h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm sorry I've ignored this thread for so long - some hilariousness on those forums!

And on progress!

This had totally dropped under my radar. I've signed up with MFP, and I don't reach my daily calories (which doesn't surprise me, the suspicion was what made me sign up in the first place).

So now I'll have to think of ways to reach roughly 1,400 calories a day.
I can have three glasses of wine (or even four).

Bel, you really have to come to a h1g2 meet! (That's the Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, for the uninitiated).

It's a bit Irish-centric right now, but I think there would be scope for a German branch - Trillian's Child seemed to be up for it. And 2legs has threatened to join us at some point

Walking's a great way to burn calories. Can I ask - is there a general view about carbs now, Bea? Are they still treated with suspicion?

I'm allowed 165 carbs/day - which is four times the amount of each fat and proteins. I'm not quite sure how I am expected to reach 1,200 calories a day (that's if I don't do any exercises, in which case I am supposed to reach more).

My "half the carbs" was a suggestion from my nutritionist/ trainer. I did find it really useful in cutting my calorie intake too. Unlike Bel I have NO problem reaching my target cals, and I know I'll be way over today thanks to a lunch at Burger King. But I dont worry too much about the odd over, nor do I worry about eating back my exercise cals.

There are still some faddy lo-carb diets out there (Atkins, South Beach), but I think it's acknowledged that these do not represent a healthy way of eating long term. Good complex carbs (wholewheat pasta etc, pulses and veggies) are an essential part of a healthy intake.

I'm glad to learn that the Atkins/South Beach diets are now considered faddy. They are a good way to lose weight fast, but they aren't a healthy way to eat. A friend of mine was trying to convince me (South Beach I think) that it's all good because your metabolism will change and your stomach will start to feel full with one rasher of bacon. I found that thought scary...

I started with the LCHF diet which is loosely based on Atkins, I think, and it suited me fine. What MFP suggests is the usual scheme of reducing fat (and probably carbs, too). I'll see what is better for me.

Just don't do like me - I'm currently eating fresh bread with peanut butter.

Actually peanut butter is a big star with the MFP crowd - great protein for a small amount.

The permanent changes I've made are:

Protein breakfast rather than carbs (so no toast or cereals, but yes to eggs, porridge, yoghurt. Well, toast a couple of times a week. With avocado or peanut butter.)

Swapped breakfast orange/ grapefruit juice for vegetable or no-sugar cranberry.

Buy a big bag of raw almonds and portion out into 20 nut bags, carry in handbag for emergency snacking.

Base snacks round protein - stick of cheese, humous and carrots, parma ham slice, boiled egg.

Sweet potato mash: dead simple, nuke in the microwave for 8 mins, mash with olive oil and black pepper)instead of potatoes.

Dinner will often be grilled meat or fish with a big salad.

And basically, I eat everything. I just eat less of it.

Isn't porridge carbohydrate?

Yes, but good carb, and I dont do it every day.

Half the carbs doesn't mean NO carbs. I've found alternatives to sandwiches for lunch, but I'll still eat a sandwich every so often.

1,200 a day sounds like a starvation diet to me. I thought the idea was to set a target that would sustain you and then keep to it for the rest of your life.

I know, I thought that would be ridiculously low when I started - the theory is there's a 500 cal a day deficit from your normal requirements, so you lose weight even without exercise (hence the whole "eat back your exercise calories!" lobby). So once target weight is achieved, maintenance level would be about 1600-1700 for someone my height.

A typical day for me would be scrambled egg for breakfast, cheese and a couple of rice cakes mid morning, a salad or veggie soup for lunch, piece of fruit mid afternoon, poached salmon with green veg for dinner, some almonds for nibbling on in between times.