Metabolism is the chemical processes that occur in the body to keep our bodies and organs working for example breathing and digesting food.These chemical processes require energy. These processes require energy which we get from our food.
Speed foods; My eating plan for a week
As I have lost 18lbs weight recently, our delightful Mira asked me to post my eating plan for a week. It is based on foods that speed up the metabolism.
My stick-thin husband has no weight to lose and has lost 4lbs just eating similar foods to me. I am NOT a nutritionist. I make no claims that people will lose weight doing this. Mira wondered if it might help people who were interested.
I am 5ft tall and have had a few health issues recently. Oesophagitis, hiatus hernia and plantar fasciitis in my heels to name but a few.
When I had my gastroscopy recently, the consultant said I needed to lose a stone or two. But a stone, he added would make a huge difference to my oesophagitis. Easier said than done I know. I ignored his advice of course and then my son announced his wedding. His bride joined a slimming club and after a few more months I followed her eating advice when I saw she had lost 3 1/2 stone.
The eating plan is based on foods that speed up the metabolism. The foods have fewer calories than it takes to digest them . There is a mountain of food to eat and anytime hungry strikes...don't grab a biscuit, potato crisps or a cake, grab a food that speeds up your metabolism This is my new way of eating .
11 weeks on and I have lost 18 pounds, my plantar fasciitis in my heel has gone and my oesophagus is healed. My skin is glowing, I am sleeping better and feel great. I would like to lose about 20 lbs.
What is metabolism ?
Speed foods
What are they ?
So what are speed foods ?
Speed foods are foods which are often full of fibre and take a little longer to digest thereby using more calories to digest than are in the foods themselves. When we eat, our bodies start to work digesting the foods and so our bodies have to use calories for our digestion to work.
Best of all, there is no need to weigh them. They are low calorie foods.
Eat some at every meal and throughout the day.
Keep active
I am very active. I work with young children and have a 2 year old grandson who keeps me busy and on the move.
Being active plus doing aerobic exercise are the best ways to increase your body metabolism . Aerobic (meaning with oxygen ) activity is an activity which keeps you active continuously for at least 20 minutes.
Increase your activity to increase your metabolism.
To begin
Disclaimer
I am not a nutritionist and this is not a diet. This is my version based on my future daughter in law's eating plan.
We have both lost weight eating foods at every meal which speed up our metabolism.
If you want to seriously lose weight see a nutritionist or join a diet club.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Every day includes 1/2 pt 350 ml of semi skimmed ( 1/2 fat milk ) for the day.
No alcohol
Eat some speed foods at every meal and throughout the day when you feel hungry. Don't ever feel hungry. Don't weigh them; eat as much of them as you want.
Vegetables must be cooked without fat.
Plan ahead.
Have ready in the fridge, carrot batons, celery sticks, baby tomatoes, fruit. Eat speed foods anytime you feel hungry. Don't eat cakes, potato crisps, biscuits ; eat something heathy or speed foods.
Speed food List
Speed food dos Healthy foods but not speed
green tea asparagus pineapple
apples aubergine parsnips
apricots beetroot sweetcorn
blackberries broccoli banana
clementines cabbage grapes
gooseberries carrots potatoes cooked without fat
grapefruit cauliflower avocado
lemon celeriac
limes celery
melon chard
nectarines courgettes
oranges cucumber
peaches leeks
pears lettuce
raspberries mangetout
rhubarb mushrooms
strawberries onions
plums peas
peppers
radishes
rocket
runner beans
squash
swede
tomato
watercress
turnips
A typical week
I eat some speed foods with EVERY meal
This is a diary I kept of my first week a few weeks ago. It is my own version of how my son's fiancée eats.
In-between meals if I feel hungry, I eat fruit or veg sticks.
There is no need to weigh them; eat as much of them as you want
Speed foods are in bold font
Day 1 tea and coffee using my milk allowance of 350 ml ( 1/2 pt ) a day
Breakfast : fat free soft cheese( e.g . quark. cottage cheese ) on toast and grapes
, plums and fresh tomatoes
Lunch : Chicken with fat removed
, salad of lettuce, radishes , tomatoes cucumber, celery
Dinner : Pork steak fat removed and boiled potatoes
; cauliflower, carrots,
Day 2 tea and coffee using my milk allowance of 350 ml ( 1/2 pt ) a day
Breakfast Fruit salad of strawberries, plums, satsumas
include bananas and blueberries
eat with fat free yogurt
Lunch Jacket Baked potato and tuna and sweetcorn mixed with some fat free yogurt
salad as above
Dinner Beef casserole cooked with carrots, onions, leeks and celery and
potatoes
Day 3 tea and coffee using my milk allowance of 350 ml ( 1/2 pt ) a day
Breakfast ; Baked beans in tomato sauce on toast
; plums and satsuma
Lunch : Fat free cheese and lean ham no fat and
; salad as above
Dinner : Prawns, salmon and pasta in a tinned tomato sauce
salad as above
Day 4 : tea and coffee using my milk allowance of 350 ml ( 1/2 pt ) a day
Breakfast Hot Bacon sandwich with
lettuce and tomato
Lunch :
Homemade vegetable soup , celery, carrot and leek
Dinner : Spaghetti Bolognaise
salad
Day 5 : tea and coffee using my milk allowance of 350 ml ( 1/2 pt ) a day
Breakfast Poached egg on toast
Plums, satsumas
Lunch : Chicken
; salad as above
Dinner : Pork goulash with fat free yogurt to garnish
; cooked with tomatoes, peppers, onions, celery, paprika, courgettes
Day 6 tea and coffee using my milk allowance of 350 ml ( 1/2 pt ) a day
Breakfast : Fruit salad of strawberries, plums, satsumas
include bananas and blueberries
eat with fat free yogurt
Lunch : Jacket potato with baked beans
; salad as above
Dinner : salmon risotto
; salad as above
Day 7 : tea and coffee using my milk allowance of 350 ml ( 1/2 pt ) a day
Breakfast ; mushroom omelette
mushrooms and tomatoes , satsuma
Lunch : Homemade soup ; carrot and celery
grapes
Dinner : Chicken in tinned tomatoes and onions and potatoes
kale, carrots
I lost 2 lbs the first week eating this food. It is low fat speed food.
Conclusion
I haven't planned on losing much more weight or inded any and I seem to be maintaining the loss. I haven't gained. I follow the above four days a week and eat what ever I want on 3 days. Here's just a few pictures. Before and after. Try it. It worked for me.
Me at Frank Beswick's son's wedding in June 2015 and me just about to do the Midnight 10km for the cancer hospice last week.
Addition Sept 2017
Weight gain in Italy
I retuned from Italy recently and had a wonderful time but gained 2.5 lbs . I have set about to losing this before winter draws on . I have lost 1lb and am working to lose the other 1.5 lbs. It's difficult.
Pictured below is my breakfast this morning and also lunch.
My breakfast this morning'
- I poached some golden haddock and had a poached egg with it. I added a fresh tomato. plum and satsuma. ( protein and veg - no fat )
Lunch today.
- cold ham and salad ( protein and veg no fat )
Dinner tonight is going to be a veggie risotto
Hopefully I will lose this bit of weight quickly.
Comments
VeronicaSep 2, 2017
I gained 2.5 lbs in Italy and am working hard to lose it before winter. I've added today's meal photos so far.
VeronicaAug 22, 2017
Then I put a shrimp and veg risotto on the other half of the plate . It included Zucchini
( courgettes,) carrots, peas and onions. No fat . Then I had nectarines.
A no fat dinner with lots of fruit and veg.
My other daughter in law has also done this style of eating and lost 16 lbs. It isn't a diet . It's healthy eating.
GuestAug 22, 2017
VeronicaAug 22, 2017
Thank you so much. I have lost 7 pounds since that charity walk photo was taken and gained two pounds, so I am 5 lbs slimmer than there.
Make sure your plate is HALF full of vegetables and salad or fruit at every meal . I even have fruit and salad at breakfast, My daughter in law has lost nearly 84 pounds eating like this. I have lost about 30lbs .
GuestAug 22, 2017
VeronicaJul 13, 2017
Beans would generally be eaten as a light meal here in Uk. I don't know how often they are eaten in a morning but it is a good way to start the day.
I wouldn't only have water on a diet as we get calcium from milk in tea and coffee and vitamins in juice.
I haven't reached a target weight so I do not know he holding diet I am afraid .
DerdriuMarrinerJul 13, 2017
VeronicaMar 25, 2017
This week the box had purple sprouting broccoli in it which we had tonight with a cottage pie. I just cooked it for about 4 minutes in a bit of water.
The box contained purple sprouting broccoli, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, cauliflower , onions, celery. We have a week to eat it all before another box comes. It costs me £9.00 a week. (approx. 11 US dollars )
frankbeswickMar 18, 2017
VeronicaMar 18, 2017
I have now lost about 32 lbs .
frankbeswickMar 18, 2017
VeronicaMar 18, 2017
Yes Turnips are a speed food. I love them mashed with carrots as our mother Frank and mine, cooked them. I add them to stews and soups. Celery and also celeriac are favourites with me. Celeriac soup is a joy. I shall add turnips to the list thank you so much .
When Mira asked me to share my eating plan, I never envisaged the amount of traffic this page would generate and also the private messages and comments. It is humbling to think of how it has helped others.
katiem2Mar 18, 2017
I am both proud of you and happy for you, you should be proud of your efforts and this page, you are helping so many.
Oh and celery I love it, am addicted to it and keep a container of it clean at all times...
VeronicaJan 15, 2017
Keep going MBC, You can do it. Just cut out your fat intake and eat half a plate of veg and fruit at each meal.
Please let us know how you get on.
MBCJan 15, 2017
VeronicaDec 8, 2016
well I have now lost 32 lbs eating this way. No calorie counting just half a plate of speed foods at every meal. After 12 months it is normal for me to eat like this now. I miss bread and cheese but I do have some occasionally now I have lost weight.
GuestDec 8, 2016
frankbeswickAug 19, 2016
VeronicaAug 19, 2016
VeronicaAug 19, 2016
Baker's dozen used to be used for 13. It was make weight used by bakers to make an amount up to one pound weight.
blackspanielgalleryAug 19, 2016
I now do know, but only because of your article, a stone is fourteen pounds.
As for old words, I cannot get used to changing thy, thee and thou in prayers like the Hail Mary and the Our Father to your and you. People are insistent on modernizing them. At least here that is the case.
VeronicaAug 19, 2016
frankbeswickAug 19, 2016
VeronicaAug 19, 2016
I love language and I think that American usage is on occasion far more traditional than ours.
blackspanielgalleryAug 19, 2016
VeronicaAug 19, 2016
The problem with most peanut butters is that approx. 3 ozs contains more than 50% FAT ,at 50.39%. and 588 calories if you follow calories. Therefore, just about 3 ozs peanut butter contains nearly half a day's calories and nearly 20gr of carbs. ( fatsecret.co.uk )
The calorie breakdown is 72% fat, 12% carbs, 16% prot. ( fatsecret.co.uk )
I am not a nutritionist but I wouldn't eat it to lose weight even though it contains some goodness. I eat foods less than 5% fat not 72% fat.
VeronicaAug 19, 2016
Yes indeed plums are speed foods. There are other foods and the list is not exhaustive. I shall add plums though. Your comment about the Coins sounds like a typical dad/ husband comment to me . :)
Regarding your wife's wish to lose 20lbs;-
I have now lost 32 lbs in 9 months eating similarly to above. I hadn't planned to lose much more but it's very slowly coming off. The type of eating though is second nature to me now. I cut the fat off the meat, don't butter the bread. I eat speed foods, cut back on fat and sugar.
You are right to snack on plums rather than fried potato snacks.
I wish your family well and if you are serious about losing a few lbs the above ideas should do it. Beswicks LOVE their food and even I have managed it. My daughter in law has lost 5 stone using the above method through a slimming club. .
blackspanielgalleryAug 19, 2016
And other foods have value. My wife claims peanut butter inhibits some cancer, so he eat much of it. We have places that ground the peanuts, so nothing else is added.
My wife wants us all to lose 20 pounds this year, so I suggested we get 10 Britannia 2 pound coins and toss them in a stream. I was over-ruled.
VeronicaJul 6, 2016
Ty for your kind comments. It was you who prompted me to write down what I was doing regarding food. TY.
MiraJul 6, 2016
VeronicaJul 5, 2016
VeronicaJun 7, 2016
I feel strange ; coming to the end of this seven month eating plan, What will I continue? what will I no longer eat.? Should be interesting.
I shall continue to weigh myself daily. I had stopped doing that.
frankbeswickJun 7, 2016
VeronicaJun 7, 2016
The last couple of pounds have been very very difficult to lose indeed. I think that wine, bread and cheese have been the baddies for me. Cutting down on these and eating 50% speed foods has worked for me.
MiraJun 7, 2016
VeronicaJun 6, 2016
If I lose any more then that's OK. I have found that my food choices have changed though. I used to love bread and would eat bread with most meals. I haven't had bread for the last few days. My choices have changed after 7 months eating this way.
MiraApr 25, 2016
frankbeswickApr 24, 2016
VeronicaApr 24, 2016
It is shining now for you as I write, hundreds of miles away in England. Just be your lovely self Mira; no need to "try". Take care.
MiraApr 24, 2016
VeronicaApr 23, 2016
I gained lots of weight a few years ago when my stress levels went sky high. They are still sky high but I came to see that the increased weight added to my stress and thereby the "comfort foods" weren't actually "comfort foods". I thought that cakes, biscuits, pies, bread, fat were comforting but they so aren't. The "comfort foods" actually add to the stress levels. Fruit is now my comfort food.
My stress levels are exceptionally high. I have a husband with an incurable disease and he has recently had two cataracts done. I have a very sick pregnant daughter in law and help out with my grandchild. I run two businesses. I crave lovely flour products.
You are right ; it is very difficult. I am sending lots of positives over to you from me and I hope you feel more positive soon.
MiraApr 23, 2016
VeronicaApr 23, 2016
But I am happy with my new trimmer self and I do hope I can maintain it. The changes in me are quite noticeable as you can see between last June and this month April.
MiraApr 23, 2016
VeronicaApr 22, 2016
I am told it is something like 4 days on this regimen and 3 days off a week. This won't be much trouble as I have become accustomed to this food after 5 months. I now view my former foods as a treat rather than an everyday option.
MiraApr 22, 2016
VeronicaApr 22, 2016
27 lbs down eating all this food for 5 months. I was a bit disappointed not to reach the two stone but 27lbs is very close.
NOWWWWWWW ..... I have to maintain the loss. That may well be another story. I hope you like the outfit. I felt like a film star.
VeronicaMar 31, 2016
VeronicaMar 31, 2016
The foods are generally normal everyday foods. I always have half a plate of fruit and veg with EVERY meal now, no or little alcohol which is just empty calories and one slice of bread a day. I eat potatoes without fat, pasta, rice and bulgar wheat. but always with half a plate of fruit and veg.
I don't know how it works for me and it may not work for everyone . Maybe it is because 50% of what I eat is fruit and veg.
BrendaReevesMar 31, 2016
greentreeMar 25, 2016
https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=bohinj&oq=bohinj&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1312759.1314429.0.1315693.6.6.0.0.0.0.201.770.0j4j1.5.0....0...1.1.64.img..1.5.769.fKVOd7nBX3w
VeronicaMar 25, 2016
greentreeMar 25, 2016
Just saying. If you had a good experience, you can write about it from your personal view - it would be more interesting reading than some promotional material from some tourist brochure.
Bohinj, Bled, Postojna, Slovenian Alps, Piran...are classical tourist places, but this is already known.
VeronicaMar 25, 2016
It would be a good writing niche for your good self though. I don't suppose there is much about Slovenia on here .... yet ...
greentreeMar 25, 2016
VeronicaMar 25, 2016
My husband said that Slovenia is the most beautiful country we have ever visited and Bohinj is the absolute gem of Europe in our opinion.
Community , please google image Lake Bohinj .
VeronicaMar 25, 2016
greentreeMar 25, 2016
frankbeswickMar 24, 2016
VeronicaMar 24, 2016
greentreeMar 24, 2016
VeronicaMar 24, 2016
VeronicaMar 24, 2016
VeronicaMar 24, 2016
Absolutely. Yes you are quite right about the fruit. This isn't a calorie controlled tho. I have counted nothing, not one calorie at all and have lost 24 lbs so far. 4 lbs to go without counting one calorie in four months.
It may not work for everyone but has worked for me.
greentreeMar 24, 2016
MiraMar 24, 2016
frankbeswickMar 24, 2016
VeronicaMar 24, 2016
is it on pinterest ?
MiraMar 24, 2016
VeronicaMar 23, 2016
I have now lost 24 lbs and my BP had come down at my check-up this morning. My oesophagitis is much better. My plantar fasciitis in my heel has gone.
I emphasise that I am not dieting. I am eating half a plate of fruit and veg at every meal. It has been slow this last few pounds though. I went to aqua aerobics this morning and I feel much healthier.
katiem2Mar 23, 2016
VeronicaMar 8, 2016
VeronicaMar 2, 2016
No contest .
VeronicaMar 2, 2016
I have decided to increase my exercise and activity level. Day 2 of this and I am doing 7 miles a day on my exercise bike and this morning I went to Aqua- aerobics for a 45 workout in the water ! I am doing sit-ups each evening.
Watch this space. :)
VeronicaFeb 18, 2016
I am another pound off now ; 20 lbs in around 4 months. It is very slow and steady now after the initial loss, but any loss is a loss.
The point is that still eating in this manner , I am still losing weight.
I had a facial this week and the beauty therapist asked me if I had changed my diet as my skin is looking so much better. So it isn't just about losing pounds, this is having a positive impact on my skin too!
I must stress this is not a diet; it's a way of eating healthily which obviously suits me.
VeronicaFeb 13, 2016
I eat vegetables but nothing like the amount I have eaten this last 3 months. I am now 19lbs down eating this way. I didn't eat veg at EVERY meal like I do now or half way through the morning and afternoon.
MY husband expected me to dash out and buy new clothes. But I just want to fit into my old ones.
Today ;
I had a bacon lettuce and tomato Hovis sandwich , a plum and satsuma for breakfast.
a satsuma half way through morning
left overs fish pie and salad for lunch and plums
satsuma half way through the afternoon
Spaghetti bolognaise and salad for dinner , raspberries and plums
The loss has slowed down but I am still losing a slow steady loss.
My friend has lost 2 and a half stone eating this way.
My future daughter in law has lost over 4 stone
GuestFeb 13, 2016
VeronicaFeb 12, 2016
I eat mountains of food and have lost 19lb . EAT only one slice of bread a day, no booze, and then .....
.... at EACH MEAL, have something which speeds up the metabolism , e.g. carrot, cabbage, fruit,
... half way between meals eat a plum or satsuma or apple .
frankbeswickFeb 11, 2016
VeronicaFeb 11, 2016
It is slow progress now after the initial few weeks . only 9 lbs to go .
VeronicaFeb 4, 2016
But I am going to keep going for another week and see what happens.
Watch this space!
VeronicaFeb 2, 2016
frankbeswickFeb 2, 2016
VeronicaFeb 2, 2016
My husband is pencil thin and to look at him you would think he has no excess weight.
This morning when he weighed himself, he is now 1/2 stone down eating the same foods as I do, just by default really as he is eating what I cook.
I have just made a pan of celery, carrot and onion soup for our lunch later; all foods which will give our metabolism a boost.
VeronicaFeb 1, 2016
frankbeswickFeb 1, 2016
VeronicaFeb 1, 2016
I only eat one slice of bread a day for fibre. I don't have alcohol. I don't eat hard cheese.
I do eat speed foods at EVERY meal.
Today I had a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich for breakfast and a satsuma
I took a little pot of carrots out with me as I was working away today.
Lunch was chicken and veg
In the day I ate carrot sticks
When I got home I had a satsuma and carrot sticks
Dinner is a casserole with vegetables
I eat lots of food; I am never hungry and have lost weight eating in this manner.
frankbeswickFeb 1, 2016
I have set myself a goal of being 12 stone 13 pounds by December 31st 2016, which means that in addition to the 10 pounds that I lost to get down to 13 stone 13 pounds, I need to lose another stone. A stone is 14 pounds weight.
VeronicaJan 31, 2016
What a lovely thing to say. It was Mira's idea that I do this to be honest.
Thank you for the support and encouragement. It means a lot.
AngelaJohnsonJan 31, 2016
VeronicaJan 31, 2016
MiraJan 31, 2016
VeronicaJan 31, 2016
VeronicaJan 31, 2016
try it. QUARK
frankbeswickJan 31, 2016
VeronicaJan 31, 2016
If I eat out, I ask the waiter to bring me a side salad with no dressing or oil to accompany my meal. This boosts my intake of foods that boost my metabolism.
Bags of easy peel satsumas and bags of carrot sticks are perfect for when you feel peckish.
VeronicaJan 31, 2016
Thank you so much. Maybe it will help people who are struggling or feeling bad about themselves an their weight and health,
The weight comes off vey slowly but it comes off ! Slow weight loss is best.
VeronicaJan 31, 2016
Thank you so much for your comments and help. This is not a diet ;it is just the sort of food I have eaten over the last 11 weeks to lose 18 lbs.
This morning I went downstairs for a cup of tea and had a satsuma to kick start my metabolism first thing . Then breakfast was toast with quark and raspberries and blueberries.
Thanks or the encouragement.
candy47Jan 31, 2016
MiraJan 30, 2016