Tales from the Secret Dieter

[FullFathom]

Darcy, it ain't great, but it makes a really nice change to actually have to chew something if you haven't done that for a few months. It tastes and smells of tomato puree and oregano. I made it hot and spicy but resisted adding cheese. Maybe I could add a tomato, how bad could that be? Well, 18 kcals and 4g carbs, it turns out. With the size of the pizza half a tomato would probably be enough too. So overall I definitely enjoyed it, and it made me smile eating a dinky pizza with a fizzy pop like a child. You have to buy a whole box of seven packs though I think.

 

[FullFathom]

Right. After asking for other people’s meal timings the other day, and discovering some fairly dramatic routines, I thought I’d change up a bit today.

This morning was just pints of water and mugs of tea and coffee all the way. No morning pack at all. Then I went for an hour’s walk in the sun. Back in my office I had a Cookies & Cream Shake at 2:30, leaving me two packs waiting in the wings.

Now, I’ve just wolfed down my tea in two minutes flat as I was very much ready for it!

For the first time I made Spaghetti Bolognese. I soaked it, increased the nuking, and rested. What you end up with is a russet splat. It is as pathetic as the carbonara, but smells like the pizza sauce sachet. It’s probably the same stuff. Anyway. I also nuked some frozen spinach and stirred that in, which made the whole thing look much, much better! I gobbled it up and it was absolutely fine. And, importantly, it was different. I basically think

I’m just amusing myself at this stage

But the biggest difference? I now have ‘I can still have a bar or a shake’ smugness! Woo!

So err, yeah. Fun fun fun despite an 11hour stint in the office today :/

 

[Darcy15]

The original bolognese was much nicer......Exante changed the recipe and although I eat the new one, to me it has a rather strange taste which the original one didn’t have

I like the carbonara, and the sweet and sour noodles are good

The only pack I have thrown away was the mushroom risotto.......now that was truly vile!

 

[FullFathom]

Hallo. It is theoretically nearly 'lunchtime', butI am yet to have a pack today. Yesterday I quite enjoyed having both a meal and a bar in the evening, so may do something similar again and only have one shake all day, or none even, with copious volumes of water, black coffee and green tea. The only problem yesterday was that I was still sitting in my office at gone seven after starting at eight, and that's a long stint of stressful brain power to be powered by just one shake. Will play it by ear today and see.

Tomorrow I have a whole other conundrum, as I have a day off and am going for a hike in the day and an overnighter in the forest. Now, I realise that to many of you this might sound insane regardless of the food factor (I'm just that sort of person who is happier at a campfire than a captain's table I guess!) My problem therefore isn't the weather or the temperature, but the routine. I'd usually think nothing of having a hearty meal after the effort to set-up a wild camp etc... and the hip-flask would undoubtedly be out at this time of year. I'm wondering how to not feel a bit inadequately resourced with just a couple of bars :/

 

[Lighterlifer]

I’d try a man plan day! Pack x3 boiled eggs. Other than that your body fat will give you sustenance hopefully have fun x

 

[FullFathom]

It's a plan. I'm contemplating skipping a pack and substituting for a vegetable stew using only small amounts of low carb veg (leaf veg, celery, toms, mushrooms, brocolli, green beans, black soy beans, spring onion...) plus spices. I reckon I can make a very low cal, low carb concoction in that way, then it would give me something to heat up on the fire and feel toasty with. I shall think on...

In other news, I still haven't had a pack today. And I'm still in my office :/

 

[Darcy15]

Enjoy your camping trip.....and hope the weather is kind to you

 

[FullFathom]

Thanks Darcy! Off in a couple of hours

 

[Mariaka]

Thanks Darcy! Off in a couple of hours

Hi. I enjoy your posts as they make me smile. I’m also dabbling with Exante and Keto dieting.
Why not try a higher fats option for your camp out? They’d soon be burned off if you are in ketosis on exante? And leave you more satiated than leafy veg? And some schools of thought suggest that boosting fat intake for a change can encourage your body’s fat burn ability.
Just a thought. I’m consuming cream in coffee and other higher fat options for food and am still losing weight as I’m avoiding carbs and sugars. . . I even had a G & T yesterday to no negative effect.
Enjoy your wknd.

 

[FullFathom]

Thank you! I had to read that twice, because OBVIOUSLY the first time I forget everything when I got to GIN. I like gin. Liked gin? Seems a long time ago. Boxing Day probably.

Anyway. I made a hot pot concoction using lots of chunky low carb veg, some Quorn pieces, half a habanero and some tinned tomatoes. It appears I’m now one of those people that stands in a supermarket aisle scrutinising nutrition labels on different brands of tinned tomatoes. Idiot... ...anyway. It’s done and in Tupperware. I’ll be heating that on a campfire in a forest clearing in about 12 hours

Until then I will have two bars, as it’s just going to be easier than the shake thing. And I’ll take a spare. I’m not planning on starting packs until lunch but reckon I’ll need it after hiking over with my gear and way more water than I’d normally take. I’m also taking two Dr P Zs and lots of weird tea.

Better get last few things packed up, download some more Audible while I have a signal, and get out of here.

Soooooooo nice to have a day off and not spend another day indoors. Hurray! It will be impossible to cheat too (not that I would anyway, my fellow happy campers).

 

[FullFathom]

Back. Nice change of pace. Got to camping spot early afternoon and spent a while setting up camp. Very nice day actually with a bit of late sunshine. Had first shake around 5pm, cooked my stew later on some raked out embers, and that was good, then had a double choc bar for supper (least favourite bar it turns out). Couple of cans of Dr P Z and plenty of tea. Listened to James Acaster’s Classic Scrapes book which was very funny. Nice sleep. This morning I used a lot of energy packing up my camp and walking out to the car. Home, bath, tired now. House to myself until tea time. Not started packs today, just lots of coffee. So it IS possible to vlcd while also doing something adventurous - that’s good. And I enjoyed my day off immensely. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

 

[FullFathom]

Oh and another thing. I’m very disappointed in the porridge. I thought the plain one would taste like plain porridge, and was looking forward to that wholesome comfort food. But it’s like someone has decided to sprinkle it with sweeteners. Why do that? There’s a golden syrup one, there’s umpteen sickly sweet options. Why?

This diet is making me crave plain unsweetened food, that’s for sure!

 

[Lighterlifer]

Sounds like a lovely day Well done for keeping rigid and not feeling like you missed out! x

 

[Darcy15]

Glad you had a good time

 

[FullFathom]

Bodes well for walking in the Peaks after Easter (may be some snow though, I hear). If I have to eat to gain a little strength, then I’d like to make the most of the extra food week energy to tone up a bit as well as stay on track with weight loss. We’ll see.

 

[Whizaway]

Glad you had a fun weekend camping. I understand what you mean about sickly sweet options. I prefer a couple of the smoothies as they’re not too sweet. My attitude to food has def changed. I hoped it would. Good luck for WI.

 

[FullFathom]

Just ordered 55 packs for £40. Made up an order of 55 products then tried all the various codes but that offer couldn’t be beaten.

Refined my order somewhat and just gone for favourites like Lemon Cheesecake shakes and Granola Cereal (which I now basically have as a shake with bits in it. I still have a few hot meals in the cupboard, but to be honest they’re so crap on the whole I think I’d rather have a shake and some ‘ketosis food’ if I really wanted ‘food’. The pizza is a novelty, but basically for me the meals are so poorly thought through that they’re not really worth making. Ordered some more bars for convenience more than anything else, but not gone with hot cross bun bar! Got a couple of apple crumbles which seem popular.

 

[FullFathom]

Need a salty, savoury fix?

Itsu Miso Soup is very low cal and carb...

 

[FullFathom]

Oh, also, if it’s your thing, I know that Sainsbury’s Diet Cream Soda is citric acid free.

 

[FullFathom]

4lbs loss this week - should be really pleased but stressed to heck and not feeling too great. Will be happier once I've got this week at work done.

Have good weeks all.