Posts
Not too long ago, I blogged about being on a new diet. So, have I noticed any changes since starting on this diet?
The thing to hit me quite quickly is the increase in expenses when it comes to food!
Salad is very expensive and it takes more to fill me up too. $4 for a bowl of salad in the food court compared to $2.30 for economic rice, for example.
Salad is cheaper in the supermarket but it is still rather pricey. Animal protein also costs more than carbohydrate.
 |
| Got this at a food court. $4.00. |
I think that my food bill must have at least tripled or, maybe, even quadrupled in size. I don't know exactly how much because I no longer keep track of my expenses. Has been the case for a few years. So, this is just a feeling.
 |
| $5.00 from NTUC Fairprice. |
 |
| Pan fried in butter. Powdered with black pepper. Romaine lettuce on the side drenched in salsa sauce. The tangy salsa sauce goes well with the salmon too. |
When I talked to a friend who is a doctor, he said that the diet does make sense. Cut down on carbohydrates and sugar and we will probably be healthier.
Many overweight people are overweight because they take too much carbohydrates and sugar which are what comfort food is packed with.
 |
| Roasted chicken on lettuce. About $4.00. |
 |
| Pan fried Batang and ginger. About $4.00 too. |
Being on this diet, I do miss ice cream which is one of my two biggest weaknesses in the world of food. As for chocolate, the other weakness, I am allowed dark chocolate but not too much.
I also miss fish ball mee pok dry, char kway teow and chye tow kway. I also miss eating sandwiches which I used to make frequently and, definitely, my daily bowl of oatmeal.
 |
| Greek yogurt, banana slices and lettuce. |
 |
| Pan fried Batang steak in garlic salt and turmeric powder. |
Well, I do look a bit trimmer without having increased my level of physical activity. In case you are wondering, I do plan on doing something about this.
In fact, I lost more than 3 kgs in almost 4 weeks. I also seem to have less gas (if you know what I mean).
I will continue with this diet and see if I manage to gradually lose more weight over the next month or so. I would be quite happy to be another 3 kgs lighter by then.
Added (6 Jan 17):
Antioxidants attack!
Added (5 Sep 17):
Added (10 Sep 17):
Added (12 Sep 17):
Something AK wants to lose.
Bloggy Award
25 comments:
hello AK
allow me to share a little story..in 2011 i was really overweight at 1.49m i packed in at 74kg i had bad knee issues (osteoarthritis),LDL,triglycerides on high side .i had difficulty moving around.My doctor told me 1. go on wheelchair 2. go on diet and exercise. Its true.diet means throw out sugar and I replaced it with Agave nectar or Stevia and use low sodium salt.But I wont suggest you throw out the carbs just eat moderately (it keeps you full longer) as long as you exercise.. besides salads SO expensive here. I feel like crying when i see the price I have to pay for vegetables! and I am not even a cow.)In 2013, I weigh in at 61kg. my knee issue disappeared,my HDL and LDL check was excellent.
Hi Ruby,
Thanks for sharing your story. :)
A few weeks ago, I was 77 kgs. That was a shocker because I always thought I was 74 kgs or 75 kgs in weight.
I am 1.74m tall. So, at 77 kgs, I wasn't very overweight but it was still a shock. I decided to do something when the little receipt the polyclinic printed for me had a little message. They hope I would be 72 kgs 6 months later. So cute. LOL.
Yes, salads are so expensive. How can a bowl of fresh vegetable cost more than a bowl of wanton noodle or economic rice? Mind boggling!
Anyway, I will keep doing what I am doing now and up my physical activities by a bit. I am not the athletic type. So, just 30 minutes of exercise every day or every other day should do it for me. ;p
Hi Ak,
Have been on this diet since few months back, lost from 138 kg till 112 kg.
A good place you can get cheaper wholesale meat, bacon and salmon would be SSKIM.
Do remember to stock up on coconut oil and eggs :)
You can make your own lard if you wish to save on olive/coconut oil as well
Rgds
Ed
Hi Edward,
Thanks for sharing your story and suggestions. :)
Yes, since starting on this diet, I have been eating eggs, something which I have avoided for years!
hi ak
i started my this diet few days ago.
i am 153cm and 55kg. i looks fat as i am too short.
so i wish to slim down another 10kg to my ideal weight 45kg...
if cant reach 45kg then 46/47kg is fine too.
This is basically following the getting popular LCHF. Works great for me too but perhaps to keep it long term could add in a heavy carb day once a week so your body doesn't get used to the plateau after some time. Plus it'll keep you sane too.
Hi AK
something else i forgot to mention..my doctor gave me a list of supplement..krill oil at 500mg that help with bringing down LDL.. and low dosage of aspirin 81mg..helps to ward off heart attack..these are supplement and work with exercise..FYI i dislike exercise myself but my life on wheelchair or walk around myself its not a difficult decision. To be considered that you are exercising..you need to feel your heart thumping ..leisurely doing some casual cycling is not really exercise and exercise should be an hour long to have any effect.Before starting with any strenuous exercise, a visit to the doctor is advisable. Good job..keep up your change to a healthy diet and exercise. ;)
Staying on this kind of eating is about appetite management and having enough cheap days.
For most people it is likely they will get hungry. They went no sugar, no grains, but likely what happens is missing is to provide instant energy source which is good fats.
Folks need to ram up their fat sources in avocado and coconut oil as well.
The fat sources keeps you full because they contain the hormone leptin, which makes you feel full.
Whole, not-much-processed food sources of carbs are actually pretty nutritious.
Sweet potatos, potatos, rolled oats are good stuff.
White rice, white flour and even supermarket wholemeal (not 100% wholemeal actually) bread may not be so good though.
Hi AK,
Glad to meet others on their journey to healthier and lighter selves.
I have also tried a low carbo and high protein diet - but my cravings for ice cream and chocolate were also my Achilles heels just like you :(
Early this year, after a few unsuccessful tries, a fren introduced me to a 3 month supplement and protein programme and I lost more than 6 kgs!
I was just hoping to lose 2-3 kgs as I wasn't overweight at all. I now weigh 48kg at 1.58 m so despite some friends saying I have lost too much, I am satisfied and happy with my healthier and more energetic self - and also I believe in keeping a safety buffer for those festive season indulgences. Just like how you always pointed out we should have a margin of safety in our shares investment! Am I a good student? :P applying the principles you blogged about in my weight loss journey too. :)
Oh what I wanted to add was that I love salads too but good salads are expensive(I don't like the common iceberg lettuce which are not really good salad mix anyway). When I was in Europe - their salads are cheap, fresh and easily available in their supermarkets (for eg huge pack for maybe 1 or 2 Euros).
One tip is shop for your salads at Hubers@Dempsey - $4 plus for a medium size bag of spinach or mesclun salad mix. It's more affordable than the supermarkets.
A second tip is I skip the egg yolks when I have eggs for breakfast. The egg white is only 70 calories and chock full of goodness.
Lastly, I have learnt that investing in my health is the best investment ever! Some of my friends/colleagues in their 30s and 40s are already on medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. It's a worrying trend if drugs become our first line of defence for dealing with health conditions. Not even counting the spiralling medical costs involved. I think all of us have to take responsibility for our bodies and health - start off with eating healthier and take up some physical exercise, so blog on AK on your health journey - its also a good investment :)
Hi all, also want to share on using or avoiding unhealthy foods like butter which is high in trans fat. The body cannot digest trans fat and it ends up getting clogged in our blood vessels which then results in heart attack and health problems
Hi yeh,
I am not sure if I want to lose 10 kgs. That is a lot. I just want to get my weight down to what is acceptable. So, for me, 6 or 7 kgs is enough.
In your case, your BMI now is 23.5. You are only slightly over the line. Losing 5 kgs brings your BMI to 21.4 which is well within the healthy zone. I think that is good enough. :)
Hi Melvir,
Add in a heavy carb day? Wow! That sounds heavenly! I will have to read up on that. LOL. ;)
Hi Ruby,
I don't have any serious health problems although I am undergoing check ups now for some stuff. My cholesterol level is OK. My blood pressure is OK.
Physically, my knees are kaput because I used to run too much long distance up till about 15 years ago and when I stopped, I started to put on weight.
Now, I do low impact exercises. I am not averse to doing exercises but I enjoy doing exercises while engaging my mind. So, Yoga is actually good for me and I recently restarted. Elliptical trainers with a TV screen in front of me works too. ;p
Yah. The heart must be thumping and we have to feel the body warming up. My long evening walks are too leisurely. They don't count. -.-"
Hi Kyith,
I have a sweet tooth. I cannot stay off sweets for too long.
Fortunately, my friend says he takes dark chocolates (72% or darker). That is allowed and that has some sugar. So, I have a bite with a small handful of baked almonds every day or every 2 days. Keeps me happy. :)
I am using olive oil more now, even in my soups. I have also been using butter for cooking. Unfortunately, I do not like eating avocados. -.-"
Hi Unknown,
I love potatoes, sweet potatoes and oats. I used to have a bowl of oatmeal daily and I only use whole rolled oats, not the instant type. Maybe, I will start taking some again in future. Now, I want to avoid carbs as much as possible.
Hi Elsie,
Salads are so expensive here in Singapore, aren't they? -.-"
Looking at your height and weight, yup, you were not overweight at all but you lost 6 kgs anyway. Your BMI is now a very healthy 19.2! Wow! Good job!
Alamak. Don't eat the egg yokes har? I have been wolfing down whole eggs. Cham. Isn't it a shame to throw the yokes away? You know AK lah. Waste not, want not. ;p
Hi Cheryl,
Oh dear. People have been telling me that butter is actually healthy but not the Buttercup brand. ;p
Butter has saturated fats and not trans fats, if I am not mistaken.
hahhaha somehow I knew you will say waste not want not AK!!! :)
I know, I struggled with that a little too in the beginning... now its second nature. Btw, typo... one egg white is 17 calories, whole egg is 70 calories.
if I find any cheaper alternative for salads will share here!
Update on my progress:
I have lost 9 kgs to date and 4 inches around my waist.
AK, I use this recipe whenever I have a craving for ice cream - you may wish to give it a try, it's very easy to make! :)
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-creamy-ice-cream-with-just-one-ingredient-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-93414
brina
Hi Brina,
Thanks for this.
Actually, my sister does this from time to time.
I love bananas but I have to watch it because I am supposed to be on a low carb diet and I have been cheating too much in the past few months. ;p
Reader:
Salmon looks v yummy. How u cook? But again. I saw those black black one. U really like to eat pepper hor. Your place can get salmon at discounted price ? So good.
AK:
Butter, turmeric powder, black pepper, garlic salt. Microwave 800 watts for 2 minutes.
Hi AK, if u do eat fresh tau kwa, I like to recommend u Seng Huat's (成发) 2 piece (total 300g) for 80cents at Sheng Siong. Contains 13g of protein per 150g piece. Good value for money and its low in added calcium (which isnt good cos it is a chemical coagulant).
Hi Unknown,
I have been avoiding soya beans and products made from soya beans for more than a year. :)
Post a Comment