I was pleasantly surprised how well yesterday went. I enjoyed what I had although I think the carb load will become harder to tolerate as the days pass. However, the hardest bit was all the number crunching - calories, macros, weighing my extra stuff - boring too!! OK for a week, I suppose, but never for longer term!
Today's gone well too.
I watched a few YouTube videos of people who have done something similar except that they have just had the ready meal with no extra veg. Given that most that I watched are big, strapping men, I'm not surprised that they complained of hunger, feeling unwell and general weariness after a few days.
So far, I feel fine. I didn't even feel hungry this morning which I though I might. Early days though!
Today I had porridge, lovely porridge with mixed seeds, stewed plums and yogurt - with sweetener. Oh, it was good - filling and warming.
270 calories the lot!
(SW - one fibre hex and some of an oil hex. I'm not doing SW this week but it's interesting to keep half an eye on things)
(SW - one fibre hex and some of an oil hex. I'm not doing SW this week but it's interesting to keep half an eye on things)
Lunch was a bag of tomato chicken pasta
The pasta was 429 calories
(SW: 5 swips - so very SW friendly.)
This was nice, nothing special, short on chicken and the tomato sauce wasn't too basil-y (not my favourite herb). There was more pasta than I would have chosen and, of course, it was white not wholewheat. I could add some chicken and some bacon and it would do me two meals and I think I might at some point.
Satisfaction score: 7/10 because it was fine, just a bit boring.
Dinner was another of those chicken and vegetable pies (I do have four to get through in the week). The vegetables were lovely. Roasted carrot, broccoli stalk and red onion and steamed sprouts, broccoli and cabbage.
It would have been nice with a bit of gravy but that's not a planned add on and I managed with what was in the pie!
I don't think I cooked the pie long enough or perhaps it was because there were also vegetables roasting at the same time (in the air fryer). The pastry just wasn't as crispy.
Satisfaction score: 6/10 this time.
I posted the nutrition info for the pie in yesterday's post.
(SW: 19 swips)
So, today's nutrition (recommended amounts in brackets) for what I ate is:
Calories: 1297 (1900)
Fats: 39.5 (74)
Calories: 1297 (1900)
Fats: 39.5 (74)
Carbs: 175.3 (255)
Fibre: 35.9 (30)
Protein: 58.5 (46.5) - there was more than I thought in the pasta - or the labelling is incorrect!
Salt: 4.4 (max of 6)
Salt: 4.4 (max of 6)
So, in calorie deficit, salt is OK, fibre and protein is up (good, even if the fibre is not the really gut friendly kind)) and the fats and carbs are in deficit.
The calories are interesting. I feel really full up yes they are quite low. No complaints from me as long as I feel well.
The first two days are really interesting reading! The nutritional values are better than i was expecting. I usually calorie count for a week or two when I need to get back on track, so the total daily calorie totals have also surprised me, especially as you're not feeling hungry. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week and your reflections at the end! Best wishes Melanie
ReplyDeleteExactly my thoughts too, Melanie. This is not what I expected at all, even with all the speed vegetables I am adding. A bit of an eye opener for me.
DeleteDo you use Nutracheck for your calorie counting? It gives me all the macro amounts too which has been helpful.
Of course, I am assuming that the calories on the boxes are fairly accurate (which they might not be) as I have nothing else to go on.
xx