I had been feeling ill with the flu a few days before and I wasn't completely over it really. Since then though I have been replacing my lunch with a bar. They are lovely aren't they and I find them really filling too. Couldn't stand that tomato and basil soup though. Yuk! It was like savoury milkshake! Would love to do it properly but I don't think I am motivated enough. i was so miserable on Lipo last time! Aargh, what to do!!! xxx

 

[summergurl]

What is qinoa?!!!

Glam... Doesn't really sound like your in the right frame to do a TFR. If I were you I'd wait untill you feel ready but just keep eye to whatbyer eating etc x

 

[JanD]

Quinoa is a grain Tan ....

 

[summergurl]

So it's like rice? Do you cook it like you would rice? x

 

[JanD]

How To Cook Quinoa

Quinoa is a cereal-like food which is actually a tiny seed. It is native of South America where Incas considered it scared and worshipped it; they ate it for thousands of years. Now with the progression in nutrition sciences the beneficial role of it came under light so it is gradually picking up in the markets. It is high in complete protein because it contains all eight essential amino acids, and on other hand lower in carbohydrates than most cereal grains. Interestingly it is naturally gluten free (unlike wheat) so it can be ideally eaten by Celiac disease patients. It is also a good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, and is high in magnesium and iron too. Wait here! Apart from it is cheap and easy to cook – so you must have realized that it’s not only quinoa nutrition which is highly impressive but its easy preparation making it a regular part of our dining table. When quinoa is cooked it has a light, mild, and fluffy texture with a slight nutty flavor. It can be readily substituted in for rice and other starchy food you can add even your favorite vegetables, meats or seasonings too.
The only draw back attached to it is that it contains a waxy coating which is bitter in taste called saponin. It is extremely un-tasty so it has to be removed through rinsing process. When you are shopping for quinoa, make sure to check if the seeds still have their saponin coating or if this coating has been previously removed through a rinsing process. Quinoa is showing up frequently on more supermarket shelves in the United States, Canada and Europe, mostly commercially marketed quinoa has been pre-processed to remove the coating of saponin. If you buy quinoa with its coating still on, you have a tough task of rinsing it vigorously in a strainer, then soaking it for several hours in water, then re-rinse it.
Next question is How to Cook Quinoa?

The answer is simple it is easily prepared and it takes only 15 minutes to cook a family portion of this wonder food.
You can cook simply as you cook rice. Observe the following steps: firstly boil two cups of water for one cup of quinoa. Put lid to cook and let it simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed. The cooked germ looks like a tiny curl .then remove it from heat and let it stand for about 3 minutes to become fully fluffy. Now use it along with sausages or shrimps or whatever you like.
You can alternatively cook it using a rice cooker, take quinoa and add water keeping the ratio 2:1.you can try with chicken or vegetable broth to flavor the quinoa and can even add some spice to your meals.
You can also bake it but you will have to use quinoa flour and combine it with other flours in the ratio mix of 2 parts quinoa flour, 2 parts sorghum flour and 1 part tapioca starch to get bet output.

 

[summergurl]

Thanks Jan! Wanted to rep you for that but i gota spread the love more! :giggle:

If its better for us than rice i think i might have to invest

 

[JanD]

It's a long long time since I had it. I was doing Carol Vordaperson's detox thing - I can't even remember what it was like - might try it again myself. Bulgar wheat's not bad either if I remember rightly xx

 

[JanD]

BTW - If you have to ask for it it's pronounced Keenwah ... quinoa that is ... bulgar wheat is pronounced bullgaaaaar weeeet xx

 

[summergurl]

Well being Janner an all that i reckon it'd be pronounced .... quinoERRRRRR and bulgarrrrrrrrrrr wheat :giggle:

 

[JanD]

Had to google that ... never heard of a Janner before. LOL!!! xx

 

[summergurl]

.... i just googled to make sure the right definition came up! lol x

 

[JanD]

As one of the definitions said it was adopted as a slang term for someone from Plymouth I assumed that was what you meant. However it said the true definition was someone who lives in sight of the sea - in which case I'm one as well!! - Admittedly I have to go upstairs and peer through the trees opposite our house but in the distance I CAN just about see it LOL! xx

 

[summergurl]

Lol!!! Never herd the one about the sea.... Its used here as someone from plymuff!!!!!!!!!! Ahaha!!

 

[irish molly]

Quinoa is defo better than rice and is quite tasty. You can substitute it in any recipe for Rice/pasta/potato/bulgar/couscous. You will get it in the health food shops. Boil it with twice its volume of water for about 15-20 mins. I also add a very small bit of low salt veg stock to add flavour. I make up maybe four portions and it will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. I never have potato now and use quinoa instead. It is very filling and you feel full for ages after it. 50g dry weight makes a fine portion for one. Give it a bash. Nothing ventured/nothing gained, this is what I have found since exploring GL as the way to maintain my LT losses and beyond.

 

[irish molly]

Recipe for Quinoa tabbouleh
ingredients
Serves four
150g quinoa
400mls water
Pinch salt
Half cucumber, skin on, diced small
Half courgette, coarsely grated
2 tomatoes, deseeded and diced
1 red onion, finely diced
25g fresh mint, leaves chopped
25g flat leaf parsley, leaves chopped
Dressing
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari)
Pinch paprika
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Method

Rinse the quinoa in a sieve, rubbing your fingers through the grain until the water runs clear. I sometimes skip this!!

Place the quinoa and water in a saucepan with a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover, then simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until all the water is absorbed. Watch that it does not overcook. Set aside to cool.

Once cool, transfer the quinoa to a wide bowl. Stir in the cucumber, courgette, tomatoes, red onion, mint and parsley until fully combined.

Next stir through the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce and paprika. Season to taste.
For a change spice it up with some sweet chilli sauce. Yum!!!

 

[Scotsmist]

I can vouch for Quinoa too! But it does look strange when it is cooked, like..mmmm....gosh, what does it look like, tapioca, frog sporn (sp)!! haha...but it is really nice and makes a change.

I have bulgar too (being married to a Turk and they love it)!! You can get all different grades and I use the heavier grade which you cook EXACTLY like rice. The salad rice which you use for the recipe above is a finer grade..so just watch out that you are buying the right stuff I get mine from the Turkish shop and have the hubby with me so he always points me to the correct one ;-)!

What I really admire about you Tanya is that you are open to suggestions and you try things.....you are not stuck in your ways and what I would say in "management term" - BENDABLE/FLEXIBLE!! Now, in business that goes a long way and I reckon in Weight Loss it does too!!!! Cause you are always looking ahead and always wanting the best for yourself and when you make a mistake you dust yourself off, and forget it and try again! HATS OFF TO YOU!!!!!

 

[kered]

Must give this a bash myself after TRF.

 

[kered]

TFR even lol

 

[summergurl]

:giggle: mary!
That quinoa recipe sounds delish! Im off to the supermarket tomorrow so i shall venture to see if they have some and if they do i'll try it next week!

So, my brothers gf hasnt brang the wii fit back I've texted her and told her i want it back by next wed as im missing my weekly weigh in now! :giggle: Although i did hop on the dodgy scales upstairs and it looks to be a sts which im pretty happy about as i did think i wouldve put on again. So, official weigh in now next week

Thursday 13th May

B- bran flakes with s.smilk (157cals)
banana (90cals)

L- grilled pork chop (250cals)
1 boiled pot (120cals) with lf soft cheese (65cals)
Blanched asparagus (33cals)
15g lf salad cream (21cals)

D- apple (72cals)
exante bar (209cals)

S- 13g almonds (81cals)
2 light cheese triangle (26cals)
1/2 pack softmints (85cals)

*1 litre water
*3 black coffee & sweetener

Total Cals 1,235
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Girls! Today i run out of exante bars! Which means i don't have a clue what to take tomorrow for my Dinner at work. (i dont want any meal whatsoever i want something like a 'bar' and a piece of fruit) I do have nutrigrains upstairs which i will take one for tomorrow but can any of you reccomend anything a little more filling and satisfying for work next week??