MiddleAgeShed

Dining Out on a Diet

Both Heather and I struggle when we have dinners out, when we are at conferences, meetings or going out to a social event.

Help is at hand - just found these tips for eating out and keeping the weight off

As I believe it might be Heathers birthday tomorrow, thought this might help her celebrations :)

So Heather, as another birthday arrives...does it get harder to lose weight as you get older? You see I am still A LOT younger and not sure what it is like for you older birds :)

Burning Calories

We often talk on the diet podcast about how dieting is simple - you burn more calories than you eat. The problem is our lack of desire to burn the calories and over desire to eat calories!

I was reading in the Times today about the good old English Breakfast

" The fried English breakfast was conceived during the Industrial Revolution (probably) as a form of fast fuel for a working class that actually worked. They ate 3,000 calories in the morning, then they burnt 3,000 calories by lunchtime. Or died when the mine collapsed. But you don't burn 3,000 calories driving a forklift truck, or answering the phone at Argos, or fiddling your disability benefit. The work dies, but the breakfast lives on."

How true, I have often thought....oh I can have a full breakfast, after all they say the breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, the latter may be true but we have to be honest about our lifestyle - does our lifestyle justify the calorific eating? I know mine doesn't. So this article has made me stop and think about how I justify my bad eating habits.

My Easter Report

We didn't record a podcast this weekend due to the Easter holidays. I have to report though that I have had NO Easter eggs and have been quite good on the food front although the exercise has been lower...as still feeling a little tired.

Though the gym has been off the agenda, I have tried to be more active around the house...as I have a fair few stairs I have been trying to do run up and down them during the day. Mind you the cats have almost tripped me up on numerous occasions as they think I am playing!

I didn't weigh in, not doing the podcast but I am hopeful that by next week..the scales will show a 1lb or 2 lighter..

Dieting with the Duchess of York

I was born in Hull, a matter of a very few years ago :) Well, I was shocked to see that the Duchess of York is visiting Hull to make a program for ITV on healthy eating. She is already a Weight Watchers ambassador...she says

"'This programme is an attempt to explore solutions to the growing obesity problem in the UK. The family I met in Hull live in a way that I hadn't experienced - feeding six on a week's benefits.
I want to see whether we can help families all over the country, no matter what their budget, to improve their lifestyles through using what is already available to them in their community."

Clearly, I am a soul mate with this program! Trying to control obesity and a Hull girl - though I was only born in the hospital there, I actually was quickly transported back to the countryside!

So hopefully the Duchess of York will be a regular listener to the Middle Age Shed podcast - or fill in when Heather is missing (!) - and will come on the show to help us :)

Breaking A Habit

I have been good during this diet, and also bad. Both are about habits. So I was interested in reading Scott Young's post called 9 Tips for Restarting a Habit after Falling Off the Wagon.

Here is a snippet which I thought I would share as I try and restart those good slimming habits

Complete restarting requires more than just a simple tune-up.  Here’s what I suggest:

1.     Know Why It’s Broke Before You Try to Fix It. Sounds simple, but few people complete this step. When they keep slipping from their habits, they never ask themselves if the habit itself is broken. It doesn’t matter how hard I condition myself, I could never train my body to live without food. You might be trying a similarly impossible feat if your habit doesn’t fit into your life.
2.     Fix the Flaws Before You Restart. Once you’ve identified some of the flaws in your past habits, brainstorm for solutions. If you truly hate the gym, you might want to try a different form of exercise. If your diet makes you feel starved all the time, you might want to consider a different meal plan. Have a better strategy before you try to get back on the wagon.
3.     Overwhelming Force. Setting up another 30 Day Trial is a must. Even more, set up a trigger, schedule the habit for a consistent time, consider replacement theory and operant conditioning. Going overboard on your conditioning efforts can give you the momentum you need.

Dieting by Socrates!

Some inspiration for us all today, Socrates said

"Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat."

Mmmm pity it is a bit late to get him on the podcast!

Brighton Report

So I have made it to Brighton, this morning I am feeling extremely tired as I shared a room with my dear old ....SNORING.....mother last night, wonderful! The eating though is doing OK as I find out my aunt is doing weight watchers so last night was lovely veggies and beautiful salmon fillet. I have also put on today a pair of trousers that are a little tight...as a reminder that I have to be good. Trick that I have found out to be great for keeping you focused on your goal...that lovely slim body.

Dieting Preparation for a Family Visit

Now I love my mum, I love my mad aunt and therefore spending some time with them whilst I go to the Widget conference in Brighton is an excellent idea. The slight issue is that they are family! Family means the way you show love is by piling plates as high as you can, 3 courses, biscuits with the coffee etc Also family means that you know that as a visitor it is important to them, you know money is tight and they have spent a fortune and you don't want them to waste money. Aagh the joys of families!

But I have tried to think ahead. I have spoken to my aunt and said that I just don't eat as much as I used to do - trying to manage expectations, and food sizes! I have asked her not to spend a lot on our visit (fat chance on that one !) and also mum is taking with us loads of fresh vegetables straight from the farm. (Hev will be pleased on that one)

As normal what I also plan to do is to keep moving...she lives on the cliff top, with beautiful views just outside Brighton so I plan an early morning walk each day - with iPod in hand.

Now I know this will be difficult and as I only see my wonderful mad aunt once a year, I am not going to ruin the visit but at least I am trying to think ahead...keep your fingers crossed!

A bad week or a good week for you?

Well there's no doubt about it I have failed the 6 day challenge set by Anna last Saturday. Sorry team, (and Anna).

It would seem that currently I have the will power of gnat. Zilch, none.

The day generally starts well with me having thought about the pounds, the commitment, the aims and objectives. By the end of the day all hell may have broke loose. A BINGE my dears can take place, - and indeed has taken place, IS taking place.

But....no good wallowing in this defeat/trauma/self pitying land of porkiness, there's work to be done. I am off to the bath with the book that helped inspire me in the first place. "French Women dont get Fat" IN THE HOPE that what will rub off is HEREFORDSHIRE women dont get FAT!

And for you? If you have had a corking week of inspiration and motivation. If you have stopped the sabotage, and the chocolate and got back on track, let us know what triggered the change - will you? Your comments please!

Fast Food, Fast Fat

After some family birthdays - children's - I am grown more and more tired of not being able to eat well at a fast food place. Clearly that is often where children want to go but how much do you know about the food that you are eating? Well I have just found this article at A Calorie Counter which starts..

"Fast food is bad food. That's pretty much common knowledge these days. The majority of the foods served at fast food restaurants contain an insane amount of calories, tons of fat (including the very evil trans fat), and are high in pretty much everything else that you'd want your food to be low in. Long story short, it's the kind of food you want to avoid eating."

I found this report fascinating and also helped me choose the "least unhealthy" option.