Amazon, I love Piccadilly, beetroot relish and pickled onions and the veg chill sounds scrumptious. As for jam, the only time I attempted it, I didn’t boil it long enough, and burnt all the sugar onto the bottom of the very expensive Maslin pan, which then took 3 days to clean off, having been soaking in caustic soda in the garden. Not been tempted since.

HCB, the Inner Goddess comes from a birthday card I was sent, which shows two cartoon ladies in what appears to be the downward dog position, and one says, I can’t seem to get in touch with my Inner Goddess, can you, and the other one say, I can, and she says she really likes pie.

Oops…forgot to say…discard the rhubarb leaves…they are poisonous 😯

Morning/evening all,

We had rhubarb in the garden when I was a child so I’ve always eaten and loved it. A friend of mine loves it so much she had rhubarb crumble for dessert at her wedding feast.
Rhubarb can be simmered on the hob or roasted in the oven. I often add some ginger and the juice of an orange. I prefer it sweetened as it is very tart but I use sugar sparingly and then taste it. I love it warm, in crumbles and pies and cold stirred through yoghurt, cold proper custard or even some lightly whipped cream.
If you wash it after cooking you are washing away the flavour and most likely all the goodness so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Happy, I’ve no idea how I’m going to keep the Piccalilli for a few weeks for it to mature as it is divine!

It’s overcast this morning but warm with sunshine forecast for later.

Have a good one everybody 😜

Jo,

Re: rhubarb and crumble being your favourite pudding, I thought that was bread pudding? But I’m sure you’ve posted several times that you don’t have a sweet tooth…so now, unless I’m going mad, I’m wondering if there’s two Jojo’s here (your evil twin or alter ego maybe?!) 🙂

I didn’t discover the 5:2 Forum until I had reached my healthy goal weight, after a year, and wanted to thank Dr M.

Today, I was just looking at one of the books I found invaluable, back in 2013, when I was still trying to lose the weight…Kate Harrison’s 5:2 Diet. It has some really easy references on foods. I frequently referred to it. I used it to work out where our healthy weight for height range sat and then calculated how many calories someone of that weight, and sedentary, would be. I figured it was best to eat as we would for the rest of our lives from the start, with 2 days of 1/4 TDEE thrown in.
The calculation for me came out at 1350 cals per day. So that is what I worked on. Have a look at the calorie count on processed food and you quickly realise 1350 calories can be reached mighty quickly. Hence we have to cut out unnecessary, unhealthy foods and only consume the very best if we have any chance of maintaining our healthy weights. Lots of fresh vegetables and home prepared foods is the obvious answer. You are in control of the content ☺☺
As Happy says, maintenance is harder than losing the weight initially (as you have fewer calories to play with), but the alternative is simply not the option.
Come on folk…eat to your healthy weight. Choose your food wisely and live life to the full. P 😊

Yes here here Purple I have set yfee on that exact path over the last 2 weeks establish the goal weight and eat to the TDEE of that and 25% of that on the fast days as you quite rightly point out many times may as well get the brain accustomed to what the intake will be now and not wait for the end “It’s not about the destination it’s about the journey”
Happy fast Thursday Folks
“Remember that reserve of fat you have on your body already and realise you actually don’t need food, you just want it.”
RT

Well I’ve never been a calorie counter and didn’t when I started 5:2, except to get an idea of what 500 calories looked like. I knew what my issues were, despite everything being homemade with quality ingredients – too much bread too often, refined carbs with each meal, top much added sugar, etc. I didn’t want to lose weight and carry on with unhealthy eating habits, so added sugar is back in it’s proper place, an occasional treat, and refined carbs are not a feature of every meal, and not even on the menu daily. That, together with a bit of mindfulness (I am aware of what an adequate portion of food looks like, although I may sometimes overindulge 🙂 ), has worked for me so far.

Fasting today, just approaching 22 hours…it’s so easy these days not to eat, and so liberating to be freed from constant thoughts of food 🙂

Hi P,

My recent encounter with rhubarb stewed in water only has really brought home to me the value of not consuming added sugar. I don’t know that I’d say I’ve lost my sweet tooth, but I’ve definitely lost the sickly sweet tooth that food manufacturers target!
And I’m now quite intrigued by the idea of making something like a fruit crumble without any added sugar….sadly I suspect that I’d enjoy it but couldn’t serve it to guests…

Jo,

Lunch sounds interesting. I do like baked Camembert but I’m always wary of goats cheese as I had an encounter with one once that tasted and smelled just too much like old goat!

Just off to bed, fast day complete,…

Hello all,
Very funny and very true RT. Married to an engineer for over 40 years, I can vouch for the technical brain! Husband sees the world quite differently to me! But his cool logic is very useful when I am getting in a lather about something that life throws up!

I have also learnt that processed carbs have to be a ‘treat’ food only. Difficult to resist when you love crusty bread, baked potatoes etc, but I have realized its a simple choice – a trim figure and good health permanently vs some short lived pleasure! I would never have been able to accept this though if my uncontrollable ‘sweet tooth’ had not been tamed with fasting. I still really enjoy a taste of sweetness, but no longer crave it. Fasting for 2 years this month has achieved that, very worthwhile.

Jo I am like you with bread and butter pudding – simply cant resist, especially with sultanas scattered through it. Therefore I can’t have it in the house! I would not manage seeing it at bowls regularly!
Also I could not enjoy rhubarb without sugar I am certain – way too tart for me. Re cooking it in low cal lemonade, didn’t we have a discussion here about the latest findings around artificial sweetners? Jason Fung, among others, pointed out that the body is fooled by artificial sweetners and still reacts by releasing Insulin in readiness to transport sugar into the cells from the bloodstream. For me its better just to stick to the berries and melon type fruits I think. And have rhubarb and yoghurt as an occasional treat!

By saying I can’t have certain foods in the house, I am not being a martyr. I just accept the simple fact – why put temptation under your nose. Like wandering through a shopping centre with no money, no point in tormenting oneself!!

Amazon my mouth has been watering reading about your ‘cook-a-thon’, what a week you are having! Everything sounds delicious. My culinary adventures this week consisted of trying a new dessert for husband’s birthday dinner on Wed. I made Mango Pudding which was delicious, plus tried a recipe for an Uncooked Carrot Cake. Cake ingredients pretty healthy – raw carrots, walnuts, dates, raisins, cinnamon and sugar into food processor till just a paste. Pressed into cake tin and topped with processed macadamia nuts, dash of honey and small amt coconut oil. It was voted a success but I don’t think I would bother again. It held the birthday candles though!

Its been a really busy month, between helping out with injured son, supporting (very) pregnant DIL (sending cooked meals as that son can’t cook to save himself) and wedding preparations (2 weeks). Very grateful to be retired and able to help them. Starting to get really excited about both ‘big’ events.

Have a lovely weekend all. Think of me at a first birthday party tomorrow, trying to avoid the (Italian) Nonna’s fabulous cooking……… Enjoy the finals RT!

Morning/evening all

Friday already, another week gone 😲

I ended up having a fish and chip dinner yesterday which was all I had all day, no alcohol 😇 and I’m fasting today and tomorrow.

The first time I had goats cheese I was having lunch in a restaurant with some friends and couldn’t decide what to have so ordered the same as one of my friends which was a warm goats cheese salad. It was very strong and put me off trying it again for several years. Someone recommended a mild soft Welsh goat cheese and I bought some and loved it. I’ve tried many different types since both hard and soft, and I love it.

Jo, if the Halloumi is squeaky it is undercooked.

Nama, I don’t include potatoes in the forbidden carbs bracket as they are unprocessed. As for bread I have no intention of giving it up but it is going to be an occasional treat and usually home made so I know what it in it.

My cookathon isn’t over yet. I shall be steaming mini Christmas puddings today. For the first time in more than 20 years I’ve deviated from my tried and trusted recipe by using some figs and prunes rather than raisins and half the amount of sugar. I forgot that the recipe includes breadcrumbs and I only had half the required amount in the freezer so made up the weight with porage oats. It also has a small amount of stout which means opening a large bottle and you can imagine where the rest usually goes, so I used the juice of the orange and lemon I had zested and added an extra nip of rum 🙂
The ingredients have been sitting together overnight getting to know each other and will soon be steaming away.

I have a lot of veggies sitting there waiting to be used so a batch of curry is in order to go into the freezer with the chilli. More healthy comfort food.

My back has been misbehaving this week so I’ve stayed away from the gym and am taking anti-inflammatories. It seems to be improving so fingers crossed I can get back to the gym next week.

Have a good weekend everybody 😜

Hi Jim,

I’ve been eating dinner only on FDs and following 16:8 on non FDs for quite some time. I’m having problems on non FDs at the moment as despite only having an 8 hour window I’m over-eating. In order to tackle this I’ve decided to try no food at all on FDs and only one meal on non FDs as often as I can manage which means going without food for 48 hours so it isn’t easier.

On fast days I’m drinking tea and coffee with a small amount of milk plus lots of water so it is food free but not calorie free. On non FDs I’m aiming not to eat earlier than 5pm and then have a single meal and no grazing once I’ve cleared my plate. I’m doing this because I’ve been going round in circles for several months regaining and losing the same weight and I need to get back into losing weight and keeping it off.

Keeping busy is the answer because as soon as I sit down I start thinking about eating. I also ensure I don’t have any unhealthy/addictive treats in the house.
Someone gave me two boxes of chocolates a couple of days ago. It was impossible for me to say no so I accepted them graciously. I’ve already given one away and am giving the other to a friend when I see her on Monday.

We are back from travelling the Land of the Long White Cloud – but not today, it was a spectacular sunny day to come back from New Plymouth, past the cloud-free cone of Mt Taranaki, and to see the mountains of the Central Plateau across the spring-green land. I love my country!

Well done, Jojo. We are all rooting for you. Well done the ABs, too, and our wonderful lasses and lads at the Para Olympics.

Hi Fast Trackers and Hello World (You All know Who You ARE) 😉
What a finals series so far 2 upsets IMO eagles gone and the Swans beaten at home the Bulldogs wow what fantastic good news story there and of course my lads got the job done.!!
DIL returns to work for 8 weeks placement for her nursing so we have picked up the baby sitting while our son is at work and so let the fun begin Yfee is is full of beans but not full of milk 😉 Nama you have a full on couple of weeks ahead with weddings and impending grandchildren so good.
We or I have proven that if you do not eat today but have plenty of water black coffee tea etc you lose on average 1lb a day that is fact at weigh in tomorrow. Reading Jo’s story of the very big chap who she met I guess we all have fallen for the eat less move more option but it does not work.so it staggers me that while fasting has its share of critics by doing absolutely nothing complete rest and by eating absolutely nothing and for example having water only like the water fasting experience at the “Truth North health center “clinic run by Dr Alan Goldhamer great youtube here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOBa_hfbRE
good weight loss with excellent health outcomes by doing nothing.
Monday fast day get the job done eat fast and live longer
“It’s is easier to avoid eating than to stop eating once started”
Peace RT

Morning/evening all.

Happy, sorry to hear you’ve caught a cold and I hope it doesn’t habg around too long.

My day out has been cancelled at short notice as my friend’s youngest is poorly.
We were going out for a walk and then having coffee and cake. I might still do the walk but pass on the cake and go for 23:1 today.

Have a good one everybody 😜

Hello all,

Happy I am sorry I gave you my cold!! Been coughing and spluttering here for a week so my bugs must have travelled a long way! Finally over the worst I think/hope – I don’t want to be sick near my first grandchild (now 3 days post due date)! I hope your bugs vanish quickly.

Jo I wont criticize you for joining Slimming World, I say “whatever works” As long as you are careful not to believe any of their spin and use it just for the reasons you mention, ie support and accountability to their scales. It may even renew your commitment to fasting! You obviously believe in the power of fasting and are prepared to admit your weaknesses, hopefully the extra personal support might help. Well done on giving the bread pudding to the birds, it would have hurt far less than feeling angry with yourself after eating it! Though Happy may say you are poisoning the birds….. I did feel very sad for the poor chap you met at the pool, hopefully the support he is now getting will help him.

Well done on the great win RT, the Adelaide Crows could go all the way this year! I bet your wife will be enjoying the babysitting for the next 8 weeks, lucky DIL to have such help. Nursing is a great career to fit around your family, so many options of areas to work in and shifts to work.

Good Monday fast done: water and coffee all day, then a treat of 2 Brazil nuts with my kefir yoghurt tonight! What a feast it was!

Thanks for the kind words! It’s a nice day here too, but not roasting. Judging by what everyone else is wearing I’m guessing it’s quite warm, but I’m in a vest, long-sleeved t-shirt and fleece and still cold!

I’m toying with fasting through til tomorrow to let my body focus on ousting the germs but have a few odds and ends of ham and cheese that really need eating so perhaps an omelette. And I’d like to get some chilli down to help with the cough.

Nama, are you a bundle of nerves or managing to stay calm? I bet you’ll all be relieved to get the baby out!

Jo, I’m not going to criticise you for joining a more formal support group. I’m with Nama and Amazon, if it gives you the discipline and accountability you need to get back on track then it won’t be money wasted.

Amazon, we’re both suckers for old fashioned kitchen shops stuffed full of everything you ever need (and lots you don’t!). I think OH is even worse than me…or perhaps it’s just that prising treasures out of his sweaty paws before he gets to the till gives me a bit of perspective and puts a brake on my tendency to want everything 😀

Amazon,

Good on you! Pleased you’re educating people!

The gulls may be avian dustbins, but still prone to health problems from an unbalanced diet. The problem isn’t so much Jo giving the birds the odd bit of bread, which is fine fed along nuts, seeds, fats, etc. but the people who buy a loaf of white sliced and chuck it all in the pond/canal/lake. Its got no nutritional value and too much bread causes ill health, affecting ability to fly, reproduce and ultimately survive. And uneaten bread causes algal blooms and pollutes water bodies and watercourses…

You’ve talked me into an omelette 😀 Although now I want your salad ☹️

Hi Fast Trackers and Hello World (You All know Who You ARE) 😉
My take on exercise maybe different than the rest of the world I feel I get in 10000 steps a day and feel the buzz or a high as the dopamine release into my system but that is just my WOL Nama swims regularly but I don’t class that as dedicated exercise if you join a gym I suggest it is for the express purpose of exercise and I don’t think that is a requirement and taking on board all evidence including DrM “the truth about exercise” and my study of one think it is not. Jo I don not know what slimming world is but if the outcome is achieved then all power to you. Gee 2 brazil nuts and kefir yoghurt very la dee daa Nama 😉 I think it’s a bit much to expect these young nurses to work full time with zero pay on placement some fly in from interstate and have accommodation and transport expenses plus mortgages personal loans and credit cards if they have kids as well as husbands and partners to leave behind or organise I did not realise the sacrifices required on a personal level so far she has had nearly 40 weeks placement for no dollars that’s outrageous IMO.
Crows can beat the Swans (sorry Purple) I am confident but GWS the following week that is another story they are the real deal and such height pace and power impressive..?
Have a Happy Day All

“It’s is easier to avoid eating than to stop eating once started”
Peace RT

If nothing else, Slimming World will be an interesting experience Jo…see how others struggle. Hope it works for you.

Don’t worry, RT, I’ve given up on the Swannies and the Roosters (NTL), but the Wallabies are ok (at oresent 🤐) 🙂

Your chilli, ham and cheese omelette sounds perfect, Happy. I think I’ll have one too. Get better soon.

Hi to Nama (nervous granny), Wee (shed owner), Amazon (culinary queen) and all other happy FTs 😊😊 P