Category Archives: diet

Noodles and nutrition

Posted on
Reply

Life in Africa is tough; it’s hard to make enough money to support youself. I work as a receptionist so money is tight at times. It is unfortunately one of those times. Its 3 days till pay day. I need to survive today, Tuesday, Wednesday and most properly half of Thursday.

Now the problem comes in that with my diet I need to eat certain foods, I need to have yogurt and eggs and veggies.  I really don’t feel comfortable eating anything off my diet. My diet is 1250 cals at the moment and I am no stranger to calorie counting, so I could instead of having my healthy lunch I could have 2 minute noodles or a small packet of chips (crisps).

But the thing that most people don’t realise is calorie counting is only half of what dieting is really about. Nutrition is the far more important other half. You need to eat a diet contain protein, loads of veggies, yogurt and a small portion of carbs.

Now I’ve notice a lot of people try and go vegetarian to lose weight, this is ok but you need to keep your protein intake up, you really can’t expect to lose weight and build healthy muscle if you don’t have enough protein. Protein powders are an excellent option to all you. For me I use Whey Protein.  It’s incredibly yum as an added bonus.

Now back to the noodles, I can’t afford to go and get my normal foods, so what do I do? It’s a question I’m sure a lot of people suffer with. If I can’t afford to eat healthy today should I rather not eat?

Surving the festive Season..

Posted on
Reply

Well hello there everyone, it has been a while since my last confession. In fact it has been 2 weeks!! Oops, but hey who can blame me, IVE BEEN ON “HOLIDAY” well to start off this festive season has been the best yet. I ate as much as I wanted on Christmas and Boxing Day. I ate and drank until I couldn’t anymore on New Year’s.  It was brilliant.

I told myself that I could eat as much as I wanted on this days as long as I stuck to my diet the rest of the time. To be honest I wasn’t perfect. I still indulged in a few cheeky meals in-between. It’s hard not to when family come to visit or take you to a sushi restaurant.

I am pleased to announce that somehow, even though I wasn’t perfect I’ve still managed to drop a 1 KG this festive session. YAY for Dom (: (: (: (:

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS: 6.4 kgs

I must admit that I do have a secret weapon, I waitressed quiet abit over the last 2 weeks. Would means I was burning off quiet abit of calories. So I guess that made up for any over eating.

Since it is a new Years (which means some new year’s Resolutions)

So here are mine:

  1. Book flights to go backpacking in Thailand.
  2. Pass all 9 of my Varsity subjects
  3. Get down to my goal weight by David’s birthday (22nd July) and there after increase my lean muscle mass till I’m happy. Then focus on maintenance
  4. Keep on seeing Steve
  5. See my Best friend Monique – even though she is in New Zealand, where there is a will there is a way.
  6. Decided what I want to do with my life.
  7. Increase my dress collection from 37 – 50 dress (basically buy myself a new dress once a month.
  8. STOP BITING NAILS
  9. Turn my flat from a mess into a home.
  10. Spend more time outside.
  11. Give up on the binge.
  12. Live a little more while spending a lot less
  13. Make more time for family.
  14. Tell my mom I love her everyday

So next year when its 2013, I’m going to look back on this and be like wow! I did all that!!!

I’m hoping Anyway (:

The Hunger

Posted on
Reply

So with the diet I am on I have 6 meals a day, you would think that that would be more than enough right? Well it really isn’t, I have n=been fine with my diet up to now, iv done really well. Suddenly in the last two days I’ve been suffering from extreme hunger pains.  Steve always said that hunger is a good sign. It means that your metabolism is alive and working which is a good thing. It means that you are losing weight.

But the problem is I’ve not only had hunger pains, but I tired and grumpy. It really isn’t fun at all. But its only for a few more days and then I’m seeing Steve again and he will adjust my diet for me. I get to eat abut more YAY. I’m really excited to go see him on Friday. I know that the scale has only gone down 1 kg but my body has changed so much in the past 2 weeks. I’m so interested to see if my body fat percentage has gone down.

Friday will be the last day that I see Steve for almost a month!! That is a pretty scary fact. I really have been doing extremely well on his diet and I’m so scared without his guidance I will lose motivation and fall into temptation.

You know what this time I’m not going to let it happen.  I’m better than that. I suppose this time will definitely be different because I have David (the boyfriend) along with me for the journey. He went to go see Steve last week and he too is on a diet. Difference being that he wants to gain 10KG of muscle. But still his diet comprises of exactly the same foods as mine just in much bigger quantities.

I’m also on leave from work from Tuesday next week which means I’m going to get to go to gym with David everyday! YAY… He gives me such motivation to do better and be better.

There is to another day, I really hope it’s better than yesterday (:

10 ways to stay on diet

Posted on
Reply

For me losing weight is the easy part, when the kgs drop they drop quickly, then it suddenly stops and I lose motivation. Or I start to feel so good about the fact I’m losing weight I lose focus on my diet.

So I’ve come with ways I’m hoping to keep the motivation going.

1.       The scale isn’t always right – this is a really problem with dieters, we all tend to jump on that scale and if it’s up we are sad, it is down we are happy. But what we don’t realise is the scale isn’t ALWAYS RIGHT.  Our weight fluctuates all the time depending on water retention and hormones.

2.      Muscle weighs more than fat – The best measure of weight lose is your body fat percentage and centimetres.  If you do a lot of training you will pick up muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. It really is that simple. If you don’t have a way to measure you body fat percentage then measure yourself every week or 2 weeks with a tape measure and that is where you really see the results.

3.       You don’t deserve all that chocolate –  The truth of the matter is once in a while sure eat a chocolate, but don’t make it into a habit,  and when you do have that chocolate have and really enjoy it. Once that chocolate is done its time to move on with your diet.

4.       Learn your triggers – Being on diet means you are depriving yourself of most of your favourite things and unfortunately these things became triggers.  They become the binge trigger.  It’s a terrible thing, having a binge is terribly depressing and destructive. So learn what your triggers are and stay away from them.

 5.       Change our environment – for me this is a biggie, I work  on weekends as a waitress and  they always have the most amazing staff meals where I work, even more amazing when they are served at 11pm and you are starving hungry. So now what I do is I tell them not to make me a staff meal anymore, thus I don’t even have the option to eat it. So the truth of the story is change the way you do things and stay away from those environments that lead to over eating.

 6.       Preparation is everything – the biggest excuse for breaking of diets is: BUT there wasn’t anything else for me to eat. Such utter crap, there is no excuse for eating badly; the trick is to always be prepared. Last night when I got home I made my dinner and lunch in one go so right now in my bag I have lunch, a snack, and some protein shake. So I don’t have to worry about trying to find something for lunch I already have it.

7.       Be prepared for a cheat day – at some point or another you will have to cheat on your diet, it might be your birthday or Christmas.  So work hard the week before, but in a few extra gym sessions and then go enjoy these days, eat drink and be merry. But the next day get back on it and don’t feel guilty!!

8.        Set goals and rewards - it’s simple if you do well you deserve a treat, NOT FOOD but something else.  I must for me it’s always a new dress. There is nothing better than a new dress in my perception. Another good reward is stuff that actually helps you lose weight like an exercise machine or a few sessions with a personal trainer. These things can be pricey so if you are not dedicated it is a waste of money. So rather use it as a reward because then you know you have put the work in to begin with.

9.       Keep a food diary or a cheat list – I used to keep a food diary but I found it pretty tedious most of the time, but when I start cheating I start writing. So I keep a food diary to keep me on track when I feel my motivation dipping. I have started a cheat list though, so every time a have a little slip up I write it down. Those I am acknowledging it and I can move forward.

10.   See a specialist – this is perhaps the easiest way to stay on diet. I am referring to going to see Dietitian, nutritionist or a personal trainer. I really feel that if you want results quickly and steadily these people can really be of help. They can measure your body fat percentage, give you a diet to suit you and motivate you to carry on going. If money is an issue that find a dieting partner to keep you motivated.

So there are some tips to help you along the way!

 

 

 

Top Tips for a Wonderful weekend

Posted on
Reply

Today is normally my worst day of the week. I seriously hate Mondays; it’s normally because I’ve had a pretty hectic weekend of working and having a few too many beers along the way.

This weekend was great; I went to gym on Saturday and Sunday. Yes it was hard to get up and go, but once I was there I really enjoyed it. The thing is that because I went to gym I felt I needed to stick to my diet perfectly.

Bonus.

There are my tips for a fantastic Monday:

  1. If you are on diet stick with it – there is nothing worse than Monday guilt
  2. Avoid Sunday drinking ( or stop drinking by 6pm )
  3. Avoid the sun – just because its summer doesn’t mean it’s time to burn, sunburn is defos worse than a hangover.
  4. Enjoy a night out on one night of the weekend – life is just too short to say home all the time.
  5. When drinking, avoid Redbull and sugary shots ( you will feel it in the morning)
  6. Enjoy some time with family – nothing like spending time with family and a good healthy meal to go along with it.
  7. Stay away from facebook and blogging – it’s the weekend go out and enjoy it.
  8. Buy yourself something pretty – even if it’s something cheap and cheerful, spoil yourself a little every weekend.
  9. Go to gym!!! Even if it’s just for 20min, you will feel the difference in yourself.
  10. End off the weekend by having a good couch sleep, there is nothing like a good nap

So here is to a good start to the week (:

Chapter 2 : Mr Steve

Posted on
Reply

So it’s been a week since my last post. Let’s just say I’ve been extremely lazy this last week. I haven’t really gymed or made any effort with my diet, I’ve just been going about life and living. But you know what this week I have realised a lot about myself.

Doms realizations

  1. I need help
  2. I love beer to much
  3. Beware the weight catch up
  4. Don’t drink and eat
  5. Life is too short to be unhappy.
  6. I’m far too lazy.

So this week I haven’t lost or gained weight but that’s OK, this is the start of a new chapter, this is a new beginning  and this time I’m going to lose the weight and learn how to maintain it.  So as I said last week I’m going back to Steve Dunn for help. I’m glad to announce that this morning I went to see him.

Let’s just say that he wasn’t impressed with me at all, in fact I feel pretty ashamed with my results compared to what I was almost exactly a year ago. I actually don’t want to talk about it I’m so ashamed. But I do think that this is the exact shock that I needed to get my butt back in to gear.

The nice thing about Steve is he adjusts the diet as we go, adding more calories and a treat day now and then. The diet is pretty min to start off with.  This is to help me get my confidence back. Then after that the calories will increase to an amount more manageable.

I am seeing him in 2 weeks again. He is expecting some big results, I’m sure that if I work hard and I follow the diet I will do it!

Here’s to focus, more blogging and more gyming.

Here we go…

Seeing help

Posted on
Reply

So. I’ve been abit distant of late, you see sometimes life happens and for me when life happens I tend to focus on life if that makes sense. So blogging hasn’t been on my top to do list. I’ve just been focusing on get through the days. The last week I have been on a will-wind of emotions. I’m been super sad, super happy, super angry and super scared.

Yes Scared.

You see the problem with me is I’m so terrified of letting the people I love down, I’m so scared I won’t turn out to be as successful or as brilliant as the people around me. I’m so terrified it’s terrible; it makes me feel like I can’t breathe.

But today I decided.. NO MORE, I’m going to be happy today; I’m going to be extremely good on my diet (except for the whiskey I will be drinking tonight).

On a good note I’m another 0.5kgs down bring my total down to 5.5 kgs lost (or somewhere around there) so I am making progress even if it is abit on the slow side. Which I am happy about!!

I have also decided it’s time to go back to see Steve (the sports nutritionist) I have decided this because I was always pretty scared of him and he makes me lose weight.  I always hated letting him down.

Its so funny how my feel of failure is the only way I can really focus on losing weight. I am sooo scared to go and see him as I was like 4 kgs lighter then what I am now last time I went to see him.

He is going to kill me, so I made the appointment for next Friday (gives me a week to work extra hard)

I am hoping that this time once I get to where I want to be I can stay there. I just need his help to get there first

Life really is too short to be hungry all the time

Posted on
Reply

So I’ve been abit absent of late, I’ve been going through that patch where you really don’t give a shit about anything. Been feeling like all I want is to be normal and have fun and not worry about anything.

And you know what I’ve really had fun; I’ve been eating pizza, drinking beer and doing some serious drunken munching (the best kind). Basically I’ve been having far too much fun for my own good.  It’s been almost two weeks that I really have not taken this whole diet seriously.

But hey, that’s life right, I’m not going to feel bad about it or worry about it continually it has happened and the only way to move is forward. Its only 38days till Christmas and I really want to look extra amazing for Christmas. I mean it’s the time of year when all the family get together and I want to look just as good as before. I mean I’m feeling pretty fantastic about myself at the moment.

I’m not obsessed with this whole diet business. I do still want the changes I set out to achieve but I am not willing to change my lifestyle to get there.

Life really is too short to be hungry all the time.

So yesterday I decided to stick to my plan, a new diet with no preservatives. Yesterday was a bit of a challenge. All I wanted to drink was coke zero. Especially in the evening while I was watching TV. It was actually pretty much torture (I’m not being dramatic). It’s pretty scary actually; No matter how much water I drank I still craved coke zero. Makes me think what’s actually in that stuff that makes me want to drink it.

Yikes.

I’m still going to try finding some alternatives to coke zero, think some homemade ice teas would be a good idea..

But yes yesterday was the start of a whole new adventure. So to make the beginning of something new I decided to jump on the scale. I did it this morning in fact. Ok so I’m 1.5 kgs up, But really…. considering all the shit I’m been putting in my face that really isn’t bad.

I don’t even feel guilty about it. I’m seeing it as the past and I’ve got a whole future to get to where I want to be.

Last Christmas… i will get there again soon (:

Saying no to sushi!

Posted on
3

Ok so I don’t know why people have this perception that sushi is healthy, but if you really think about it sushi really isn’t that good for you at all, I mean really?? Sushi rice is rice, plain and simple; to make it worst there is loads of sugar added to this rice to make it stick together.

If you are a person who can have a few pieces of sushi and be satisfied with that then go for it. It isn’t that bad then. But for me sushi is a gate way to more and more sushi. I can’t just have 6 pieces and be done with it, I need more. I want more and I expect more than that.

People say, oh why don’t you just eat sashimi… REALLY!! For me the whole point of sushi is Japanese mayo and sticky rice. Not the raw fish part. In fact I stay clear of the raw fish part, it’s a little gross to me.

Take a look at the calorie contact of sushi per roll ( 6 -8 pieces)

Avocado Roll
140 calories / Fat: 5.7g / Carbs: 28g / Protein: 2g

California Roll

255 calories / Fat: 7g / Carbs: 38g / Protein: 9g

Cucumber Roll
145 calories / Fat: 0g / Carbs: 30g / Protein: 6g

Spicy Tuna Roll
290 calories / Fat: 11g / Carbs: 26g / Protein: 24g

Shrimp Tempura Roll
508 calories / Fat: 21g / Carbs: 64g / Protein: 20g

Salmon & Avocado Roll
304 calories / Fat: 8.7 / Carbs: 42g / Protein: 13g

Taken from: http://lena-m.hubpages.com/hub/Calories-in-Sushi

So as you can see it isn’t that bad, but these are all the lower fat variety, not the fashion sandwiches or salmon roses, these are the best type in my book so its still something that I stay away from because I simply just cant get enough of it.

The reason why I’m having a little moment is today at work is SUSHI –FRIDAY… I mean seriously everyone ordered sushi except me today. I mean take a look at all this sushi!!!

thanks to rose for the photo

And I must say I’m pretty proud of myself. Instead I had a healthy chicken and Thai noodle dish that I made for myself. I did however steal a salmon rose from one of the girls at work.. Let’s just say it was actually far from impressive. So I’m so glad I didn’t give into the temptation to order. My lunch was actually way more enjoyable (:

Heres to a healthy weekend (:

Please go away..

Posted on
Reply

You know, all I want is to wake up with a smile on my face, wake up and be like hello world oh what a fine day you are today….. But for whatever I am being plagued with migraines at the moment, not those light silly headaches but those full OH MY GOD headaches.

I hate my life today I really really do.

This headache I am suffering from is so bad that as I type every click click chick of my keyboard is echoing in my head… cause serious irritation and pain. So I’m not happy, I’m not in a good mood and I really don’t want to be at work today.

I WANT TO GO AND SLEEP and eat soup. YES nice chicken and veggie soup would be soooo good right now… But the last thing I feel like doing is chopping veggies. AAAGH and the CHOP CHOP sound would be pure hell. Hmmm I could buy a ready chopped soup mix but even that seems like a mission.

You know I hate feeling like this, just make me angry and unhappy… where is the happiness?? Where is the love?

Feel like crying and curling into a ball and sleeping… all I want is sleep.

And chicken soup…

please please please….

someone make me soup?