A New Way Of Eating - Weight Loss Journey Week 43 - Day 1

Week 43
Day 1 - Wednesday
12/11/2014

A New Way Of Eating

Under the recommendation from my Neurosurgeon,  I have started the Paleo diet. The Paleo (Paleolithic) diet, also known as the Caveman diet as it eliminates modern/processed foods.  I was never interested in it as I thought it was just another fad diet.  However, the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me.  I think of it rather as "clean" eating or getting back to basics. 

It hasn't been much of a stretch for me as for the last few months I've removed Gluten and Dairy from my diet.  It does take time to get use to not having Cereal or Bread for breakfast (especially after being on Lite n' Easy) but I enjoy the challenge of finding new ways of eating so that it's exciting.  Who wants to be on a boring diet?  So, as always, I'm going to share it with you all, my experiences, thoughts, feelings and recipes during it all.  Hopefully you will get something out of it too! 

Paleo-NOOOOOO!

No more Peanut Butter! :(  Yes, that's right!  Peanuts are a legume and therefore not allowed on the Paleo diet.  If you know me or have read my blog, you will know that Peanut Butter is my favourite food EVER!  But for my health I am willing to sacrifice it.  Goodbye Peanut Butter, I love you <3

Mmmm Pancakes!

Breakfast: 2 Ingredient Banana Pancakes

Recipe HERE

Starting on Paleo I thought that having Pancakes would be a thing of the past, turns out I was wrong!  I try not to think about what I can't have and try to think about what I can do with the things I can have.

This recipe is just a Banana and Eggs, that's it!  They are surprisingly tasty and the Banana gives them a great sweetness.  I topped mine off with Honey, Walnuts and a little Strawberry from the garden :) YUM!

Leftovers never looked so good!

Lunch: Mustard Chicken and Guacamole Salad

 Guacamole Recipe HERE

I like to think ahead and be prepared as preparation is the key to success and it's also because I'm pretty lazy.  So I like to cook up extra Meat/ingredients at dinner and use it to create something for lunch.  Last nights dinner was a Chicken Stir-Fry, the sauce was a throw together that consisted of Garlic, Ginger, Lime, Lemon, Mustard, Honey and Cayenne Pepper, it turned out pretty tasty.  

For today's lunch I made up some Guacamole, threw together a Salad of Baby Spinach, Tomato, Carrot and Capsicum, topped it with heated leftover Chicken.  It was delicious! Who knew Salad could be tasty?

I have always hated the taste and consistency of Avocado but I've always enjoyed Guacamole.  Recently I went to a seminar about nutrition and Avocados kept coming up for their good fats and nutritious properties.  They are also frequently featured in the Paleo diet, so I knew that my long fight with Avocado would have to come to an end.  I don't think I will ever be able to eat chunks of it in Salad or use it like Butter but I'm trying to think of new ways to include this bland boy in my food. Suggestions?

Meat and many veg

Dinner: Beef Stir-Fry

Dinner was another throw together...did I say I was prepared? Ha ha! I just cooked through some Beef  and Vegetables with Ginger, Lime and Cayenne Pepper, it wasn't as tasty as last nights dinner though.

Glasses of water: 8

Getting back out there!

Exercise: Walking! (Brisk)

46 Minutes, 430 Calories Burned 

I know some of you may think that walking is not exciting and until a few weeks ago, neither did I.  I have been too sick and weak to get out of bed even to be able to walk and even when I could walk short amounts, I couldn't breathe. Unfortunately you don't appreciate the things you do have until they are gone.  I felt so blessed that I was able to get out and walk again!  To be able to be outside! To be able to exercise!  

I'm still not healthy, I still get Migraines, Vertigo, Numbness and Nausea every single day.  But I still go for walks.  Sometimes I have to stop and get my balance or take some medication for the pain but I'm still going to do it.  My other option is to stay at home in bed.  Exercise sometimes makes my symptoms worse and I can end up ill after a walk but I'm not letting it stop me.  Every time I think how tired I am and that I'm too lazy to get off my butt and go for a walk, I'll remember the months I spent in bed not being able to do anything.

Lite n' Easy Weight Loss Journey Week 18 Day 6 - Treasured Days

Week 18
Day 6 - Monday
19/05/2014
Treasured Days

Mmm Bagel

Breakfast: Bacon and Egg Mayo on a toasted Bagel

Homemade Coffee (Low fat milk, no sugar)

My food is a bit all over the place at the moment as I’m staying somewhere else, there is a different delivery day and I won’t bore you with any more details but just in case you were wondering.  I’m trying to have the non frozen foods that will go off first and this was pretty much the last day for the egg so I decided to have this today.

I love this breakfast, how can you not really? Egg, Mayonnaise, Bacon and a Bagel? Hell to the Yes!

Be more fun

Morning Snack: Dried Apricots

You have to take the ups with the downs, *sigh* nothing exciting about these Dried Apricots.

Smokey Beefy

Lunch: Smoked Beef, Salad and Fruit Chutney Wholegrain & Oat Sandwich

Orange

I would have preferred one of the other frozen lunches like Smokey Bacon Pasta, but I have to have the ones that will go off first.  I don’t mind it but hey, it’s a sandwich.

The Oranges for this week have not been great and the quality has not increased, not sure if it’s a different area thing or just an off week.  I’ll have to report back.

Little balls of deliciousness

Afternoon Snack: Muesli Cookies

Additional Snack: Orange

Oh Muesli Cookies how I love... three seconds and they are gone.

Mmm beefy 

Dinner: 31 Lasagne

I felt like something really hearty and ... I’ll say it, beefy for dinner so I decided on Lasagne.  I found myself pausing near the end of dinner and realising just how much flavour the Lite n’ Easy meals have for microwaved, low fat meals, they really are pretty amazing when you think about it.

Glasses of water: 6

Exercise: None

Although I didn’t “exercise” today I did have a really busy day and was pretty much active all day.  I didn’t wear my heart rate monitor but I know I would have burned quite a few calories.  I had an additional Orange this afternoon as well as I don’t like going under 1200 calories. 

It was actually nice for a change not to feel drowsy, sick, dizzy or have a migraine for once!  I really treasure days like today! J

Lite n' Easy Weight Loss Journey Week 18 Day 5 - Not Dodging This Salad

Week 18
Day 5 - Sunday
18/05/2014

Not Dodging This Salad

Where's the cheese?

Breakfast: Toasted Cheese and Tomato Multigrain Sandwich

Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

A bit of a boring breakfast but at least it was nice and filling today. 

There is cheese under all that Tomato, somewhere.

Morning Snack: Orange

I didn’t end up having my morning snack, I was a bit busy this morning and I was also getting ready to go out to lunch.

One of the best salads ever!

Lunch: Sesame Crusted Tofu - served upon a warm cous cous salad of raisins, broccolini and goats cheese, finished with eggplant chutney and rocket leaves.

Out to lunch today and oh my, lunch was divine! I wasn’t expecting it to be such a big serving so I ordered a side of steamed vegetables.  I ended up not eating half of the salad or the vegetables.  This lunch was beautiful and it certainly gives the Moroccan Chicken Salad a run for its money!

It was relaxing and I met some lovely people today.

Mmm Pancake....Mmm Nuts ;)

Afternoon Snack: Apple & Sultana Pancake

Roasted Almonds

Pear Fruit Cup

Snoozefest Snack

Because I burned off some extra calories today and I didn’t have my morning snack, I decided to have some additional snacks this afternoon.  I decided not to enter it into My Fitness Pal because I just couldn’t be bothered trying to figure out how many calories were in that salad and how many grams and blah, blah, blah.   I made a healthy choice and I don’t think I would have gone under 1200 calories today.

I love the Apple & Sultana Pancake and the Roasted Almonds went quite well with them actually.

Please don't make me... 

Dinner: 04 Corned Beef

I really didn't want to eat dinner at all as I was feeling nauseous after my walk from migraines.  This was the lightest dinner I had in the freezer and I didn't want to skip dinner so this was it.  It didn't make me feel any better but I didn't want to go under 1200 calories.

Don't get me wrong, it's really delicious, but not when you're nauseous.

Glasses of water: 7

Additional Items: Diet Coke

Had to cut it short today :(

Exercise: Brisk Walk

I had to cut this one short today.  I really shouldn’t have gone but I pushed myself.  I had a migraine and still wasn’t feeling great and about 15 minutes in I was dizzy, unbalanced on my feet and nauseous. I had to turn back because I get that tired, like I’m going to faint feeling.  At least I got some exercise in today. 

I will have to listen to my body next time, it’s just hard to know when it’s side effects of medications or I’m unwell.   

Otherwise, it has been a great day J

How was your week?

Lite n' Easy Weight Loss Journey Week 18 Day 4 - Never Looking Back

Week 18
Day 4 - Saturday
17/05/2014 

Never Looking Back

Oh yes

Breakfast: Strawberry Yoghurt Crunch

*Addition: Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Well hello there! I know that I haven’t been posting very frequently but I’m back baby! ;)  I know I’m starting half way through the week but I figure now is as good as time as any. 

I love this breakfast, so convenient and delicious.  I do think it is a little on the light side for breakfast though, I prefer a bigger breakfast and then lighter meals later.

Orange you going to do better than this?

Morning Snack: Orange

*Addition: Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

The Oranges have been pale and they certainly aren’t as nice as they usually are, let’s hope that this is a once off.   Don’t be messing with my Oranges! ;)

I usually only have one coffee a day, don’t judge me :P  I’m on new medication for my migraines.  While I did reverse Benign Intracranial Hypertension with my weightloss, I still have Chronic Migraines. 

The reason for these are still a mystery (be it genetics, the Chiari 1 Malformation or something else), so I’m trailing new meds.  I’m pretty sure it’s the medication and not lack of sleep, but I am so drowsy!  I’m talking glassy-eyed-half-lobotomised, almost.  So if this is life on this medication, I don’t want it!  I will give it the month they recommended and see how it goes.  

I want you... 

Lunch: Warm Chicken & Cous Cous Moroccan Salad with Yoghurt Dressing

Seasonal Fruit (Grapes)

Get in ma belly!

We all know it, amazingness in lettuce form, who would have thought it possible? Certainly not I! 

mmm firm ;)

The Grapes were lovely, sweet and firm today ;)

Yummy! 

Afternoon Snack: Tomato Bruschetta on Ciabatta Toast

*Addition: Sun Rice Wild Rice Crackers x 2, Peanut Butter & Co Cinnamon Raisin Swirl and a Cavendish Banana.

I love it when I see the Tomato Bruschetta on my print out, it’s the little things. J

Foodgasm? Oh yesasm! ;)

I swear sometimes I just exercise so I can eat food like the additional snack I had this afternoon, oh my!  The Peanut Butter, the Cinnamon, the Raisin, the Banana, the excitement! ;)  This combination is amazing, trust me!

Tubes of happiness

Dinner: 117 Chicken Enchilada

I love this dinner, one of the best Lite n' Easy dinners out there.  In my opinion.  I don't have a problem with the olives.  It's Chicken, Carbs, Tomato, Spice and Cheese, I'm happy.  I may have made some others jealous with my dinner too ;)

Glasses of water: 7

*Addition: These are items that are not part of the 1200 calorie Lite n’ Easy plan.  I have added these to increase my calorie intake from the calories burned off during exercise.  For a more detailed breakdown, please see the My Fitness Pal image at the bottom of this post.

Burned more than I thought I would! 

Exercise: Brisk walking, shopping.

Needed to get a few things today so I thought a brisk walk was in order.  It was difficult today, I think mainly because I haven’t exercised in a few weeks and because the migraines, medication and lack of sleep is really knocking me around.  Did that stop me? No way!  I’m not letting some drowsiness get in the way of my goals.

I think about the person I used to be, the health problems I used to have and was potentially giving to myself, the way I used to deal with things or rather didn’t deal with things, how I treated myself and let others treat me and I don’t ever want to go back.  I won’t go back.  I never want to be the person I was or live the life that I lived before and I never will.

No looking back, it’s all about keeping moving and looking forward to that bright future with my head held high!

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

All the best for the weekend! 

Why aren't they called weekawesomes? Or strongstarts? 

Lite n' Easy Weight Loss Journey Week 16 Day 2 - Day By Day

Week 16

Day 2 - Thursday
1/05/2014
Day By Day

Never skip breakfast

Breakfast: Nut Cluster Crunch Multigrain Toast with Plum Jam

I felt pretty good today, last night was the first night I've had some good, solid sleep.  I'm still not overly hungry in the mornings but I'm getting there. 

Morning Snack: Orange

Loving all these Oranges :)

This is the only way I'll have Pizza :)

Lunch: Classic Supreme Pizza with melted Cheese
Sweet Pineapple Bites

Love this lunch, the Pizza is delicious and the base is crispy.  The Pineapple Bites are a yummy sweet treat.  I almost put them on my Pizza and then realised that they are mixed with Passion Fruit and I don't think I'm ready for Passion Fruit Pizza. 

Love these!

Afternoon Snack: Classic Choc & Oats Bar

I love these bars!  The Chocolate is very welcome ;)  I wish I knew who made these bars.  Has anyone ever tried anything similar?

Just a light dinner

Dinner: 72 Spinach & Ricotta Tortellini

I honestly couldn't stomach anything else tonight, I just wanted something light.

I was having such a good day and then the nausea set in again tonight.  It didn't help that I had a migraine yet again.  I think you miss people most when you're not well and I may have cried into my dinner, but that's okay.  It quickly passed and I felt loads better after. 

Getting stronger and healthier everyday :)

If I look at how much I've changed since I started in such a small amount of time, it kind of blows my mind.  I've lost 16.4 kg in 15 weeks, just under four months!  I'm sure it took me much longer to put on 16.4 kg!  

What I didn't expect was how much happier and positive I've become in such a short amount of time.  You really can turn your life around, you just have to believe you can and believe me, you can! :)

Glasses of water: 5

Exercise: None

I'm still not 100% so I decided to take it very easy today and rest.  I can't wait until I'm better and be exercising again! 

How are you doing with everything?  I'd love to know!

Lite n' Easy Weight Loss Journey Week 16 Day 1 - Keeping To The Routine

Week 16

Day 1 - Wednesday
30/04/2014

Mmm Muffin

Breakfast: Smokehouse Ham and Egg on a toasted Multigrain Muffin

One of my favourite breakfasts, I would probably have it every day if I could.  Slowly getting hungrier and the nausea is easing everyday.   I'm making myself stick to my food and snacks even if I don't feel like it, it's a routine, it's familiar and it keeps me going.

Orange you going to make me feel better?

Morning Snack: Orange

I need all the Vitamin C I can get at the moment!

Chicken and Bland Salad

Lunch: Chicken & Roasted Tomato Pasta Salad

Seasonal Fruit (Grapes)

More than happy to have so much fruit at the moment

Not a big fan of this at all.  I'm just not a fan of cold pasta (unless it's the pasta salad covered in mayonnaise), this doesn't have much of a flavour.   The herbs in there just aren't enough, it needs some more punch like fetta or another strong flavour.  

This honestly sat there for a while until I realised I hadn't eaten much and forced it down.  For those Simpson's fans out there, I kind of felt like the Smither's Snake (Slither's) eating Mr Burn's (Montymort's) body whole while crying.  Ha ha, it wasn't that bad but you know. BLERK. 

Hello delicious. 

Afternoon Snack: Toasted Fruit Loaf with Butter

I burnt the back of this but obviously not that bad because it still tasted good. :)

Mmm Fragrant

Dinner: 175 Fragrant Thai Chicken

I always think "fragrant" Thai Chicken? So it smells nice but it's not tasty? Ha ha.  It's okay but it's not my first pick.  Just a standard Stir Fry really.  I think it was all I could handle for dinner. 

Glasses of water: 5

Exercise: None

I'm still sick from last Sunday, the stress has prolonged it.  I don't have much energy at the moment so I'm just focusing on myself and not pushing myself.