STOPTOBER 2015 | Just Add Ginger

STOPTOBER's a takin' over.

Take a look through most of my blog posts, and you'll see a common theme....food. I just can't get enough. There's nothing that brings me more joy than looking forward to a good night out and a meal. But now there is a problem. I have three months until my final wedding-dress fittings starts, and with Christmas in between, I need to lose some weight. As I've gotten older, the pounds have crept on, and over the past two years, I have put on a stone. 

Now, don't get worried, I know that I am a perfectly healthy weight, but because I have quite a voluptuous derrière (which is where all my weight seems to go.) I can't risk putting on loads of Christmas pounds, because, let's be honest, with a January birthday following, there's no way I'm going to lose it. My wedding dress was ordered in a size 14 to account for my bottom, and it only just comfortably goes over it now...

...So if I don't start being good, I'm in trouble! 

So here's where STOPTOBER comes in. Whereas some people use the month as an opportunity to give up smoking or alcohol, I'm going to use it for a goal much more personal to me. 

After this weekend I will be giving up the following for one month: 

   1) Alcohol 

         2) Takeaways 

            3) Fizzy Drinks 

                      4) (Too Many) Sweets

    5) Pudding

6) Bread

If after one month has passed, I have managed to steer clear of all of the above list, I will be donating £100 to a charity yet to be decided. If I don't succeed, STOPTOBER will be turning into STOPVEMBER and the process will start all over again. 

Over the course of October, blog posts will be gong up to track my weekly progress and almost become my official STOPTOBER diary. I really think this will help me stay on track. 

Wish me luck everybody...I think I'm going to need it! 

The Healthy Ginger: Keeping a Food Diary

If you read my 2014 New Year Resolutions post, then you will know that this year I am making a conscious effort to be a healthier person. This means cutting back on the naughty treats, eating a more well-balanced diet, and upping the exercise regime. 

Boyfriend - being as supportive as always - said he would help me in this goal. So, for the first step on this epic journey, he set me the task of keeping a food diary. 

As a record to show what I am eating on a weekly basis, and where I need to improve/change.

Often, during the day, I will subconsciously reach for the snacks. And when there is a LOT of chocolate in the house, this is a very bad thing. Before I went back to work I could attack the stash at regular intervals. But since keeping my food diary, I find myself making a conscious effort to choose the healthier options. There's something about keeping a running record of what I have eaten that makes me want to prove to myself that I can be healthier. 

Looking back at what I have eaten so far is empowering. I have in no way deprived myself of anything. I'm still having my daily chocolatey treats, but I'm doing it now in moderation. And because I'm going to be sharing my weekly diary with Boyfriend, it's giving me a sense of achievement. 




I won't do this every week, but I just wanted to share my first week of Food Diary with you lovely lot. 



13/01/14 - Monday




.Caramel Latte 

.500ml water

.Bowl of nut & seed muesli w. semi-skimmed milk & linseeds

.Coffee w. coffee mate

. 3 Quality Street 

.Peach Yogurt

.3/4 banana

.200ml Chocomel 

.500ml water 

.Chicken breast, chopped tomatoes & pepper w. rice

.1 piece of chocolate cake 




14/01/14 - Tuesday 




.Coffee w. Coffee Mate

.Bowl of nut & seed muesli w. Linseeds & semi-skimmed milk 

.Caramel latte 

.4 Chocolates 

.1 pint water 

.1 banana / 5 table spoons mango & vanilla yogurt 

.Coffee w. Coffee Mate 

.1 pint water

.Mug of Milk 

.2 pints water 

.Minced Meat, Pepper, Onion, Ham, Chopped Tomatoes, Grated Cheese & Pasta

.4 Chocolates

.1 pint water 




15/01/14 - Wednesday 




.Caramel latte 

.Bowl of nut & seed muesli w. Linseeds & semi-skimmed milk 

.Caramel latte 

.4 Chocolates

.Banana & Honey sandwich on white bread 

.5 tbsps mango & vanilla yogurt 

.1 pint water

.1 pint water 

.Coffee w. Coffee Mate

.200ml Chocomel 

.Earl Grey Green Tea 

.Cumberland sausages, potato wedges, peppers, onions, passata, Tabasco, mushrooms 

.1 pint water 

.3 chocolates




16/01/14 - Thursday 




.Caramel latte 

.Bowl of nut & seed muesli w. Linseeds & semi-skimmed milk 

.Caramel latte 

.4 Chocolates

.1 pint water 

.4 tbsps Mango & Vanilla yogurt & 2 tbsps of Mango, Papaya. & Passionfruit yogurt + 2 bananas 

.1 pint water 

. Coffee w. Coffee Mate 

.Hot dog wrapped in bacon with BBQ sauce and cheese w. Chips (Half bun)

.Glass of water 




17/01/14 - Friday 




.Caramel Latte 

.1 piece of toast with lfs. 

.100g mini eggs 

.Bowl of nut & seed muesli w. Linseeds & semi-skimmed milk 

.1 pint of water

.Caramel latte 

.Coffee w. Coffee Mate 

.Breaded chicken, half burger bun, mayonnaise, salad & small chips 

.Mocha 

.Water




18/01/14 - Saturday 




.Caramel latte

.4 chocolates 

.Coffee w. Coffee Mate 

.1 pint of water 

.Banana 

.1 Poppadum, rice, keema naan bread, chicken tikka pieces in mango, almond & cream sauce 

.1 pint of water




18/01/14 - Sunday 




.Coffee w. Coffee Mate

.Vanilla latte x 2 

.Pint of water 

.2 Poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, English muffin, 2 slices of ham, chives & 2 portions of black pudding 



If you are looking to be healthier in 2014, then I highly recommend going on a Food Diary journey too. Even if you are just wanting to change one thing in your lifestyle, like drinking more water, doing more exercise, or cutting down on ice cream....The sense of satisfaction and achievement that you'll gain when you get to the end of each week and see how well you have done will be amazing! 




If you are starting a Food Diary journey too, let me know in the comments.There will always be somebody here to support you in your 2014 Healthy Quest. 




Good Luck!








Psst....Keep an eye out for more Healthy Ginger posts. I'll be sharing meal tips, my new exercise regime, and other pieces of advice