"No Fasting No Feasting” Diet Plan

When I decided to get back to another regime of dieting, the Diet Plan I shared sometime back was very much sought out again. I have been doing this diet for the past couple of weeks though I know I have become more lazy without doing the morning walks.

One of the first thing I believe is that when you decide to do something, first thing you got to do is to declare to your family as it really helps that they remind you, even when you try to forget it..:) That's exactly what happens with me, since the time I am doing this, I don't have anybody asking me to dig in or indulge in rich food. I know being a foodie, it is really a hard part. Especially today when I had enjoyed a hearty Onam Sadya with office friends. It was a sort of farewell to a friend is leaving, so couldn't say no and of course, I love Kerala Food.

So excusing myself for today, I decided I should at least put this up to make sure I remember and also come up with healthy meal ideas for dieting.

Before that, few of the things that are important to remember while you are doing a plan. These are what I have already said in the Diet Plan, just wanted to write here for quick reference.

If walking is not possible, at least some warm up exercise is a must on daily basis. Brisk walking for 20 mins is a must.

Never skip your Breakfast.

The first phase during which you are planning to reduce measurable amount of weight, it's important that you eat a diet that's different from what you are used to eat. Like if you are rice eater, avoid rice completely and take up wheat, other whole grains.

Works out the same for Wheat eaters also. Of course in case you think you can eat the same amount of rice, then we will go wrong. Rice is always best to avoid and consume very minimal of it.

When you enter into your second phase where you want to maintain your weight, you can have a regular meal without much oil or very spicy.

Avoid or reduce salt intake, fried items.

Never binge on snacks and aerated drinks.

Have a light tiffin or fruit, lentil for evening snack.

Dinner can be Vegetable cream soups.

Since for women over 30, it is important to include calcium, it is always advisable to consume one glass of low fat milk with your diet.

Apart from the above, I also do the below plan:

1 tsp of Ajwain, Fenugreek seeds with lukewarm water.

Then coffee with biscuit.

At 8 - 8.30 boiled vegetables/ papaya

At 10.30 am Oats with Milk / Corn flakes / Veg. Soup with Brown Bread

Lunch:

3 Phulkas, sambar/Dal, boiled Vegetables,

Evening

Guava/ Apple

You are supposed to eat Rotis with Subzi at 7 pm (I am not able to do this right now)

Lentils/ Sundals along with Soup at 9 - 9.30 pm

If you read my Diet plan, few things might have changed. I have not gone back and updated. The above is what I am following now.

Apart from this I am also planning to cook the reformed versions of some of the interesting dishes.

All the dishes that I am going to prepare will also suit Diabetic diet.

Follow my previous Diet Plans

If you are interested in Diabetic Diet Recipes you can refer the recipes which are suitable for doing this diet also.

Disclaimer - This diet has worked for me, I am not a dietician, nutritionist or a medical professional nor am I trying to play one here. If you want to follow these, please consult with your doctor or a dietician. Follow this diet at your own risk.

How to make Ragi Malt at Home | Step By Step Recipe | Diabetes Diet Food

Ragi / Finger Millet has always been common at our home since we used to grow this in our lands. Well that was years ago, still it somehow remains so very clear, the memories of my granny bringing home those fresh Ragi, Bajra from our crops.

Most frequent dish was of course the Mudda we make with Ragi. Then it used to be Ganji that is made by mixing in Ragi with water, boiling it and then mixing it with curds.

Malt is a process wherein the grains are sprouted, then ground to be made as a drink. Well sprouting is not something that's strange at our home. That's what Athamma does with most ingredients that she thinks of. I was telling her that we should prepare some Diabetic Friendly recipes. Ragi Malt is part of the series that we planned. 

Follow the procedure to sprout

We made a soup, porridge and this Malt. Though I told others who are doing one theme a day for the BM#6, they can choose to do two dishes for Different ways to use an Ingredient. Even when I was saying that I was not liking the idea as I have come long way to realize I don't' like crowding a post with more than one recipe, unless until it really requires.

So will be posting the Soup recipe later and hope my BM friends won't bump me for doing this..:)

We have made this drink even healthier by adding Jaggary which is a good source of iron and completely avoided sugar.

Sprouted Finger Millet

Ragi Malt - Healthy Drink made with Sprouted Finger Millet

For sprouting
Sprouted Ragi / Finger Millet - 1 cup

To make the Ragi Malt

Ragi powder - 2 tsp
Milk - 1 cup
Jaggary, powdered - 1 tsp

Method to prepare

To sprout the Ragi

Soak ragi for a day, after about 8 - 9 hours, drain the grains and tie in a cloth. It will sprout over the night.

Shade dry and powder the Ragi fine.

To get more shelf life for the flour plus make it more aromatic, dry roast the powder over hot pan. Once it's cooled you can store the flour in an air tight container.

To make the malt.

Take required amount of Ragi flour, add little water and get a lump less mix. Heat it in a pan, add the jaggary and bring to boil. slowly add milk and boil for couple of mins.

Serve hot / warm depending on who's drinking this.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#6

Health Aspects for Vegetarian Diet

Planning a diet is very important. A diet is not just for loosing weight but it is also something that one has to follow when being a vegetarian. One has to pay attention and plan ahead on what really needs to be consumed if they need a balanced diet which includes all the required protein, minerals and vitamins.

I have been reading up a lot on how to plan an ideal Vegetarian diet. From various sources and research off internet, below are the notes I dotted down.

Below are few things that impress one right away. This will be a series of notes on various aspects. For starters, I will be talking only about these for now.

To get required Proteins, an Indian Vegetarian's diet is predominantly based on Dals (pulses). So in this case, it is again recommended to have a variety in the dals used so as to include all types of dals in one's diet. Individually, dals are supposed to have only 30% proteins content and some missing amino acids. So to compensate this one can add tofu as it is partially fermented and therefore has better digestibility. Besides Tofu is a complete protein.

Then comes the Calcium. Vegetarian and in particular women should follow a diet that has food rich in calcium. If you are Lactose intolerant then food such as soya, turnip, broccoli, ragi etc will be ideal, for rest they can consume milk, curd, cheese and paneer are sufficient

When I looked upon Iron, lot of information came up from which I took only what was applicable to my diet.

Do refer this article for more details on specific food that is rich in Iron.

The following are iron rich foods :Cereals & Grains: barley (Bajra), Rice flakes, rice bran , corn flakes, oats , ragi .
Pulses & Beans: Cow pea, Lobia (black-eye beans), Lentils, Soybean, peas.
Vegetables: Beetroot greens, Mint, Parsley, Turnip greens, all green leafy vegetables coriander leaves.
Vegetables like broccoli are rich in iron. These vegetables are high iron and also high in vitamin C
Spices: Turmeric
Fruits: Dried dates, Watermelon, Raisins,almonds , walnuts, watermelon, papaya, pomegranate.
In case of lemon , orange , amla , sweet lime Vitamin C increases absorption of their iron content.

So based on this information we need to plan for menu to include these requirement.

Do share your thoughts on how  and what you do to plan your healthy menu. I will be writing menu based on what I plan.

Disclaimer: All the notes and thoughts are what has been written and expressed in the articles off internet. I have only tried to paraphrase them in a easier lingo for myself to understand and follow better. 

Check out my Blogging Marathon buddies in action! Priya Suresh, Jay, Gayathri, Monika, PJ, Priya Vaasu, Azeema, Reva, Ayeesha, Veena, Usha & Soumya.

Pesarattu with Yellow Moong dal | Ideas for Healthy Diet Lunch | Diet Program Updates

I am back with my weekly updates on the Diet program. I know I haven't been very strict with the diet the whole of last week. Well I had lot of excuses. With Athamma not being in town and no help with the household work, I was stressed beyond words. I needed energy to just move about or so I said to myself! This forced me to eat the regular food that was cooked.

Anyway I tried compensating at least one meal. Tough times won't last long, so here I am in a much better situation, being able to manage things to an extent. In fact I have gone back to my diet regime. The major dish that helped me in this aspect was the Goduma Dosa, when rolling out or even cooking those rotis sounded tough, these quick doses came as a big help.

If plain goduma dosa bores you, then spice it up by mixing in Green chili paste, or add vegetables or even onions would really help. When you are on diet there is no need to eat boring stuffs right.

So here is the plan, when rolling out Phulkas sound like a herculean task, try these Dosas with Wheat flour

1. Plain Goduma Dosa
2. Spiced Goduma Dosa with either Red chili powder or Green Chili paste
3. Vegetable Goduma Dosa
4. Goduma Uthapam with Onions.

Similarly you can make Dosas or Adais with Channa Dal/ Bengal Gram dal. Spilt Yellow Moong Dal.

The famous Andhra Pesarattu is made with Whole Moong Dal. When we don't add the rice flour, the dosas/ pesarattus comes out soft. But as a replacement for nutrition, it is really good.

With the Vada Pappu I offered as prasadam on Sri Rama Navami, I didn't want to make the salad with the whole lot. Instead ground it to make dosas for the lunch.

Pesara pappu Dosa / Pesarattu / Split Yellow Moong Dal Dosa

Yellow Split Moong Dal - 1 cup
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 -3 tsp
Cumin Seeds - for garnish
Onions (opt)
Grated Ginger (opt)

Method to prepare:

Wash and soak yellow moong dal for 30 - 40 mins. Drain and grind to a smooth paste. Add salt.

Heat a tawa and grease with oil.  Pour one ladleful of batter and spread as you would a regular dosa.

Sprinkle the cumin seeds, Onions and ginger if you are using on the top. Sprinkle little oil. Cook on medium flame to ensure it gets cooked well.

Then flip to the other side and cook again.

With one cup, you would get about 4 medium sized dosas.

Serve with Chutney or Dal.

Well I clicked a photo with groundnut chutney. But since I should not eat, I again took it with the Gongura Dal that I took for Lunch. I wouldn't say these were the best of combos, but then it was one healthy lunch. You can serve this with Sambar or other regular Dals.

How is everybody's diet going on?

Diet Program ~ Weekly updates

I know I haven't updated for the entire week last. Except couple of times that I cheated, I tried following the regime.

Breakfast is mostly soup with bread slices
Lunch mostly phulkas with dal/sambar with vegetables.
Two times buttermilk and lemon juice when I can squeeze which was about two times in a week. This is bad I know.
Evening 1 fruit either Apple/ 1 big bowl of pomegranate
by 7.30 pm - legume salad
by 8.30 pm- bread slices

Twice in the last week I eat Banana for breakfast.
Twice I had paneer for protein.
Once I made Goduma Dosa and another time Sadda Roti which was very filling.
I even had a chapati for dinner last night.

Of course I cheated on the weekend as I was not able to manage otherwise.

Athamma made a new soup with Jowar, which was excellent and very filling. Will make it again and post it.

I guess overall I have managed to control my calorie count. Will have to increase my exercise factor.

Sorry I haven't been able to check on everybody who have got on this diet, do share how your diet program is going on?

Diet Program ~ Day 14

I feel bad for not having recorded my schedule, though I have been strictly following it. Except for the Sunday there has not been much of a deviation.

 

7. 30 am - Coffee with biscuits
8.30 am - 1 roti
11.30 am - Buttermilk
12.30 pm -  Carrot
1.15 pm - 2 pulkas, with Brinjal Dal, Green Fry

5.30 pm - 3 biscuits

9.00 pm - 3 Brown Bread Sandwich with Spinach spread.

This was very tasty, spinach boiled, then sauteed with masala till dry and topped on bread. Will post a detailed recipe on this with better picture.

Hope things are going fine with everybody who is following the diet!

Diet Program ~ Day 9 & Day 10

Diet Program ~ Day 9

 

7. 30 am - Coffee with biscuits
10.30 am - 2 bread slices with Veg Soup.
11.30 am - Buttermilk
12.30 pm -  1/2 cucumber + Carrot
1.15 pm - 2 pulkas, with Cluster Beans Curry

2.00 pm - 1 serving of Pomegranate

5.00 pm - 1 Paneer Roll + 1/2 serving of Popcorn

8.30 pm - 1 Chapati with Brinjal, potatoes curry (I didn't eat the potatoes, good that I don't like them anyway)

 

Didn't eat anything else as I felt I cheated with that 1/2 serving of popcorn. We went for a movie, and a movie is not a movie if not for a bag of popcorn.

 

Diet Program ~ Day 10

 

6. 30 am - Coffee with biscuits
10.15 am - 2 bread slices with Veg Soup.
12.00 pm - Buttermilk
12.45 pm - 1 Carrot
1.15 pm - 1 paneer roti, 2 pulkas, with Brinjal, potatoes curry, Brinjal sukhi subji

3.00 pm -  3 slices of Pineapple

5.30 pm - 1 small orange

10.00 pm - 1 serving of grapes

 

Paneer rotis are very simple, made the same way as stuffed paneer, but made without oil for self. This was the breakfast for kids.

Our Gravies are mostly done with max 1 - 2 tsp of oil, so it is within permissible quantity.

Pineapple - I love these, though I said no for this, since we got it, thought I might as well enjoy. Otherwise I make it a point not to buy fruits that I am not supposed to eat. That way it is easy not to get tempted!

 

Diet Program ~ Day 7 & Day 8!

With all the calories that went in during the day off, I might as well start all over again! What can I expect to follow when I had scheduled the Kachori making on this day? For all the will power one might profess, I am sure he/she can't ignore a tempting, pretty puffed up kachori can pose, right.

But I am really really happy that I ate just two. That I tell is you, takes lot of will power!..:)

And no yielding to temptations, I packed off most to parents home. I was elated that they loved it. Yes the pleasure knowing that I could please my parents with a Kachori, was more than what stuffing all that myself can do. With Konda saying she expects me to make this everyday, I saved whatever was left for her snacks.

The day was too hectic, and with the eating that happened, I skipped the dinner with what? Not sure.

Anyway I couldn't post on the day, so here's an account of what I followed on Monday

7. 30 am - Coffee with biscuits
9.30 am - 1 slice of bread
10.30 am - 3 slices of pineapple with 1 bowl of Pomagrante.
11.30 am - Buttermilk
12.30 pm -  1 carrot
12.45 pm - 2 pulkas, Sorrel leaves with Black Eyed peas dal, Bitter gourd in curds stir fry Buttermilk.
3.35 pm - 1/2 cucumber
5.30 pm  1 small orange
8.30 pm 1 parotta with Paneer Butter Masala.

I convinced myself that I need the protein!

No Lemon juice and soup today.

**********************************

My Tuesday Schedule was this

7. 30 am - Coffee with biscuits
10.30 am - 3 bread slices with Veg Soup.
11.30 am - Buttermilk
12.30 pm -  1 cucumber
2.15 pm - 3 pulkas, Paneer Butter Masala.
3.35 pm - 1 bowl Watermelon
5.00 pm  1 small serving of peanuts
5.45 pm 1 small orange
 8.45 pm 2 bread slices bread with subzi.



No deviation today and that feels good.
No Lemon juice and today.


Looking forward to a week of good behavior!

I am so glad that Jayasree joined this diet. Hope she can continue, would like to know how others kept at it!

Diet Program Day 6

Today went off in a breeze. We had to do the household chores and that kept me so occupied that I didn't realize the diet or what I was eating. I managed to follow the diet till evening. I skipped on the dinner by eating the Uggani that I made for dinner. well I consoled myself that since it is very rare this is made, it is fine..anyway more determination is needed.

Here's my schedule today.

7.00 - 7.10 -am - Warm up
8 am - Coffee with biscuits
10.00 am - 1 slice of bread
11.00 am - 1 bowl of Veg Soup with 2 Breads slices
12.00 pm Buttermilk
12.00 pm Lunch - 2 pulkas, Dal and 1 cup Pomegranate
3.30 pm - 4 Slices of Pineapple

8. 30 pm Uggani with bajji.:(

 

Hope things get better from next week. And since tomorrow being sunday you can cheat. But the way I ended up eating for dinner, I don't think I should feast!

 

 

 

Quick Macaroni in Tomato Sauce, Diet Program Day 5

Even  with all the planning that I do, it is quite funny that I face a day where everything goes wrong. Well I realize there is a limit to what one can plan. Anyway that is part of life and I should gracefully accept and move on. Today being Shivaratri, I was busy making the Gugulu or the mixed lentil Salad that is offered as prasadam. This kept me so busy that I failed to get the boy's lunch box ready on time. Rasam takes about 5 mins, but even that cost me so much in terms of tension.

Anyway that again goes to show do things first that are required first. Konda wanted those Chocolate Pancake for breakfast and I made this quick Tomato Macaroni that she likes for lunch.

There is no recipe at all. You just add as you make it. Boil Macaroni in lots of water along with 2 drops of oil. When the Macaronis are done, drain them in a colander. Heat a pan with 1/2 tsp oil. Toss the boiled Macaroni to it and swirl so that oil is well coated. Add Tomato Sauce as required, which is normally about 2 tsp, Salt and pepper for taste.

Cook on high so that this gets coated well and done. You can add grated cheese, onions and so many based on what your kid eats.

Coming to my diet, I am almost settled with the food that I eat, don't feel hungry at all anytime except of course early mornings.

Work at office was too hectic and that prevented me from eating on time. Everything got postponed to the next slot. still it didn't matter much.

Here's my schedule today.

7.00 - 7.10 -am - Warm up
8 am - Coffee with biscuits
10.00 am - 1 slice of bread
11.15 am - 1 bowl of Veg Soup with 2 Breads slices
12.30 pm Buttermilk
2.00 pm Lunch - 2 pulkas, Dal with Greens, Radish with split yellow moong dal
4.30 pm - Mixed lentil salad

8 pm 1 toasted bread, 1 dosa..:(

10 pm Water melon

Today being Shivaratri, it is traditional at home to make Ulavala Charu with Dosa. Though I didn't make Amma made and sent it to me. I just couldn't say no..

I haven't started walking still, hopefully I should be starting it soon.

I have started feeling very normal, which is very good. Now if only I start on that walking..

Diet Program ~ Day 4

Day went off so fast, though I did lot of work in terms of being productive. Missed having my lemon juice today and included par boiled Cabbage for lunch.

Cabbage is supposed to be very good while on diet, though this is not advised for people with hypothyroid. It suited me very well and I used to have this par boiled every day and it was also part of the soup.

The way I do it is very simple, add little water, steam cook it in sim for 5 - 7 mins. The cabbage has to be crunchy.

Here's my 4thd day schedule.

6.30 am - 1 tsp Ajwain and Warm up
7 am - Coffee with no biscuits ..:)
9.30 am - 1 slice of bread
10.30 am - 1 bowl of Veg Soup with 2 Breads slices
11.30 am Buttermilk
12.30 pm 1 carrot
1.15 pm - 2 pulkas, Radish Sambar, Lady's Finger Stir Fry, Cabbage Salad, Buttermilk.
8.15 pm - Brown Chickpea salad

See that long gap, I was sipping lot of water in between, was not feeling hungry at all!
Hope your day went well!

Diet Program ~ Day 3

Insomnia or whatever I haven't been able to sleep properly the last few days. This coupled with a back catch, did worse to myself and the morning. This results in the mornings being very fizzy. Managed to send something for Konda as she was fine with Dosas. Boys were good enough to get bathed on time. This actually gave me some time to get their lunch boxes ready on time. Since I decided to be on bread today, didn't make those pulkas.

I think that climbing up and down was the root cause, I was determined to climb again today. Surprisingly I forgot about the catch some way through the mid morning, when I again did some stretching. Yes, it was purely the case of not using all the body parts.

As it happened yesterday, I forgot to click my box! But I am sure you can visualize what's listed!. I must say day 3 was a breeze. Body has adjusted to no Rice inclusion. I think mind has a greater part to play. Though there has been many a times in the past, when I have gone without rice, when you say "NO", your mind starts craving for it. Plus the fact there are so many other no's. Well I have successfully turned away my nose to a Sabudhana Batata Vada! How is that!

Here's my 3rd day schedule.

6.30 am - 1 tsp Ajwain and Warm up
7 am - Coffee with no biscuits ..:((
9.30 am - 1 slice of bread
10.15 am - 1 bowl of Veg Soup with 2 Breads slices
11.30 am Buttermilk
12.30 pm 1 cucumber, 1 carrot with pepper and salt - Yum!
1.15 pm - 3 slices of bread with Amarnath Stir Fry, Pithikina pappu kura., buttermilk
4.30 pm - 5-30 Slipping 2 glasses of Lemon juice
5.45 pm - small Orange
8.15 pm - Boiled Moong Dal salad

On the whole I have felt better today. Planning on starting walking from tomorrow.

How was your day? Would be fun to exchange notes.

Diet Program ~ Day 2

What seem to have been a tiring day, I finally hit the bed at 12 am, coming back to edit few details again. Which resulted me in getting up only by 6.30 am. After that it was a mad rush to get the cooking done. This week has been kind of low on Konda's menu plan. Monday went off and today also seem to have gone in a spade. I know I need to plan from tomorrow. When I woke her up asking what she wants. She so sweetly said you plan, I don't know. The day had the promises of a beautiful one in making.

We hurriedly went through the process. I was actually happy with the way I finished the dishes. Comparing to yesterday I have been more cheerful from internal. Didn't feel tired. Maybe the feeling yesterday was more to the fact that I actually started on a strict one.

Some thoughts to share before going into what my schedule was.

I have been asked how I managed this kind of a diet for so long. Actually there were days when I never touched Rotis too. Maybe when you do it for a while you get so used to it that you forget that. Remember I was on this diet since Oct 2008 for over 4 months and then have managed to be on some sorts since then. And I have cooked and posted many dishes since then, which I never tasted on most occasions.

Sounds incredible? But very true, the thoughts that helped me pass through these, were those grueling pain that attacks me when I have to sit down to feed my kids. This was when they were still infants. Then as they grew up, their demands to sit next to them on ground. That was a hercules task. Until then I never knew it was such a task even.

Later after just few weeks into this regime,  that amazing feeling that encompassed me when I could finally sat  down and not feel anything.

Yes those were enough to me, not to touch any of those that were to be avoided.

Another thing I used to do was to, mingle with my colleagues, enjoy seeing what they ate and compliment on their fine taste. When they offer a bite, politely tell them that I am on a diet. That sure gets a wow wow, well that motivation was well enough to put you back on path. And, it also achieves the purpose of them not offering it again to you. So, you being you, won't feel like reaching out to those tempting Onion Pakoras, which are common accompaniment in our luncheon!

Do try these and let me know if they work for you..:)

My schedule today was:

6.30 am - Ajwain 1 tsp & warm up exercise
6.45 am - Coffee with biscuits
9.30 am - 1 Chikoo/ Sapota
10. 15 am - 1 bowl Veg Soup with 3 brown bread slices
11. 30 am - 1 glass butter milk
12. 45 pm - 1 Carrot
1. 10 pm - Lunch - 3 Pulkas, 1 cup Amarnath stir fry, 1 cup Gerkins stir fry, 1 cup Drumstick Sambar, 1 small cup Rasam.
2 pm Climbed the stairs two times (As per Lataji's note..:))
3 -4 pm Lemon Juice
5.30 pm - 1 small Orange
7. 30 pm -  Chickpea salad
10 pm - 2 slice of bread.

I know lunch was heavy. I should reduce the pulkas to 2. I normally share with colleagues.But I ended up eating alone. I wanted to start on swimming but will be going from tomorrow.

I drank almost more than  2 liters of water, hoping to increase it. Feel stupid visiting the restroom so often!

Tomorrow I will be reducing the pulkas further down and increase salads. I didn't eat any fresh salad these past two days. You may be wondering why I am eating Chikkos and Orange. Well father in law has come down and with him brought along a huge pile of these. Those chikkos which are called the Pala sapota are my favorite ones. And even for a diet I won't miss them!..:) After all it is a fruit so will plan to walk it off soon.

How about those of you who showed interest to join me. Where is the update, are you going to update your blog or do it different. Would really love to check on the status and see how each of us are progressing!

The Diet Plan!

I am really glad that my Diet program was welcomed so wholehearted. That really encourages me so much. As I said before, this is purely a diet based on Indian food, especially South Indian. Not to say it won't work for the rest who follow other Indian Cuisine. I say this assuming Rice is the staple food of your diet.

As much as I don't prefer to eat rice, that's the most convenient thing to make in the mornings. So planning to make phulkas in the rush hour really takes lot of planning.

So first I will list out what I did in my first stint. Then will update how my day was. What has to be understood is, you got to first five a shock or break the practice your body has got used too. So stop or change what you have been regularly eating.

First and foremost important thing to remember is to drink lot of liquid. You can include 3 glasses of Buttermilk, 2 glasses of Lemon juice, 1 glass of Tender coconut milk plus about 4 glasses of water. Yes you will be paying lot of visits to restroom, but believe me that helps. Else you will end up having headaches.

List below are the different options one can have. It doesn't mean you have to eat everything on the specified time.

Early morning, (6 - 6.30 am) 1 Tsp of Ajwain/ Omam & Methi Seeds. This is to aid constipation and help slow absorption.

7 am - Warm water / Coffee with Sugar Free

9 am Breakfast - Multi grain / whole wheat 2-3 slices with mint or tomato chutney with cucumber. 

Or Papaya 1 bowl/ Oats with buttermilk with sprouts small cup 

Or 1 Moong Dal dosa or Pesarattu.(this is made without rice, it comes out soft but tastes great) with some chutney not coconut of course. Plus fresh Tomato Juice

After a period I started having Bread with Veg soups in the morning also. It worked perfectly fine.

11 am Tender coconut/ Butter milk or Pomegranate (if eating that)

1 pm Lunch :

Vegetable Salad

Cooked vegetable

Green Leafy Vegetable

Dal

Rasam

Toasted Papad

Chapati/ Phulka -2

4 pm - Lemon juice (You can have tea if you drink it)

5. 30 - 6 pm: Any of the below can be taken

1 cup of boiled sundals or Apple or Guava or Paneer tikkas (not the usual ones..:))

7 pm  - 1 bowl of Soup

8 pm - Two slices of brown bread / Veg salads/ 1 Pessarattu / Chapati with Salad and Fruit

Fruits : Guava is the only fruit that can be had every day. Apple or Pomegranate can be had twice in a week.

Milk: I normally use a low fat milk. It is 3 or 4% fat and moreover I double boil the milk. Remove the whey both from milk and curds/ Yogurt.

My work scheduled never allowed me to have this. So I used to drink my soup along with Bread and some fresh salad between 8 - 8.30 pm

The above list was what I wrote down for myself. It varied on day to day basis. Most important aspect being I understood what my daily calorie requirement was. I ensured I wasn't getting fatigued. If you are not sure how to calculate it, just follow a low fat, no sugar avoiding rice. That should mostly work out.

Most important. 40 - 1 hr of physical exercise everyday. Atleast 30 mins is a must.

Now we come to the most exciting part. Since you diet on 6 days, on Sunday you can cheat. Meaning you can eat rice. But you may again avoid heavy breakfast.

Over the months I have made modification to this diet. But since the first few months I was following this to the T, I have listed it exactly.

My next task will be to link the recipes that I follow.

My schedule today was this

6.15 am - 6.30 Warm ups (Was trying hard to bend..:))

6.30 am Coffee with milk bikes

10 am 3 slices of brown bread

11 am Buttermilk with a pinch of salt

2.30 pm 3 phulkas with Gongura pappu, Cluster beans with Channa dal. Butter milk

4.30 pm 1/2 cup papaya and banana

5.45 pm 1 small orange

8 pm Moong dal salad

I know my diet today wasn't what I have listed above. But I am not yet fully ready for the diet. Meaning to make it more strict.

I have written whatever I have been following. I might be changing what I think needs based on the requirement.

For starters, I am going to follow this very strictly for 2 weeks. I have about 10 people who have said they wanted to join me. If you like you can update your daily journal on your blog. Or change the pattern. There is no strict rule for this.

Will try to put the pal in a table tomorrow, it is really very late today.
All the best to everybody!

Diet Plans and Weight Loss Program for healthy Life!

What started a year and few months before, starts again for me. Interim I have been little relaxed and more flexible to my self and well being. Now it's time for another beginning.

I know I wrote lot of my resolutions yet this was not mentioned. Those were work related yet personal too.
I have made lot of progress towards what I wanted to do. Like recording what comes to mind or some events that seem important end of the day. Beginning this year, I made my mind to experience every day in the most possible way I can. These 37 days have been good in ways I may not have even done my last year. I have made lot of progress in many areas.

Though one main aspect that I wanted to talk about was the goal of getting healthier and loosing more weight. If you must know, obese and I are twin sisters. There I said it. For many years I have been touchy on the word. Most common I know. I am the most affable and approachable person you can meet, if I may say so myself. Yet though I won't show it, I do get affected when somebody teases me on that. During teens there were many reasons for wishing to be obese, those reasons best not said. Yet it became the bane of my life.

Later I wasn't even bothered about them.

Fact is, in the end, I suffered. Though I was obese, I was the healthiest and very flexible person because of my physical activities. Being a Badminton player helped me being fit as a fiddle. 

After marriage, child, everything stopped and after my twins the problem had become worse. Until one fine day I was told I shouldn't sit down due to my severe knee pain. I managed, just about somehow. Finally after a year, I decided I had enough and got on a diet and a program that was meant to take care of the excess weight. And become more healthy. The first week felt I was in heaven! The feeling continued for many months.

I lost about 33 lb/ 15 kgs in the first 4 months. then slowly got down further 2 -3 kgs in the next 2 months. I reached a plateau at two different stages, which I managed well. At this stage Athamma had an accident which prevent me from following my diet and everything went for a toss. This was in April 2009, after which I have maintained my weight and health to great extent.

Because I have never express well, how really elated I was when I finally fit into my first jeans during last Diwali. That motivated me like nothing else. But in recent days, I have been laxer and the weight seem to have gone up. Plus no exercise of any sort. Since the new year beginning I have been thinking I should start on my diet regime, I have been postponing. yesterday when hubby dear mentioned that it looks like I have gained weight when I wore my jeans, I knew I had to start this right away. 

You may wonder what will happen to my ICC or Cooking 4 all Seasons! No worries, I will be posting regular recipes there as I cook for the rest of the family. This blog and plan is only for me and me alone.

The diet I followed was a Diabetic Diet, charted with consultation with my father, who is a doctor and a dietician. Finally the diet I arrived and followed was mostly what I have formed of my own with their advise.

This past one year I have shared my diet with friends and helped them some gain back their spice in life. When few blogger friends have been asking about motivation to start a diet plan, I decided publishing this. My plan was to declare what I eat and update with progress, along with recipes .

The diet works mostly for people following Indian food. Since I only cook Indian food, I know only about them them.

The diet that I am going to follow is more or less a Diabetic Diet, since that diet is the most healthiest diet one can follow to become fit. But again as I said few items may change. So please don't conclude this covers everything.

Somewhere during mid of last year I came across Kay's blog, where she tracked her plan. I felt I should have tracked mine too. Now I get another chance to do exactly that!.

I am going to list out the general things that have to be kept in mind, plus the foods that need to be avoided

1. First and foremost, never to fast or feast. Or stay hungry without food.
2. Spend atleast 15 to 20 minutes eating your food. This applies for drinking liquids also.
3. Drink atleast 2-3 liters of water. This helps flush out toxic and prevent headaches.
4. Exercise or walk for 30 - 40 mins everyday.
5. Never get emotionally tensed. Be occupied in some activity mentally and physically. This helps a lot in your weight loss and path to healthy life.
6. Forget about Sugar!
7. Use only about 2 tsp of oil for cooking per day.

Foods to avoid

1. Cereals like Rice, Corn, Maida/APF, Noodles etc.
2. No sweets or desserts
3. Chocolates and ice creams, yes I know its depressing but really no!
4. Bakery and pastries.
5. Aerated beverages and soft drinks, and Hard drinks too..:))
6. Fruits like Mango, Grapes, Jackfruit, chikko, Banana, etc. Though I have reserve against this list.
7. Root vegetables like potatoes, yam. colacassia. Rest of them can be had in limited amount.
8. Deep fried foods, yeah I shouldn't even say the name out!
9. No Dry fruits, this again will be revisited.
10. Fruit Juices.

Starting from tomorrow, I will hop on this. Will try update what my diet was during the day, along with the recipes that are already on my blogs. New recipes will have to wait. Will post them as and when I get the chance.

If you are interested to follow, you are most welcome. I can do with group support and cheering! Do drop in a word in the comment section.

Disclaimer - This diet has worked for me, but I am not a dietician, nutritionist or a medical professional nor am I trying to play one here. If you want to follow these, please consult with your doctor or a dietician. Follow this diet at your own risk.