Bruce’s Feelgood blog: I don’t want my stools in a Tupperware box

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05 February 2009, 11:25

Hello, and welcome to my first blog.

As you’ll be aware, Friday saw the launch of me, my new lifestyle regime, and my participation in the Feelgood Factor.

(You can watch Bruce's blogs on video as well).

Currently at 18 stone 3 lbs and in the obese category I knew it was time to adopt a radical change. I, like so many people, have tried various diets with some success until I stopped and let my old eating habits take over again. So this time I decided to do this with everyone watching to keep me going and motivated.

Anyone can set their mind to loose weight, but it’s the keeping it off that I’ve always found hard. When you get to your target weight, you celebrate with food and drink, stay at it for a week then forget to maintain it and you’re back to square one. It’s a vicious circle that’s hard to break out of and I sincerely hope that I can.
I don’t plan rapid and unsustainable weight loss but instead want to conquer my lack of food intake discipline. Food is something to be enjoyed and shouldn’t be shied away from. We should be able to indulge from time to time, but it’s so much easier said than done.

Since Friday, I’ve been sticking to a low cal regime. I’ve been eating as much fruit and veg as I like. That may be boring to some, but realistically you can’t gorge on crisps, cheese and chips and expect to mirror the lithe and delicious Jane Seymour. It takes work, sense and that horrible word - discipline.

We live in a world where we expect results immediately and it doesn’t work like that. Too much emphasis is on thin and not healthy. So every morning I’ve had Weetabix or Special K. Snacks have been low fat houmous on Ryvita with tomatoes, Mullerlight yoghurt with fresh blueberries and all sorts of fruit. If you can, go between supermarkets to take advantage of various offers.

I allowed myself two glasses of red wine, a wee bit of low fat cheesecake and some of those flavoured pretzels. This is a very nice replacement for crisps, but only once a week, if that. Another good crisp alternative are snack-a-jacks. Of course they’re not the real thing, but they’re as good as and this is about compromise, so you just have to get on with it, I’m afraid!

For lunch, I’ve had soups with low fat sandwiches or potato skins (no filling just the skins), low fat ready meals and Smash, although I’ve scunnered myself of it. It does require more planning, but hopefully it’ll be worth it. Always have a pot of home-made soup on the cooker, so you can have as much as you like to ward off hunger.

My tea has been things like steak, fish, skinless chicken thighs and salad. Use things like celeriac, squash and parsnips to replace potatoes. Have a small portion of tatties once or twice a week; I’d have them at lunch time as you’ll burn them off quicker then.

I’m not going to go all Gillian Mckeith and start eating seeds. I believe that if the baby Jesus wanted grown men to eat seeds he would have made us blue tits! Also I don’t want my stools in a Tupperware.

Have a low cal day!
Bruce x

Last updated: 31 March 2009, 15:38