Three months in to the 5:2, and how are we doing?
Not too badly, I’d like to think. We haven’t strayed from the regime, or
(knowingly) cheated – tempting though it may be, I don’t see the point in
sneaking a secret bar of chocolate on a fast day. I would only be cheating
myself out of the chance of a trimmer body.
It has to be said, though, that the slimmer body I think I have already gained may be nothing more than emperor’s new
clothes… I didn’t weigh myself at the start of this diet, and, when I did get
on the scales a couple of weeks ago, I was exactly the same weight I’d been
when I’d last weighed myself (2-3 years ago?) and had decided never to do it
again until I was truly happy with the way I felt and looked. Well, that time had
come, so, in theory I should just accept that weight and be contented with it.
And I am conscious I may be sabotaging my efforts on the non fast days.
Last week I ate out at Gilbert Scott’s – three courses plus canapés, champagne
and wine… Very nice crab salad, dover sole, and trifle – but a bit bland
compared to the sensational skate my husband pan fried this week and served
with sauté potatoes, tomato concasse, capers and samphire – the huge rustic
portion awash with delicious foaming butter…. You see where I’m coming from? If
nothing else the two fast days are essential respite from my usual greedy
appetite.
But what everyone wants to know is how to survive a fast day without
getting too hungry.
Here are some tips I’ve scrounged from a great Dr Oz posting:
. Glucomannan – it’s a actually our friend Konjac (he of the skinny pasta) again. But Dr Oz recommends it in supplement form, three times a day
before meals, to bulk out the stomach and keep hunger at bay. I plan to try it!
. Grapeseed oil – now maybe this is what we should all be drizzling on
our salads instead of olive oil. Grapeseed is high in linoleic acid, which
slows gastric emptying so you feel full for longer. Dr Oz recommends 2 tsps 2
hours before lunch. However I have a feeling its calorie content eat into the
500 allowance… Dilemma!
. 5-HTP – this is a serotonin boosting amino acid, used to treat mood
disorders and depression, but according to Dr Oz serotonin also curbs hunger. He
recommends 200mg three times a day.
. Pine nuts – I like the sound of this! – Steve makes a mean mini pine
nut tart which he serves as a petit four at dinner parties. But who knew that these sweet tiny nuts contain a fat that stimulates
hormones to tell the stomach it’s full. Dr Oz recommends a handful everyday to
keep hunger under control. Now that's something I am very ready to try.
* Picture from hyam.net
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