Lose 2 lb per week – join Jojo in this quest

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ply24mp

12:10 am
20 Jun 14
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Sounds like you are right back on the straight and narrow, Jojo, well done!

I have been sleepy this week as well. I am usually at the gym when it opens at 5:30 am, but this week I have felt the need for a slower start. Funny that we are both experiencing the same thing.

I forgive the British, if you all forgive the upstart Americans! I have Irish roots as well, with a bit of Italian thrown in. Same sort of economic hardships brought my relatives here.

Good 16:8 fast day today; Fiber One breakfast, buffalo chicken lettuce wraps for lunch, and asparagus salad for dinner. Total of 413 calories. Wes hall see what the scale says tomorrow.

Shopped after work for a new pair of black shorts because my old ones are too big. Took two of the same pair into the dressing room, one size 8 and one size 6. Decided to try the 8s first, and be happy if they were loose and I had to go for the 6. Put them on, and they fit great, which was a tiny bit disappointing. As I hung them back up, I realized it was the size 6 that I had tried on. Ended up not buying because of some style details I didn’t like, but I was happy anyway!

Happy Friday, whether fasting tomorrow or not!

jojo58

7:11 am
20 Jun 14
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Good morning fast trackers
Busy day and evening planned today. Fasting until party tonight, buffet, worst temptation of all. Luckily the friend I am going with is very reserved about eating in public so I will follow her lead. I may even have some diet coke instead of water, not a fan but it does help avoid temptation. Already decided no bread or pastry. I will have some filling spicey soup just before leaving. I will try to keep on the dance floor, shouldn’t be difficult with a live band.
Ply – 5.30 am at the gym, are you mad? I thought my early morning dog walk was quite energetic enough. My hat comes off to you, you deserve to wear size 6 ( is that an English size 10) you must look fantastic. Since I took over my daughters diet she has lost 7 lbs in two weeks, now a size 10, she is very happy and looks terrific. She joined me at bowling last night. It hasn’t improved her game much though, not a natural sports woman. She likes Jitsu though. She has another 7 lbs to go, guess that will be a slower loss.
I am feeling good and more determined than ever to continue losing 2 lbs per week. Upped my game and cleaned up my act, obviously needed a lapse to get me sorted.
Ply
Couldn’t get out of bed again today, weird you are suffering too, it has got to be the diet. I think we should both have a good long lay in on Sunday morning, see if that helps. Are you taking vitamins?
My hip was playing up over night, needed a hot water bottle and two pain killers. Probably caused by the tug of war we did at the end of Sports Day – it’s a school tradition for teachers and parents, on the beach, good fun but very hard work.
The sun is shining so I am going to put on my ( baggy) size 18 shorts and clean the paved area of my garden, that should burn a few calories.
Enjoy Fasting Friday – May the scales be kind

amzta

8:34 am
20 Jun 14
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Morning fellow fasters! 🙂

Well after 3 weeks of 4:3 & 5 weeks of 5:2 before that here are the results of my weigh-in…

Starting weight: 11st 12lbs
Weight last week: 11st 6lbs
Current weight: 11st 4lbs
Weight loss this week: 2lbs!!!! 😀 😀
Total weight loss: 8lbs
Short term goal: 11st 0lbs by July 4th
Long term goal: 10st 0lbs by Dec 1st

Well I am VERY happy with that! 11 stone is within reach… If I can make that by my birthday (2 weeks) I will be over the moon.

Happy Friday everyone! xxx

ply24mp

9:10 am
20 Jun 14
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Great work, Amzta! You will reach your goals for sure!

I had been meaning to ask how your daughter was doing, Jojo, and I am glad to hear that IF is working for her. How nice that she has just a small amount to lose, and nice for you to have a partner in crime, other than your cyber buddies.

I started my morning gym routine back in March because I couldn’t manage to fit it in after work. Besides the monthly fee being wasted, it was causing me a lot of guilt and angst. So, I committed to 4 weeks of 5:30 am. I was skeptical, because I already got up quite early and I have a long commute (1 hr 15 min avg) to work. My worries were needless, however. It has become a habit, and the 4 week commitment has become 4 months. HIIT is necessary, because I only have about 35-40 minutes to work out. It starts my day in an energetic way, and it eliminates all my afternoon dithering about “should I go to the gym? I don’t really have time, but I really should, I have to make dinner, these errands have to be run, I am too tired,” etc.

I had a rare Diet Coke with my dinner last night, just couldn’t face another pint of water!! I don’t care for fizzy drinks in general, except grapefruit soda, and I do avoid artificial sweeteners. But it tasted like a treat, very satisfying.

Jojo, sorry your hip was triggered again, give it some rest this weekend for sure. Sleeping in on Sunday sounds good…I will go for at least 7:00! I do not take vitamins, just a probiotic and a kelp tablet when I remember, probably 75% of the time.

As for the scales, another 1.1 pounds gone this morning, which makes a whopping 3.9 so far this week! Also, I have finally gotten to the 25 pounds lost mark. My martini glasses full of marbles are now very visibly tipping toward the “pounds lost” side! I have another fast planned on Saturday, and my diet week doesn’t end until Monday. Maybe 5 pounds this week? Haven’t done that since Week 1, but feeling quite optimistic!

Have a great day, everyone!

amzta

9:30 am
20 Jun 14
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Ply- what do you mean by your martini glasses full of marbles? Congrats on 3.9lbs lost in a week! Wow! xxx

ply24mp

9:33 am
20 Jun 14
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Amzta, my margin in glasses are something I started at the beginning of IF. I have two glasses, side by side. I put 40 marbles in the left glass to represent the 40 pounds I want to lose. Every time I lose a pound, I move a marble to the other glass. Just a visual reminder of progress!

ply24mp

10:17 am
20 Jun 14
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I swear I corrected that auto correct, should read “martini glasses”‘ not “margin in glasses”

amzta

10:18 am
20 Jun 14
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I love that idea! 🙂

ply24mp

10:19 am
20 Jun 14
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@amzta, just notice that we started at exactly the same weight! (Takes me a minute to convert stones!)

amzta

12:32 pm
20 Jun 14
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Ooo snap! What’s your goal weight? xx

ply24mp

12:47 pm
20 Jun 14
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My goal is 126, 15 more pounds to go!

amzta

1:19 pm
20 Jun 14
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I don’t think we’re the same weight then as I am 158lbs!
You are 10st 1lb ( 14lb to a stone). Your current weight is my dream weight! How tall are you? I’m 5ft 9.5 x

ply24mp

1:35 pm
20 Jun 14
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I meant the staring weight, 11 stone 12 lbs = 166, right? I just started earlier than you did! I am much shorter!!

ply24mp

1:52 pm
20 Jun 14
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It would be my dream weight if I were six inches taller!

amzta

2:07 pm
20 Jun 14
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Oh I see! Clock-watching now at work. I’m going to visit my Dad up north this weekend and getting my hair done straight after work 🙂 What are everyone’s weekend plans? xx

jojo58

3:40 pm
20 Jun 14
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Ply, you are amazing well done,
No time to chat, still need to dye my hair, bath, get ready clen up flat…….help !!!
I have had a great fast day and worked really hard on the paving.
Speak tomorrow
40,s night here I come

P.s. Well don Amzta too, brilliant.

ply24mp

3:44 pm
20 Jun 14
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Have fun, Lana!

jojo58

5:40 pm
20 Jun 14
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Just finished getting ready, what a laugh, silver nails, red lipstick, grey and silver glitzy dress, seamed stockings, diamonte hair slides and jewellery. Hair in curles on top , shame to put glasses on really, spoils the look, although sun shades might be ok. Off to find them. Well boys, come up and see me some time – ok so that is Mae West.
Love Jojo

ply24mp

6:05 pm
20 Jun 14
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What fun, Jojo! You will be too busy dancing and fighting back the men to eat anything naughty!

jojo58

8:57 am
21 Jun 14
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Good morning FastTrackers,
Well I am reporting my first plateau since I started the diet in January. I don’t think it is a true reading because, as you know, I weigh daily. But I do think my body is hanging on to the weight because it is tired of ‘no cal’ fasting. It was very effective for weight loss but I believe it is negative to my energy reserves. I have had 6 days where I have not been able to get up at 6.30 am, my usual time and today I had to go back to bed for three hours, unheard of for me.
I am taking this tiredness as an early warning that my body needs more sustinance and more regular feeding. Back to three meals of 500 cals on 2 fast days and back to 1200 cals high veg, fruit, low carb, 20 % protein on other days. 4 pints of water vital.
This should still lose me 2 lb per week and although it is tempting to push for more with more fasts I don’t really need to, may want to but my deadline is next September so I am going to control myself to avoid a melt down. I have over 4 stone to go so I need to be sensible(not a character trait that comes easily).
The 40’s night was a great success, everyone made a real effort and I got lots of compliments on my costume. The 30 piece band were amazing doing musical numbers and Glen Miller( most of you too young to remember) quite a few war time songs too.
Sadly there were no single men to dance with but I did some jive and quickstep with borrowed husbands and girl friends. The hall was decorated in Union jacks as were the tables, it was a street party atmosphere. The food was traditional 40’s, not healthy options, British Tea Time food, corned beef or egg sandwiches, pork pie, scotch eggs, sausage rolls. Dessert was scones with jam and clotted cream, bread pudding, Eccles cakes and cheese scones. Finally there was jelly and ice cream or cup cakes. Fortunately everything was rationed so we didn’t get much. I avoided all the high fat and sugar except the bread pudding which I love and it reminded me of life as a child. My mother made it weekly-delicious. For our American cousins – it’s dried fruit, milk, sugar, butter and bread cooked in a tray bake – yummy. I will post the recipe on Fran’s site later, it’s worth a try some non fast day.

jojo58

10:17 am
21 Jun 14
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Just ordered new bras,as given up the prospect of losing weight in that region, what’s the bet it now reduces dramatically.
Sun is shining so it’s time for me to get going on the steps. Have a lovely weekend all.

Oh no, more party food ahead, give me strength.

Ply- when I am feeling more energetic I will try your very early gym routine, but I don’t think my gym opens until 6.30 am. I will check today. I still don’t enjoy HIT so I will plug away at standard stuff but do the full hour. I know it’s a waste of time but you should try throwing 14 stones around quickly, not a pleasant site either.

Planning bowls with the Bowls Head Honcho today, wish me luck? Hope I don’t let the team down. More tea and cake after for me to refuse. Life is a bitch, that is for sure. Price of vanity and health is a high one. Teeth gritted – mantra enabled – ‘sugar is a drug – resist’

P.s. My visual marker large wine glass marbles are almost at the half way point.

ply24mp

12:11 pm
21 Jun 14
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Glad you had a fun night, Jojo! I know bread pudding well! My mother-in-law used to make a chocolate bread pudding, and the tea shop where I worked made theirs with leftover cinnamon rolls and served it with a bourbon caramel sauce! Sounds like it was a treat worth the calories for you, especially with the nostalgia.
Plateaus are difficult to deal with, but you have the tools to get through it. I stopped the 24-hour fasts as well and went back to 3 small fast day meals within a 16:8 timeframe, and it has moved the scales for this week at least. I have also decreased my calories on fast and non-fast days to be closer to 400 on fast days, and just under 1200 on non-fast. The change in calories amounts to only 300-400 less over the course of the week, but the scales have moved for this week at least. Small tweaks, but I think when we are doing “everything right”, the small changes are the only options. Stay the course, we know this plan works.

franfit

2:13 pm
21 Jun 14
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Good morning, fast trackers 🙂

I finished my 16-days-without-a-break at last! Slept well last night but still tired. Taking it easy today. Off today, Tuesday, Thursday. Need them all. Work tomorrow, Monday; Wednesday early PT + PM work; work Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. This new schedule is going to take some getting used to.

Something weird happened this week. If I can believe the scales, I gained 4 pounds in 4 days (one of them a fasting day with 12,000+ steps), then lost 3 of them in one day. That is a lot of water weight!

So 116.2 this AM, very good 🙂 but yesterday morning I was like, how in the %$&*! did I get to 119.2 from 115 in four days? That was nuts! The only thing that has been different about my eating is that I have had several restaurant meals over the last week and a half. So not always 100% sure what’s in what I’m eating. We are big-time into home cooking and buying local in my household, almost all of the factory-made foods are single ingredients, like yogurt, pasta, canned tomatoes, flour, etc. In other words, I normally avoid processed foods like crazy, even if my son does still like to cook with some white carbs. I’ve been slowly seducing him away from them, he’ll now make whole-grain locally-ground polenta instead of white pasta, Bhutanese red rice instead of white rice. He has to like the flavor of the alternative better. He doesn’t like the flavor of whole wheat. I think I’m going to get an Indian cookbook, learn how to cook flatbreads with locally ground whole spelt or emmer flour, see if that tastes better to him.

deelite, really cool that you’re learning how to juggle and seeing numbers in the 54-range on the scale 🙂

SAMM, how is your blood sugar control coming along?

amzta, you go, girl! Excellent weight loss 🙂

ply, you make me wish I was a morning person! I have new exercises from my PT, they are good, I have been so tired in the evening, not even doing them, terrible! Will do today. I can only do what I can do, and no more. Do more, I just collapse, CFS/ME relapses, I wind up in bed for weeks. Literally cannot afford that, won’t be eating much then!

jojo, I applaud your decision to listen to your body’s request for a change, am sure you will figure out the pace it can sustain. Oddly, when my weight loss has stalled, just keeping on with 5:2 and walking has got it re-started again. My physical medicine/rehabilitation doc is the one who suggested the strategy of just keeping on keeping on with whatever has worked for me before, he says weight loss seems to stall every so often for no discernible reason. The only good thing is that, often after a stall, there will be a sudden 2- or 3-pound drop. Maybe some of it is water retention and loss, who knows? Clearly what happened to my weight this week was mostly water. Even thinking I should increase my maintenance range to 114-120 instead of 115-119, if I’m going to randomly gain and lose that much water. Not so sure I could be comfortable with the 120, though.

jojo, I really wish I could have seen you in your Mae West costume, it sounds fantastic! I also applaud your decision to keep up your social life and face the risk of over-eating, to not let a few extra calories or pounds get in the way of living your life.

This week I accepted a cookie (biscuit in the UK) and a slice of pizza from a local pizzeria in social settings, something I did not do while losing weight, and, in both cases, they really didn’t taste as good as they used to, I won’t bother to accept next time around, not good enough to be worth cutting out calories somewhere else! It sounds like you get surrounded by much more delicious foods, though, I think I would eat whatever I wanted if I went to a good Indian restaurant! I was going to have to eat two restaurant meals a week with my new clients, had the opportunity to cut one of them out and took it, even though it will mean the loss of a few dollars’ a week worth of compensation, the food where they eat is not good enough to be worth it.

Happy fasting to anyone fasting today 🙂

SAMM

5:02 pm
21 Jun 14
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Ply you might consider stevia as a natural sweetener!
That’s right stevia is not artificial.

I usually can get lemon wedges or orange wedges when I order water. I carry my own stevia packets.
20 times cheaper than ordering soda. Also stevia is Isn’t as acidic as can sugar. So it won’t effect ph level of drinking water. Also the lemon juice will also help with ph of drinking water. Most drinking water is 7.3 ph. Adding stevia and lemon to water I get litmus of 6.8 compared to saccarine at 3.8

Sweet!

And JoJo. One of my greatest victories is eating only the party food for that day. And a lot of lemon water.
Try it one time?

Basically it may not be a typical fasting day but it miight look like this

Bed at 10pm
Wake up 8 am
100 calorie protien vitamin and mineral drink. Poured into large glass of ice water. Sip fro a few hours.
Zero noodles lunch
100 calorie protien vitamin and mineral drink. Two hours prior to event

1 normal plate.
I will never tell anyone on this planet what they may or may not have. Especially when out enjoying good times. Friend and family events can make dieting a road with speed bumps all the way as far as the eye can see. However after getting to know you online wise. I know you can navigate both fasting and being entertained! And being active. You are inspiring ! Just keep on keeping on! You’re on IF because of it’s flexibility. Glad to see you getting and embracing that flexibility!

SAMM

5:21 pm
21 Jun 14
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http://steviana.net/faq.htm

Here’s the stevia link.

franfit

7:16 pm
21 Jun 14
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SAMM, I am thinking of trying stevia, do you carry the brand name (Truvia) packets with you or do you get pure stevia from a health food store or someplace else? Is the brand name stuff (which is mixed with something, I think) good for you?

ply24mp

7:27 pm
21 Jun 14
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Thanks, SAMM, sweet indeed!

jojo58

7:44 pm
21 Jun 14
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Good evening all,
What a fabulous day here. Everyone seems very upbeat on the thread. Fluctuating weight seems to be common and plateaus even more so. I realised after my rant that it is of course water retention because I am back on anti- histamine for yet more mosquito bites. I use every remedy and preventative but they still find me. I have discovered that they are breeding in two enormous Sycamore trees surrounding my property, neither belonging to me. Cut so e of it down yesterday, I was surrounded by a cloud of midges.
Also I have been on pain killers for my hip and back pain which also causes water retention for me.
On the positive side my team won our bowls game and got the highest score of the day. My skip today was a bit temperamental but he was ‘on side’ after we scored 7 on one end( out of 8) pretty impressive.
Cooking a cake tonight then doing some more steps as still 5,000 short today.
Speak tomorrow guys, may the scales be kind to you all

SAMM

8:12 pm
21 Jun 14
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Mosquitos are responsible killing more humans than all other organisms combined. Strange but true fact huh?
If I were one those kings for a day on my death bed with trillions to spend it would be to create a Nobel prize for irradicating the Mosquitos. They live under leaves on trees and shurbs and come put when there is no sunlight to burn them . They truly are vampireish little blood suckers coming out at dawn and dusk. Or on shady days especially sun porches.

I would have better bait to attract them and better ways to kill around the bait. Basically the sense us from 1000 yards detecting our exhale. I forget what causes humans exhale to change but I know it’s too drastic to work to wart them off. They can travel 40 miles in day so even in 7 mile an hour winds they can travel 208 miles.

Not sure if this is intrestingenough , mosquito mesh clothing .
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/wholesale-anti-mosquito-clothing-mesh-fabric_1121946387.html

jojo58

9:52 pm
21 Jun 14
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SAMM,
I am definately the bait around here
There are worse things in the world but mosquitos are my nemesis these days
I wish I could exterminate them but there would probably be some other creature down the line that would suffer as a result, probably birds or bees.
How is work going? Still walking a marathon each day?
You must get through a lot of shoe leather.

ply24mp

11:52 pm
21 Jun 14
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Franfit, wow, you have been working too hard! Good for you for pushing yourself yet being aware of your limits and taking care of your health. Scale fluctuations sound crazy, I have never seen swings that wild. You are probably right about water retention, it seems the only explanation. I am sure the restaurant meals had loads more salt than you use at home.

I find that new foods take some getting used to for my husband, as for your son and all of us, I guess. Multiple, gradual exposure seems to work. I never thought I could like my coffee without whole milk, got down to 1% after awhile! and now I take only skim. I don’t feel the need to go without milk altogether, but I suppose I could get used to black coffee.

I have had the same experience with the craved food not tasting as good. At our last staff breakfast (monthly, teams bring in lots of treats) I was going to treat myself to a bagel. Made myself half of one, took a. Bite and realized that it just wasn’t worth it. Victory! Jojo, too, the naan and bread pudding were worth the splurge, more ordinary stuff, not so much.

Spent the day with family visiting with my father-in-law, who is in hospice care now. The facility is lovely inside and out, he has a small deck overlooking a garden and large pond. Emotionally draining, and looking ahead to hard times, but we are fortunate to have a large and close-knit group. Took my mother-in-law to lunch, have to make sure she is eating and taking care of herself. It was a fasting day for me, but there were Thai Lettuce wraps on the menu, grilled chicken, shredded carrots, bean sprouts and a couple of drops of peanut sauce wrapped in lettuce leaves. Estimate just under 200 calories.

Looking forward to a quiet day at home tomorrow. Going for a run first thing in the morning with my running buddy along a beautiful bike trail where we run. Just a full day on Monday and half day on Tuesday and I am done with the school year. I am not good without a schedule, so looking forward to adding more gym time in the form of Pilates classes starting Tuesday evening!

Happy Summer!

SAMM

2:41 am
22 Jun 14
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Found this to be interesting reading.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormesis#Effects_in_aging

Glad I’ve been adding turmeric to my soups for years.
Stress like it or not is better than no stress. Is my opinion.
Especially stress on bones through exercise. Just my opinion though to be clear, not presenting any facts. When I was sedentary in that bed . I was losing weight through 4:3 , but could tell I was weaker than before the accident. Yet another yin yang health effect. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang

I’m convinced 4:3 Intermittent Calorie Restriction Adequate Nutrition will win out over all other diets and lifestyles in the coming century. Due to it’s flexibility on the weekends. Low energy days to get into dna repair mode and higher energy days to do exercise.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_repair#Longevity_and_caloric_restriction

I’m guessing but the tweak will be what body builders do with their diet to loose fat, yet the very short nutrition intake followed by H.I.I.T. to keep their workouts from losing muscle mass while they cut. It falls right on the crux of longevity at any age and time. The cutting and bulking scaled back to a lifestyle of feed and fast days. yin yang. Also finding the individualized approach to calorie restriction while at optimum weight using exercise to stress the body for the positive stress effects. So the human body is calorie restricted by means of exercise and not by nutrition restriction.

Rushed this- saving to journal for later werite.
Making a list of other beneficial ingredients to put in soups.
One in particular catches my eye. Rosemary.

I read once that it helps during the digest process to effect burnt food in way that makes it less carcinogenic . I can’t reference it but eyes popped out of my head when acquired that understanding.
Because I could grill again and eat mashed potatos super heavy on rosemary.
http://www.yummly.com/recipes/rosemary-bbq-chicken

Like fruits and vegetables, many spices are rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial compounds.

Used regularly, herbs can help your health in many ways including reduced inflammation, fighting free radicals, aid digestion and circulation, lower blood sugar, boost your immune system, and much more.
Here is a list of perhaps the healthiest spices, what they pair well with, and how they help…
In no particular order,
SAGE
Pairs well with: Squashes; parsley; rosemary; thyme; walnuts
May help: Preserve memory, soothe sore throats.
ROSEMARY
Pairs well with: Potatoes; citrus; honey; garlic; onions; chile peppers
May help: Enhance mental focus, fight foodborne bacteria.
TURMERIC
Pairs well with: Garlic; citrus; ingredients in curry powder, such as coriander & cumin
May help: Quell inflammation, inhibit tumors.
CHILE PEPPER
Pairs well with: Ginger; chocolate; beans; beef
May help: Boost metabolism.
GINGER
Pairs well with: Soy sauce; citrus; chile peppers; garlic
May help: Soothe an upset stomach, fight arthritis pain.
CINNAMON
Pairs well with: Cloves; nutmeg; allspice; chocolate; fruit; nuts; hot cereal
May help: Stabilize blood sugar, reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
SAFFRON
Pairs well with: Shellfish, rice, tomatoes, garlic, onion
May help: Boost your mood, relieve symptoms of PMS.
PARSLEY
Pairs well with: lemon zest, mint, garlic, capers, fish, beef
May help: Prevent cancer.
GARLIC
Pairs well with: Spread roasted garlic on crusty bread, sautee it and add to sauces, and use raw in hummus and salad dressing.
May help: fighting illness, ‘poor man’s antibiotic’, help prevent cardiovascular disease, protecting against gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer.
THYME
Pairs well with: Flavor stews and soups. It works well in Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken and in Creole dishes such as blackened fish.
May help: Increase the amount of omega-3 (good) fatty acids present in kidney and brain cells, excellent antioxidant and rich in antibacterial and antispasmodic properties.
CAYENNE PEPPER
Pairs well with: Add a pinch of powdered cayenne to paella, Thai and Mexican dishes, or any dish that needs a kick.
May help: Boosts circulation, fights infections, aids digestion, boost metabolism.
CILANTRO
Pairs well with: Add fresh cilantro to salsa, guacamole, fish or chicken marinades, and Indian and Chinese soups.
May help: Remove toxic metals such as mercury from the body.
BASIL
Pairs well with: In chicken dishes, pastas, pesto, and tomato-and-cheese sandwiches.
May help: Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; contains a wealth of nutrients including beta-carotene and magnesium.
CURRY POWDER, CURCUMIN
Pairs well with: Add to curry dishes, to egg or chicken salad, or savory lentil or rice recipes.
May help: Very potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent; activates cellular defense mechanisms in genes.
CLOVES
Pairs well with: Drinks and in both sweet and savoury dishes.
May help: With one of the highest levels of antioxidants; relieve bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, nausea and diarrhea; tooth and gum pains.
OREGANO
Pairs well with: Egg and cheese dishes; beef, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes.
May help: Guard you against a wide array of infections; inhibit E. coli and some staph infections.
PAPRIKA
Pairs well with: Wide variety including sauces, egg garnish, chicken, Mexican, Mediterranean and Cajun spice blends.

SAMM

3:21 am
22 Jun 14
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http://video.about.com/yoga/Yoga-Poses-That-Help-You-Sleep.htm
😉

jojo58

4:58 am
22 Jun 14
Permalink

SAMM,
I regularly make tea from steeped sage leaves, really good generally but particularly for sore throats. It tastes good too which is a bonus. Thanks for the information.
I am an early bird, 5 am start today even though I had a late night baking last night, feeling much better(well less tired today). Unfortunately I need to take more anti- histamine so it won’t last. My arm is swollen (2 mosquito bites) is very hot so I may be on anti-biotics tomorrow, but i hope not.

Ply – weight still at a standstill but putting it down to medication, I will carry on Monday with a 500 cal fast and then add a day if I feel up to it. I would really like to break the next stone barrier by the end of June. Only 3.5 lbs to go. Then I am not weighing in during July, not sure whether this will be a positive or negative experiment- but I think it is more normal and healthy, less obsessive approach. I still plan to do a one week detox at the end of August. This should give me a good start on September. I have two,one week, holidays booked for Autumn. Yoga retreat and bowling in Spain, should be fun.
If I can lose another stone in July- August I will be very happy.

Just been working on my post retirement schedule, like you I need to be busy and organised. I have some big decorating and garden projects to undertake but I would like to take some classes too. In particular I want to get back to Spanish lessons in a serious way, perhaps even a degree. Then I want to do some cookery, needlework classes and possible furniture restoration. That lot should keep me quiet, plus a bit more gym and bowling, choir, reading group and badminton. Adding social activities and trips I think I might have my time full.

Ply – I am glad your father-in-law is settled, my mother enjoyed her retirement home, she also had Alzheimer’s. At least we knew she was safe there and had friends her own age. Caring for elderly relatives is both a privelege and a burden.

You are doing so well on your diet even when eating out. It’s the worst battle – finding suitable choices. I am going to ask the bowls club to offer a healthy alternative to cake and biscuits, can’t harm. If they won’t I will take my own. I will stick to salad today and taking my own fresh wild trout-yum. Must get on now, birthday cake to decorate for lunchtime.

Have a nice day(how American is that?)

ply24mp

10:04 am
22 Jun 14
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SAMM, thanks for all your good info, as always. I agree that IF is the answer! I use all of those herbs in abundance in my cooking, with the exception of turmeric, which I find bitter. I will make an effort to add more. I have seen fresh turmeric lately at some grocery stores, which looks like ginger but dark orange inside, so I will do some research on incorporating that.

I am down another pound this morning after fast day #3, during which I consumed 472 calories (Fiber One breakfast, Thai Lettuce Wraps lunch, and glass of wine for “dinner”). Total lost for the week a shocking 5.9 pounds, and I am in the 9 stones range now. 3 more pounds and I will be out of the overweight BMI zone.

Jojo, Franfit, and SAMM, I find that many restaurants are pretty accommodating about special orders here. I was thinking that if something like lettuce wraps ( they are my favorite…low cal, fun to construct, take a bit of time to eat) is not on the menu, you can make you own! See what looks good on the menu…grilled fish or meat, a side of steamed veggies, and ask for whole lettuce leaves instead of rice or pasta. Even a burger or sandwich filling with lettuce leaves instead of the bread would work. A little dribble of some sauce, and Voila!! Fast day lunch or dinner!

Congrats on your bowls victory, Jojo! I envy your busy and exciting retirement! I have at least 15 years to go! Thanks for your kind wishes for my father-in-law as well.

Enjoy the last of the weekend, all!

jojo58

7:56 pm
22 Jun 14
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Hi Ply,
Well done on your weight loss this week, fantastic effort.

I was very disciplined at the birthday lunch and tea. I had to have a slicer of the chocolate cake that I made for the birthday boy. Everybody loved the cake( I had reduced rpthe sugar to one third of that on the original recipe. I also reduced the quantity of butter icing by decorating it with two tone swirls rather than full cover. If I say so myself it tasted amazing. Based on a Mary Berry recipe.feeling really tired now after my early start and medication so going to bed at nine pm tonight.
Sleep title everyone – fast day tomorrow

ply24mp

9:19 pm
22 Jun 14
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Thanks, Jojo!

Great idea to adjust the sugar and frosting on your cake. Healthier for all, and no one noticed the change!

ply24mp

10:10 pm
22 Jun 14
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Another non-fast day on the books. Fiber One breakfast with almonds & dried plums, buffalo chicken sausage with sautéed spinach and blue cheese for lunch, chicken thigh roasted with lemon, garlic, honey, rosemary, potatoes, and onions on a bed of spinach for dinner. Total 1123 calories.

Fasting tomorrow!

jojo58

7:17 am
23 Jun 14
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Ply,
Can I move in with you, that menu sounds fabulous. You must be feeling on cloud 9 being in the nine stone zone. How many pounds to target weight? Be proud you have worked very hard. Our local restaurants are not diet friendly or helpful at all, they frown on dieters and may offer you an omelette and veg if you are lucky, I usually choose grilled fish and veg but for vegetarians – hopeless, usually high carb cheesy options only on menu.

I am fasting today even though I am attending the second birthday lunch in two days. This time I am avoiding all food, I think I might have to lie and pretend to have a stomach upset or something. I stuck to salads yesterday but many had dressings, not good. I did indulge in a sliver of birthday cake( because I had made it)and a scone with jam and clotted cream( because I am weak willed). Not a bad effort for a non fast day though, honestly there was little healthy food options, bloody buffet lunches are a curse to the dieter. Avoided all puddings in favour of an apple and took my own smoked salmon to have with salads.

Looks like I am going to have to stay on the anti-histamine for the rest of the summer whilst living here. This unfortunately really causes water retention( I can go up 6-7 lbs whilst on it, but I have no choice, Mosquitos are targeting me daily, now have five really inflamed bites. I am using Deet twice per day, given up on non chemical Avon so soft as it is not working. Planted citronella all over the garden now and burn citronella coils, even wearing wrist and ankle bands, it’s a joke. I feel so frustrated and may need to see the Doctor to see if I can have an alternative medication. This is going to really hamper my diet and my energy levels because anti-histamine knocks me out. I am bringing in my ‘no weighing’ decision early because it will be too depressing not seeing the results of my efforts on the scales. Next weigh in at the end of July, hopefully I will find a way to deal with the water retention and tiredness before then.

I have to go to the vet today and will miss my dance class so I will do a workout instead, I need to push through this block mentally because my body is now not cooperating. Went to bed at 9 pm and yet still had difficulty getting up 12 hours later.

Suggestions anyone?

Current goal 10 lbs before the end of July. Wish me luck, I will need it.

SAMM, thanks for the herbs info. I have an extensive supply in my sensory garden, yesterday I picked lavender, rosemary, sage, Italian herbs and lemon mint for my lunch visitors they were thrilled. One of my guest plans to make me some lavender ice cream, it’s really good.(one scoop on a non fast day as treat, counted of course). I am just going to look at your Yoga link, I may suggest some moves for my class this afternoon, if I can stay awake.

Fran – I got Stevia in Tesco ‘s.

Amzta – gosh you are tall, that’s good. It does help you carry weight better, not that you want too. How far to goal?

Good luck for this week guys.

ply24mp

12:49 pm
23 Jun 14
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Wish I lived close to another faster so I could share my meals!

Sorry the bugs are so bad, Jojo! As far a water retention, I know there are foods that are natural diuretics, including asparagus. SAMM can probably help you out with the scientific info. I also drink a tea made with dandelion root and a bunch of other herbal ingredients which helps. The brand I get is Yogi Teas, and one is called DeTox, and the other Healthy Fasting. I’m sure they are available through Amazon. I throw two teabags in my water bottle and let it steep for awhile. The taste is good, a little spicy with ginger and anise.

My target weight is 9 stones even, or 126 pounds. That would only put me in the high-mid range for my height, but I am okay with that. The test of this diet will be the next month. At my current weight or a little less, I feel and look pretty good, so this historically has been where I have trouble. My mind says, “I do not need to deprive myself anymore, I look good!” The thing with IF is that I do not feel deprived, so I am going to be able to power through my previous low weight and maintain going forward from there.

Hope you dog receives a clean bill of health at the vet!

amzta

1:05 pm
23 Jun 14
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Hi Jojo – my target weight is 10st, 18lbs to go!

Hoping to get to 11st before my birthday on 4th July so 4lb loss over the next 2 weeks.

Fasting today, tomorrow and Friday this week as it’s my brother’s graduation on Thursday 🙂 He got a First Class Honours so I’m a proud big sister!

xx

deelite

1:33 pm
23 Jun 14
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Hello everyone!

Been busy over the weekend! My parents were visiting so I spent all my time with them, it was really nice. Although, it didn’t really help the diet eating out and things but knowing this I tried to save my calories for dinner. My weight is still consistent but I’m going to be catching up with the gym all week and I have new running shoes, yay!

Today is a fast day, which is good because I wasn’t too well last night so I don’t fee like eating too much today anyway.

Have a good week everyone!

Oh and Jojo- I didn’t weigh myself for 3 days! I took the batteries out hahah

ply24mp

1:53 pm
23 Jun 14
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Hooray for new running shoes, DeeLite! I need to get some very soon. Proud of myself for wearing the old ones out!

Happy fasting!

jojo58

4:40 pm
23 Jun 14
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Good evening all,
Just a quick note as I am having a power nap before badminton, bloody pills are wiping me out.
Survived birthday buffet today by sticking to crudités and houmous. So glad I am not drinking alcohol, bad combo very hot walled garden and wine, several friends looking worse for wear when I left.
Came home and had a jacket potato with cottage cheese.
Drinking lots of water today, ate two bananas which are good to prevent water retention. I will investigate teas, thanks Ply, I do have detox teas already.
Good to hear from you Deelite and Amzta, keep up the good work.
I am fasting again tomorrow

jojo58

10:48 pm
23 Jun 14
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Hi All,
I am so glad all my social events are over for a while, it’s depressing being strict when everyone around you is doing what they like. I did manage to resist the biscuits at badminton tonight even though they were my favourite, coconut. Wasn’t playing my best tonight, too much sun at birthday party today left me zapped of energy. There were a couple of very lively players there tonight, good movers around the court.
My poor dog has broken another claw so he will be wearing the collar a little longer to stop him licking it. He seems to have got used to it now but I am covered in bruises on my legs where he crashes into me. I think I may need to pad the edges.
I feel very heavy, retaining fluid, so my research says drink more to compensate for the medication and heat. Doing as instructed but not working yet plus added purify tea. I think I will stay out of the garden this week, let the bloody mosquitos find another victim. I will need to do the watering though, baskets and pots need water in this heat. Perhaps I should get a bee keepers outfit to protect myself. Teehee, the lengths I am considering, it’s ridiculous.
Staying low carb for now and going up to three three meal fast days for July to compensate for water retention, frequent meals help apparently.
I will have one last weigh at the end of June and take measurements. Measurements are likely to be more reliable than scales whilst on medication for the rest of summer. So frustrating.
Happy fasting all.
Report your successes and tips.
Anyone use pulses much? Mung beans for example?

SAMM

11:44 pm
23 Jun 14
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Fallon asleep so fast I feel like falling out of helicopter.

But in E fashion while texting . Lol I get slap happy this tired.
Ok

Ply. Did you know that you can put some smells in the air by boiling them in salt, The weird part is after doing the salt evaporation bath it wont taste anything like it smell. O: that came out all wrong.
To put flavor in the air boil in salt water to evaporate into the air. One of life’s simple pleasures to walk into a room that makes crave something you didn’t even know you wanted and be sated by good friends.

However the smell of brown banana peels boiled in water is damn near pleasant , but quells appetite.
Ironic that banana nut bread is so healthy!
Ok I’m maling no sense @ll. Someone at work noticed I lost weight. Been only three months. :).

Oh and hey JoJo. Seriously
Are trying to replace coffee with another drink?

Please try dandelion coffe or tea. It can be made strong and sweetens with stevia in sweetnes is required.

The health benefit is worth very quick read.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion_coffee
Be well my friends!

SAMM

12:02 am
24 Jun 14
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I buy it from grocery store and put in my kcup coffee maker. .
So it’s not like having to grow it, harvest it and prepare it. I just hit a button and mmmmmm. Mmmmmm.
Thought to add that it is milder than coffee and I’m guessing that may be opposite of coffer in ph. Meaning it’s IMO better that coffee When eating and pairing with high fat foods. Like nuts.

Will look into beans next week , Since I’m being weird to day I’ll stae the most weirdest thing I’ve ever read about nutrition. Ok. Ladies.
Hmmmm
Ppbpbpbpbpb

Can’t believe I’m saying this. .

Foods like beans help creat gas that has a positive effect on vitamin absorption?
Ok ok. Not jokin. Go ahead and poke at me.

Something about creating pressur in the microenvironment. So flatulence is actually healthy.
I’ll try to find the reference by next week.
Out like a light.

jojo58

9:18 am
24 Jun 14
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Morning All,
Lovely day for fasting
Keeping drinking
Don’t really fancy the side effects of beans, healthy or not thanks SAMM

ply24mp

10:24 am
24 Jun 14
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Spent all day at bedside vigil for my father-in-law, who passes peacefully overnight. He was a good man and raised a wonderful family. May he rest in peace. My kids have been lucky to have close relationships with four wonderful grandparents well into their 20s.

ply24mp

10:33 am
24 Jun 14
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SAMM, you have really gone off the deep end now! Brown banana peels boiled in salt? How is that going to help me lose weight? Love you, big guy, but I am confused! Get some sleep, man!