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Diet Doctor Low Carb Challenge

joints less achey, bg lower, but not down to my recent glorious lowliness, and a sore throat this morning that lasted a whole half hour. Poss due to dry air and snoring...? Mr B refuses to admit that I was snoring. Bless him. He maintains this gentlemanly fiction that we both know is nonsense.

Still waiting to see what happens re Plague... lol.

The problem with this latest bug is that it comes and goes and its hard to plan anything because you just don't know how you are going to feel, plus its hard to know if you're contagious. We need to go to visit the MIL but she's a frail 86 and can't fight off bugs so easily any more.
 
I saw something, somewhere today suggesting we all cut our avocados in the wrong way.

Mainly, folks cut from the fatter end, around to the thinner, more pointed end, then remove the stone with a knife.

The alternative is to take the top off, a bit like one does on a boiled egg. Twist off the top, then squeeze the bottom and the stone pops out. I bet an egg could go nicely in the stone cavity.

Avo is a once in a while thing for me.
That's a new one on me. I did see one about slicing from the fat end as that left less of a surface to cover if you were not using it all. However, I got myself an avocado knife in Lakeland which sent me back to cutting and halving as it removes the stone then slices. For the cover problem I got silicon avocado covers (also from Lakeland) and the other half keeps fine under that. I do love Lakeland gadgetry which is probably why hubby tries to keep me away from the place
 
I've never known how to keep avocado once its been cut. I've tried brushing with lime or lemon juice but it still discolours = so I usually eat a whole avocado at a time. I'll have to look at Lakeland.
 
I've never known how to keep avocado once its been cut.
Avocado is still fine when it turns brown/black after being cut. It's just a discoloration due to a reaction to oxygen. Though it is harder to detect actual bad spots then :-P
 
I've never known how to keep avocado once its been cut. I've tried brushing with lime or lemon juice but it still discolours = so I usually eat a whole avocado at a time. I'll have to look at Lakeland.

Yes, the black surface is not something I find appetising. I find that clingfilm, pressed smoothly onto the cut surface prevents the discolouration, and it can be kept 24 hours that way.

Mind you, cut avocado freezes extremely well, although it is better used for cooking and smoothies once it has defrosted, rather than chopping it for salad.
 
I've never known how to keep avocado once its been cut. I've tried brushing with lime or lemon juice but it still discolours = so I usually eat a whole avocado at a time. I'll have to look at Lakeland.
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/19461/2-Avocado-Food-Huggers
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/16511/OXO-Good-Grips®-3-in-1-Avocado-Tool

I'm a Lakeland addict! The food huggers are brilliant. You get one small and one large. The good grips tool is good too. My grip isn't the best but this makes short work of the avocado.
 
I loved the film of The Commitments - I hope you had a nice time at the theatre - and that you don't get a coughing attack in the middle of the performance. :)



Avocado-less? Oh nooooooo :) Its easy to forget things when doing supermarket orders. Last week I forgot to order Mr C any fruit at all and he eats a lot of fruit. We popped in to Lidl to get some and really their prices are very good. We are wondering why we bother getting groceries delivered when we live a five minute drive from a brand new Lidl.

The tapas - it was GORGEOUS! The idea is you start with three dishes each (each dish is 4 inches and they really do fill them). I started with calamari which came with a little salad and a very rich garlic mayo and some mussels in wine and an aubergine dish. After the first 3 dishes you then each order 2 more dishes at a time until you are full. We had seven each and by the end I could hardly move. We avoided all the bread, rice or potato dishes but there were still plenty of dishes that were suitable to choose from but there were a few little carbs in there somewhere because my BG was 5.1 when we left home and 6.8 two hours after we finished eating. It was worth it though!! The only problem was that my BG was 7.8 this morning. Never mind, Mr C is back to work tomorrow and I think I will have a fasting day as all my clothes are feeling a bit.... snug.

Then this morning we went to Scunthorpe and popped in to M&S and we ended up with one of their three for £7 deals - chargrilled squid, crab mousse and an olive/artichoke heart'sundried tomato mixture. All of which were very nice. @maglil55 is it the M&S chargrilled squid with cracked black pepper that you have?
It is indeed. Almost carb free and handy to eat on the go. I usually have a pack in my fridge. Just as mo53 has the pomegranate pots I have my calamari pots!
I sincerely hope I don't start a coughing fit on Thursday at the theatre especially since we are only 5 rows from the stage.
 
Back to the big numbers..... readings of between 6.3 and 7.5 yesterday then this morning an FBG and two hours after it went up to 8.7. I have no idea why. All I can think of is that my liver is punishing me for a lovely meal out with lots of wine on Monday. I feel fine - painful neck, knees and hip but thats nothing new - but even thats not so painful today because of the sunshine. The plague bug seems to have bugged off. Mr C has gone back to work (I really enjoy his company but sometimes its nice to have a bit of time to myself). So I'm having a fasting day today - and either tomorrow or Friday (or both) - which, for me, means having black coffee or water all day with possible a mug of Bovril if I feel hungry or shaky (unusual) and then a low carb dinner. Sort of IF meets VLC.

@Radiat - Hey back :)

@maglil55 - I wish I lived closer to an M&S Food Hall, they had some lovely goodies in there and some of them were VLC suitable. I really enjoyed the calamari (and that crab mousse was totally gorgeous - but very tiny)

@Brunneria - I'm loving the sound of your deconstructed aubergine pizza. :) Another one for me to add to my 'must make' list. I will have a go with the cling film on avocado rather than visiting Lakeland where I know I could spend a fortune without trying. I don't like black avocado either.

I'm going to cut down on avocado - my skinny jeans felt tighter yesterday - which is not good. :( (Not that I should be wearing skinny jeans as a) I am not skinny and b) I am a lady of a certain age - but they are so soft with a bit of stretch that I can't bring myself to throw them.
 
Back to the big numbers..... readings of between 6.3 and 7.5 yesterday then this morning an FBG and two hours after it went up to 8.7. I have no idea why. All I can think of is that my liver is punishing me for a lovely meal out with lots of wine on Monday. I feel fine - painful neck, knees and hip but thats nothing new - but even thats not so painful today because of the sunshine. The plague bug seems to have bugged off. Mr C has gone back to work (I really enjoy his company but sometimes its nice to have a bit of time to myself). So I'm having a fasting day today - and either tomorrow or Friday (or both) - which, for me, means having black coffee or water all day with possible a mug of Bovril if I feel hungry or shaky (unusual) and then a low carb dinner. Sort of IF meets VLC.

@Radiat - Hey back :)

@maglil55 - I wish I lived closer to an M&S Food Hall, they had some lovely goodies in there and some of them were VLC suitable. I really enjoyed the calamari (and that crab mousse was totally gorgeous - but very tiny)

@Brunneria - I'm loving the sound of your deconstructed aubergine pizza. :) Another one for me to add to my 'must make' list. I will have a go with the cling film on avocado rather than visiting Lakeland where I know I could spend a fortune without trying. I don't like black avocado either.

I'm going to cut down on avocado - my skinny jeans felt tighter yesterday - which is not good. :( (Not that I should be wearing skinny jeans as a) I am not skinny and b) I am a lady of a certain age - but they are so soft with a bit of stretch that I can't bring myself to throw them.
I still think it is this flaming bug that is causing the issues as I am still sitting higher too. Not much movement overnight I 'd gone to 7.3 before bed and I was 7.5 this morning but that was FBG and pre breakfast. We both had the dentist this morning so No 1 walked to school with his friend and his gran and No 2 had a day at home as he has a bit of a cough. So I was up and straight to breakfast as it is a wee bit of a drive to our dentist. Got back and I've had the remains of the DD salmon (trout) with chilli and some salad. Don't usually have lunch now but I only had time to scramble eggs this morning so I was hungry and I love that recipe anyway. Just goes to show the fat from the bacon must make a difference to the hunger. I'm still battling this cough and I have a lot of running about to do this afternoon. So I can relax for another hour then I'll be running about until about 5pm. Really looking forward to the Committments tomorrow night. I think we might go to Nando's - there's one next door to the theatre and they are quite low carb friendly.
 
Oh and I wear skinny jeans too for the same reason - they are soft and comfy.
M&S I am lucky enough to have a fairly large one 10 mins drive away and a huge one 30 mins away along the bypass. Their veggies and salad are always top quality and that is also where I buy my rib eye steak. These little calamari pots though - Yum and the mozzarella pearls with the pesto. They are usually 3 for £7.
Lakeland - that's why hubby tries to keep me out. I spend a fortune in there. I love that shop. He used to enjoy going to Dobbies with me - now it has become his nightmare as Lakeland opened there and now Hotter have opened too a d all my shoes and boots are Hotter. He says he can't risk me going alone either though
 
How did you manage the dentist with a cough!

I don't often go to M&S because I don't drive and Mr C knows any trip to M&S is going to work out expensive. ;)

I understand that the morning rises are my liver giving me a boost to get me going - but why so much and why all morning. Today it only started going down at what would have been lunchtime (had I been having any lunch). I keep saying that I should try going out for a walk on my own or with just one dog (to lower my BG) but I find the idea of being out on my own quite a bit scary as the last time I tried going for a walk on my own I ended up flat on my face as my right knee just gave way under me and it was very difficult to get back up. The hospital have given me a knee brace but it doesn't stop the worry that it might happen again.

Is Dobbies a chain of garden centres? If so then I think I've heard of them. We haven't got one near here but we do have a lovely garden centre at a place called Brigg about 20 minutes drive which is crammed full of the most amazing things, most of which I want to own. We have to avoid going there because the visit before last Mr C got carried away and spent £100 buying a ginormous aubergine coloured glass jar (about 4ft high) which you feed white Christmas tree lights in to and it looks quite magical when they are on. I thought the jar was expensive but he then paid an outrageous amount of money on the required 800 Christmas tree lights (to fill the jar) - then, on our way home, we popped in to the Range and found the same lights for less than a third of the price.

The Commitments and Nando's - what a lovely evening :) I hope you both have a lovely time - why not buy yourself some of those Ricola Elderflower sugar free sweeties to suck if you feel a coughing attack coming on, they have always worked for me.
 
sorry this bug just keeps tripping you up. :(

Mr B is in the same boat. It will be 4 weeks tomorrow. He has been feeling better the last few days, then today the sore throat cycle starts again. He says he has never been this ill for this long, even the twice he has been hospitalised for tummy and skin issues have all been done and dusted in less time than this.

I have pointed out that he is older now.

That went down well. ;)

My blood glucose is dropping again, slowly. Can only assume it was gluten somewhere over the weekend. Sigh. Cross another eatery off the approved list.

Mind you, who needs to eat out when you can eat DD menus twice a day? Sausage veg and mozzarella for lunch, chicken and roast veg tonight.
 
Poor Mr B - he can't help getting older :)

Mr C has had it and it keeps coming back again and again - the first time I remember him complaining about it was as far back as Christmas.

Well, here we go again. Another letter from my employer - this time wanting me to go to a meeting at head office which is a mile walk to the station this end, then a train ride, then another half hour walk at the other end. I said 'no' it's impossible for me to do that journey - so they've moved it to some offices they have which are a shortish bus ride away for me. I hope they sack me. I've had enough of all this and I'm sure it's adding to or even causing my depression.
 
sorry this bug just keeps tripping you up. :(

Mr B is in the same boat. It will be 4 weeks tomorrow. He has been feeling better the last few days, then today the sore throat cycle starts again. He says he has never been this ill for this long, even the twice he has been hospitalised for tummy and skin issues have all been done and dusted in less time than this.

I have pointed out that he is older now.

That went down well. ;)

My blood glucose is dropping again, slowly. Can only assume it was gluten somewhere over the weekend. Sigh. Cross another eatery off the approved list.

Mind you, who needs to eat out when you can eat DD menus twice a day? Sausage veg and mozzarella for lunch, chicken and roast veg tonight.
Yes I can relate to that . My throat is irritated again. I'm just going on with the hot showers but at least my BG is getting better. Been at 5.8 since 2pm. Weirdly it dropped to 5.8 after one piece of Lindt 90%. Maybe that's the answer- eat more chocolate.
 
How did you manage the dentist with a cough!

I don't often go to M&S because I don't drive and Mr C knows any trip to M&S is going to work out expensive. ;)

I understand that the morning rises are my liver giving me a boost to get me going - but why so much and why all morning. Today it only started going down at what would have been lunchtime (had I been having any lunch). I keep saying that I should try going out for a walk on my own or with just one dog (to lower my BG) but I find the idea of being out on my own quite a bit scary as the last time I tried going for a walk on my own I ended up flat on my face as my right knee just gave way under me and it was very difficult to get back up. The hospital have given me a knee brace but it doesn't stop the worry that it might happen again.

Is Dobbies a chain of garden centres? If so then I think I've heard of them. We haven't got one near here but we do have a lovely garden centre at a place called Brigg about 20 minutes drive which is crammed full of the most amazing things, most of which I want to own. We have to avoid going there because the visit before last Mr C got carried away and spent £100 buying a ginormous aubergine coloured glass jar (about 4ft high) which you feed white Christmas tree lights in to and it looks quite magical when they are on. I thought the jar was expensive but he then paid an outrageous amount of money on the required 800 Christmas tree lights (to fill the jar) - then, on our way home, we popped in to the Range and found the same lights for less than a third of the price.

The Commitments and Nando's - what a lovely evening :) I hope you both have a lovely time - why not buy yourself some of those Ricola Elderflower sugar free sweeties to suck if you feel a coughing attack coming on, they have always worked for me.
I warned through dentist he may have to stop but it only happened once. Great idea about the sugar free sweets. I'll get some tomorrow. Hubby is starting to flap as my brother (who is coming with us tomorrow) is going to visit my sister tomorrow so he is concerned he won't get back in time. Having said that he wanted to leave ridiculously early. Told him service is quick at Nando's and it is right next door. I know he is only trying to make sure I have plenty time as I had to take seats in the stalls to get 3 together and it is down 40 stairs which I can do but I am slow (crutches and stairs are not ideal partners). Leaving at 5 pm we'll get into town about 5.40 which gives us 1hr 30 mins to eat and still leaves 20 mins to get me down the stairs - should be ample even for me!
We were in the Circle last time as that is accessed from Street level but we have to sit in the back row as the steps to the front of the circle are far too steep for me. Back of the circle was just too far away from the stage.
Dobbies is indeed a garden centre. They are massive. Stock everything , run Little Seedlings for the kids, have a super restaurant, a farm shop , Santa at Christmas time the lot. To top it there are loads of other shops - Hotter and Lakeland included. As I said hubby's worst nightmare. He reckons I cannot get out of Lakeland without spending at least £100 - he could be right Add to that what I spend in Dobbies and it is an expensive outing. But it's fun!
I think you just have to let this bug run its course. I've given up trying to keep track of it and so long as I stay in single figures I'm just accepting it for now. Hot showers and paracetamol (great if I was right and 90% chocolate lowers BG)
 
Well dinner was surprisingly good. I was in inventive mood as I couldn't be bothered following a recipe.
I sliced about 1/3 of an aubergine, 4 thin asperagus spears, 8 mini portobello mushrooms, chopped shallot, sliced mini cauliflower, bit of sliced red and yellow pepper and 6 chicken strips. Stir fried the chicken and veg in butter and olive oil. Tipped it into a Pyrex dish. Made a sauce with hot sauce, big teaspoon of red pesto, double cream (about 100mls) and I added about 1/3 cup of broccoli rice to thicken it a bit. Tipped the sauce on the chicken and veg , sprinkled grated cheese on top and shoved in oven at 180c for about 30 mins. Serves 2. Carbs 11.5 per portion.
 
I am now officially unemployed. Giving in my notice was probably one of the hardest things I've had to do - I haven't got a clue why it should be so emotional, but it was. My (former) boss was there and her and I bawled all over each other, she's such a lovely woman to work for. She wants me to pop in to the house I worked in a week tomorrow but the thought of it makes me feel very sad so I'm not sure I want to. :(

Its a times like this I miss carbs. I could just eat a bag full of doughnuts.
 
I am now officially unemployed. Giving in my notice was probably one of the hardest things I've had to do - I haven't got a clue why it should be so emotional, but it was. My (former) boss was there and her and I bawled all over each other, she's such a lovely woman to work for. She wants me to pop in to the house I worked in a week tomorrow but the thought of it makes me feel very sad so I'm not sure I want to. :(

Its a times like this I miss carbs. I could just eat a bag full of doughnuts.
Why did you tender your resignation? Surely it was for your employers to terminate your contract, and all that follows
 
Oh @Chook I feel for you. It is bad enough leaving somewhere you enjoy working, but going under the circs that you are... very difficult indeed. :(
 
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