Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by to check on my diet progress.

Yesterday was the last day of my 28-day detox diet, and today I moved onto the maintenance diet.  I can now eat lean meat, poultry, white & oily fish, wholemeal bread and low-fat dairy.

I’m happy to report that I have lost 8.5lbs on the detox diet.  I would, perhaps, have liked to have lost more.  However, I’m confident that I will continue losing weight, as I follow the maintenance diet.

Today, I had a slice of toasted wholemeal bread with peanut butter and a cup of Redbush tea for breakfast.  For lunch, I had two slices of toasted wholemeal bread with a tin of sardines in tomato sauce, followed by a juicy pear.  I must say, even the smell of the toast was a treat! 

For dinner, I had stirfried chicken and vegetables in with garlic and ginger, with brown rice and a glass of my favourite Welch’s Purple Grape Juice.

Thanks for visiting!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by on Day 26 of my 28-day detox diet.  I’m almost at the end of the ‘detox proper’.  Come Thursday, I will be going onto the Maintenance Diet.

I’ll be following the Maintenance Diet right up until Christmas, with a break at the end of November, when I go to Dublin for a Hen Weekend.  (There’s no way I’d be able to stick to a detox diet that weekend!  LOL)

I’m looking forward to re-introducing the following foods back into my diet:

• Low fat yoghurt & fromage frais
• Semi-skimmed milk (I can’t abide skimmed – too watery!)
• Low fat cheeses  – I’ve really missed cheese!
• Wholemeal bread  – I can have sandwiches again! (and toast – woo hoo!)
• Wholegrain breakfast cereals
• Chicken, turkey and lean meat
• White fish & oily fish – (Mmmm sardines on toast, tuna sandwiches, mackerel fillets, yum!!)

I’ll still be avoiding the following foods:

• Coffee, tea & other caffeine drinks (including decaffeinated drinks)
• Sugar
• Cakes, buscuits, confectionery
• Eggs
• White bread & rice
• Ready meals
• Salt
• Alcohol
• Artificial food additives
• Fried foods
• Artificial sweeteners
• Hydrogenated fats
• Fizzy drinks
• Squashes & cordials

I’ve had several people asking me what book I’m following for this diet.  I’ve got Carol Vorderman's Detox Recipes, which includes instructions on how to follow the Strict Diet and the Maintenance Diet, as well as lots of mouth-watering recipes.

Carol has written other detox books, which you may like to try:

• Detox For Life

• 14-day Detox

• 30-Day Cellulite Plan


She also has a DVD available – Kick Start Detox and Exercise Plan DVD
.

Thanks for visiting!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by on Day 23 of my 28-day detox diet.

Last night I went out for dinner with my best friend, Audrey.  We are both busy ladies and don’t get to see each other as much as we’d like to, so I didn’t want to postpone our get-together just because I’m on this detox diet.

We dined at the wonderful Riverhouse Restaurant on Stirling’s Waterfront.  It’s a favourite restaurant for us.  The food is delicious, and the service is great.  The location is ideal for us too, as it is quite central for us, with us both living at opposite ends of Stirlingshire, and with being close to the motorway.

I had already selected my menu choices before we met up, as I had checked out their current Early Evening Menu on their website.  I had chilli, coriander and chickpea hummus with warmed pitta bread and a side salad, followed by pumpkin-stuffed cannellini with a tomato and cumin coulis, topped with mozzarella cheese.  For a drink, I simply had sparkling spring water.

Now for all you lot that are paying close attention to my diet, you might have noticed a couple of ingredients in my meal that don’t quite fit in with the detox rules (pitta bread and mozzarella cheese).  For the record, I only had a couple of bites of my pitta bread.  There was so much tasty hummus and salad that I really didn’t need to eat the bread.  As for the cheese, I had envisaged that the cheese would just be sprinkled on top of the pasta.  However, in the end the pasta was actually baked in cheese.  Therefore, I confess that I did, in fact, digress from the diet with that dish!  However, I must say that it was really tasty!! 

You’ll also be happy to know that I resisted the temptation of having a latte at the end of my meal.  (Audrey and I usually enjoy a sweet and a coffee at the end of our meal.)

Today, I stuck faithfully to the diet.

Thanks for visiting!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by to check my progress on Day 19 of my 28-day detox diet.

It was a wet miserable day here in Stirlingshire today, so the girls and I had a lazy day at home, drawing lots of pictures, playing games and watching TV.

I watched the Madrid Masters this afternoon and was delighted to see Andy Murray win the title.  (Well done, Andy!)

I had my favourite honey and raisin porridge and a cup of Redbush tea for breakfast, and oatcakes with humous for lunch.  Mid afternoon I had a lovely juicy pear, while watching the tennis.

For dinner, I had quorn mince with red onion, courgette, yellow pepper and mushrooms with a jacket potato, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.  I washed it all down with a large (wine) glass of my favourite Welch’s Purple Grape Juice.

If you are thinking of joining me on this detox diet, here’s a list of the top 12 detox foods:

1. Apples – containing vitamin C, quercetin & pectin.  Apples can protect from cancer, help lower blood-cholesterol and maintain healthy intenstines & bowel.
2. Avocados – rich in powerful antioxidants, vitamin E & alphacarotene and also containing monounsaturated fat & omega-6 fats.  Avocados help prevent furring of the arteries, lower blood cholesterol and are good for your skin.
3. Beans & Lentils – containing sterols, soluble fibre, B-vitamins, magnesium, zinc, iron and a good balance of protein and complex carbohydrates.  These pulses provide sustained energy and help lower blood cholesterol.
4. Broccoli – containing phytonutrients called glucosinolates, which are powerful detoxifiers that can help fight cancer.  (Other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage & brussels sprouts also contain these detoxifiers.)
5. Carrots – containing antioxidants, alphacarotene & betacarotene.  Carrots can help protect against cancer, boost immunity, maintain good eyesight and promote healthy skin.
6. Fennel – containing potassium.  Fennel helps rebalance the body’s fluid levels and stimulates the body’s natural detoxifying organs.
7. Garlic – containing allicin.  Garlic has antiviral and antibacterial actions and aids excretion of toxins from the body.  It also protects the body from high blood pressure, high blood-cholesterol, heart disease and cancer.
8. Kiwi Fruit – containing vitamin C.  Kiwis boost the immune system, strengthen the blood vessels and help fight cancer and harmful free radicals.
9. Mango – containing betacarotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, fibre and potassium.  Mangoes can help to ward off colds and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
10. Pumpkin Seeds – containing omega-3 & omega-6 oils.  Eating pumpkin seeds can help protect against heart disease and strokes, reduce joint pain and stiffness, promote healthy skin and improve immune system.
11. Strawberries - containing vitamin C & ellagic acid.  Strawberries can boost your immune system, fight free radicals and help fight against cancer and heart disease.
12. Watercress – containing chlorophyll, vitamin C, iron and betacarotene.  Watercress can improve immunity and heart health, boost circulation and help to make healthy blood cells.

Thanks for visiting!

Hi everyone!

It’s Day 18 of my 28 day detox diet, so I’ve just ten more days to go!  Woo hoo!

I haven’t updated this blog for a few days, as it’s been a crazy week for me.  My husband had to go to London to testify as a witness in a high-profile trial this week.  It was a stressful time for the family.

I had thought that I could get on with a lot of writing while he was away.  However, once the girls were in bed, I found myself flopping in front of the TV and ended up dozing there three nights in a row!

However, I’m happy to report that the diet is going great!  I’ve stuck to it faithfully this week, ignoring the temptations of biscuits, cakes and sweets.

A colleague of mine remarked that he definitely had noticed that my face looked thinner.  I had noticed that myself.  I also feel that my clothes are a little looser and my skin and hair is in better condition.  This makes it all feel worthwhile.

Here are ten good reasons why you should eat the detox way:

1. You’ll lose excess weight – Carol advises you not to weigh yourself until the end of the diet, so I’ll find out in ten days time how much weight I’ve lost.  The last time I went on this diet I lost just under a stone (11lbs).
2. Cellulite will diminish – Cellulite is believed to be caused by toxin build up in fatty tissue.  By following a detox diet and dry body brushing before bathing, you should notice a reduction in cellulite.
3. You’ll feel more energetic – I must admit that I haven’t felt very energetic this week, but I don’t think that has anything to do with this diet.  Last weekend, I felt a lot more energetic than usual.
4. You’ll get fewer colds – All the extra vitimins consumed during this detox should help to ward off colds and flu.  My daughters both had really bad colds when I started this diet, and I didn’t catch it!  Coincidence?  Maybe. 
5. You’ll get rid of bloating – I think the noticable difference in my face and the looseness of my clothes has a lot to do with me being less bloated, rather than simply losing weight. 
6. Your skin will look smoother – I have noticed that my skin looks much better since starting this diet.
7. You’ll enjoy better health – This diet is very low in fat, very high in vitimins, nutrients and anti-oxidants.  How can you not be healthier on it?!
8. Your hair will shine – I have noticed that my hair looks far more healthy and shiny.
9. You’ll feel calmer – It has been a stressful week this week, but I suppose I may have felt the effects more on a poorer diet.  I’m happy to report that I did not turn to comfort foods, as I have done in the past.
10. You can lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol – The only fats you eat on this diet are healthy ones from nuts and seeds and olives.

So, why not give it a go?  Now is the perfect time to detox, in preparation of the forthcoming festive season.

Thanks for visiting!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by on Day 13 of my 28-day detox diet.  I’m almost at the halfway mark.

I had my usual honey and raisin porridge with Redbush tea for breakfast, two bowls of my yummy home-made lentil and vegetable soup and Purple Grape Juice for lunch, and a delicious juicy pear mid afternoon.

A colleague brought some biscuits into the office to share today – some scrummy yummy chocolate cookies.  James, Katy, Rosie and Liam all eagerly devoured the tasty treats.  They looked sooooo good – sooooo moreish!  However, I’m glad to report that I did not yield to temptation.

For my evening meal, I had another bowl of my home-made soup,followed by a jacket potato with roasted vegetables (red onion, yellow pepper, courgette and tomatoes) with a glass of Welch’s Purple Grape Juice.

So that’s me, almost at the halfway mark and feeling fine.

Thanks for visiting!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for visiting to check on the progress of my 28-day detox diet.  I’m sorry for not getting round to posting on Saturday and Sunday.

I had a pretty quiet uneventful weekend as it happens – just chilled out with my hubby and the girls!  It was nice and relaxing.

After my  slight deviation from the diet on Friday, I’m happy to report that I stuck to it rigidly over the weekend, without any problems.

Saturday, I had my honey and raisin porridge, vegetable soup with ricecakes and a veggie/bean burger/patty with roast parsnips and salad.  Sunday, I had my honey and raisin porridge, oatcakes with humous and tomato, a banana and two bowls of home-made lentil and vegetable soup.  I had my usual servings of Redbush tea, Welch’s Purple Grape Juice and water throughout the weekend.

The hardest thing about the weekend was the whole family being at home and me having to conjur up different meals for my husband and my daughters.  Hot buttered toast, in particular, is very enticing!  I did manage to abstain though!  To be honest, if I was not tempted by the yummy desserts in the restaurant on Friday, then I doubt whether anything can tempt me now!

I’m starting to notice a difference now.  My clothes are a bit looser on me, my stomach feels flatter, my face looks considerably thinner and my skin looks better.  This is what happened during my last detox diet, and is why I’m determined to stick with it. 

You are advised not to weigh yourself throughout the diet, so I will have to wait until the end to see how much I’ve lost.  However, to me, the most important thing is how I feel and how tight (or not) my clothes feel.

Thanks for visiting!

Annette

Hi everyone!

Welcome to Day 10 of my 28-day detox diet.

I’m afraid I’ve got a confession to make……… I’m sorry to report that I digressed from my diet today.  I had some meat a lunchtime!!  It was really unavoidable.  Let me explain…

A couple of weeks ago (before I embarked on this diet) I was invited to a lunch to celebrate the 50th birthday of one of my colleagues.  I had forgotten about it until I received an email two days ago, asking me to select my meal from the set lunch menu of Casa Espanola in Grahams Road, Falkirk.

For my starter, I could easily stick to my diet by having melon and strawberries.  However, it was not so easy to select a suitable main course.

I had thought that I would be alright with the vegetarian option.  However, this was a vegetable bake, cooked in cheese.  Therefore, I opted for the healthiest-sounding dish of pork cooked in a garlic, tomato and white wine sauce.

Anyway, although I was looking forward to meeting everyone at lunchtime today, I was dreading breaking my diet (even slightly) and was worried that I might be tempted to stray further from the detox rules.

It wasn’t the greatest start to the day.  It had been raining heavily all night, and was still raining heavily when the girls and I headed out this morning.  I could see that there was a lot of flooding in the area.  It was just a wet and miserable day!  Therefore, my carefully straightened hair had turned into a windswept and interesting ‘bird’s nest’ by the time I arrived at my office. 

I fumbled in my handbag with one hand, while the other hand struggled to keep my brolly over my head, looking for my swipe card to let me into my office building.  I then realised that I had left my purse at home, which was really silly considering I was heading out at lunchtime for meal.

Once inside my office building, I noticed that we had quite a bad leak in our roof.  There was a huge damp patch on the carpet and a damp stain on the wall.  Water was dripping heavily from the ceiling.

At lunchtime, I had to go home to collect my purse, then stop by the cash machine to lift some money out the bank, before driving to the restaurant in Falkirk.

I had a lovely time, but it took all my self control not to completely cave in and blow the diet.   It all got very tempting after the main course (which was delicious), when the waiter asked if we’d like to hear what today’s dessert menu was.  As soon as he starting rhyming off all the incredibly tasty-sounding puddings, I started salivating like Homer Simpson!  However, with my new-found nerves of steel, I (reluctantly) declined a dessert and a coffee.

I am actually very proud of myself.  Okay, I concede that I still did veer from the diet today.  However, it could have been much, much worse!  All in all, I ate healthily today, and that (to me) is all that really matters.

Thanks for visiting!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by to see how I’m doing on Day Six of my Detox Diet.  Everything is still going fine.

For breakfast, I had my usual honey and raisin porridge followed by a cup of Redbush tea.

I walked home for lunch to have some of my home-made soup.  My intention had been to take a flask of soup into the office this morning.  However, I was in such a rush today, that I did not have time to do this!  Luckily, my office is just a short distance from my house (a five-minute car journey or a 10/15 minute walk).  I normally only take half an hour for lunch and eat in the office.  However, today I took my full lunch hour, and felt better for it!

I had two bowls of my delicious home-made lentil soup and some purple grape juice.  I don’t know about you, but I always think that home-made soup tastes much better the day after you first make it! 

I then walked back to my office.  There are two routes I can take, on foot, between my house and my office:

1. Up the hill and along the main Glasgow Road past the shops, banks, etc.
2. Along the path which runs alongside my back garden, which follows the route of the old Denny railway line.  Although this is a straighter route, it takes just slightly longer than the other way.  However, it is the preferred route, as it is more peaceful and scenic.

I walked to and from my house via the second route, and I thoroughly enjoyed my lunchtime walk.

In the afternoon I had a nectarine and a handful of mixed nuts and raisins for a snack.

For my evening meal I had a bean burger/patty, lightly roasted parsnips and some boiled carrot, brocolli and sweetcorn. 

So, that’s six days down, and 22 to go!…

Thanks for visiting!

PS  Sorry, I’m posting this a day late.  Today’s post “Day 7″ to follow shortly!

Hi everyone!

It’s Day Five of my 28-day Detox Diet.

What a beautiful day it was here today in Stirlingshire!  Blue sky and sunshine can really lift the soul.  The girls and I went for a walk from Denny to Dunipace, along the old railway track.  The air was crisp and fresh, the birds were singing, and the girls enjoyed jumping on the crunchy leaves on the path.

When we got home, the girls had great fun playing in the garden, while I hung out my washing to dry (probably for the last time this year!).

All this sunshine and fresh air complimented the detoxification of my body, with a cleansing of the mind.  I certainly do miss the long daily walks I used to take with the girls when they were in their pram.  These walks were not only responsible for me losing all my baby weight and more, but they were also essential for my mental wellbeing while I was off work on maternity leave.

Anyway, back to the diet.  Today, for breakfast, I had my raisin and honey porridge (again!) with a glass of purple grape juice.  For lunch I had oatcakes and humous and two satsumas, with a cup of Redbush tea.  For dinner I had two bowls of home-made lentil soup, some roasted vegetables and brown rice, with a glass of purple grape juice.

I’ll be taking a flask of homemade soup to work with me tomorrow for Day Six.

Thanks for visiting!