New member....

[libbylondon]

Hiya all,
I'm new to the forum and was just wondering if I could get a bit of advice....
I've recently lost quite a bit of weight (about 43 kilos). However, I found myself really restricting what I was eating (to the point of obsession). So I started the Kiwi KISS plan about a month ago so that I could start eating normally again whilst still losing my last little bit of weight.
I'm loving the plan and really enjoying my food and have been losing weight at a much more sensible rate. However, I haven't been including my weekly indulgences up until this week (was really worried about regaining weight). This week I'm trying to include them but I just wondered if anyone could give me a bit more info about it.
Roughly how many calories should 1 weekly indulgence be? I know it's 3 tablespoons of ice cream, but just so I can get used to portion sizes, should it be about 200 calories? Sorry if this is really obsessive lol. Also can you swap the weekly indulgence for something that is roughly the same amount of calories? So say I swapped 200 calories in ice cream, to 200 calories in chocolate, would that be okay?
Thanks a lot in advance....
x

[lynda]

Welcome Libby.
Awesome weight loss!!!  Congratulations to you - its an amazing achievement.
Am not sure if you are following Carolyns plan through book or online and I am still considering my answer on this.
Off the top of my head I doubt whether a weekly indulgence would be "around 200 calories" as that is a very large portion of our normaly daily allowance.... but I would hve to look at it later when I get home.
I believe tht the daily and weekly indulgences are the "planned treats" that keep us from going crazy.  I am pretty sure there is a small allowance in the weeklys for some sort of chocolate, but please don't quote me on that right now!!
If chocolate is something that you can't have "just the allowed amount" then I would eat it "out" and buy only the amount you are allowed!!!  One piece of choc is rarely enough.  Enjoy it but move on very quickly!!!
I will have a look at my book tonight and think about all that I have learnt over the years from Carolyn (unfortunatley I don't always put it in practice!!)
BUT, keep up the fantastic work

[Kiwismum]

Hi there Libby, and welcome.

Good on you for realising that you needed help and turned to a monitored plan, I hope you are also seeking medical help. It is a long road to get over any mental barrier about food.

I can't help you with how many calories things are, because well I just don't know. I don't count calories but work in weights and measures to get portion sizes right.

There is and allowance for chocolate I think it is something like two small squares or something like that. If you are doing the online plan or going to classes, I am sure Caroline will be only too willing to correct us if we have it wrong.

[libbylondon]

Thank you both for your quick responses.
Lynda - I'm following the plan using the book. It's great but the problem is, there are only so many options listed in the book and as far as weekly indulgences go, the only thing I really eat is ice cream. That's why I was asking if you could swap anything round.
I thought 200 calories seemed a lot too but that's how much 3 tablespoons of the ice cream I have works out to be. So maybe I just buy stupidly fattening ice cream lol. But now I'm a bit confused to be honest. Do I follow the plan and forget the calories or try to calorie count???
Kiwismum - You're right, it's been really hard to try and find a good balance where food is concerned. I'm getting better but I still associate food with guilt quite a lot and it is hard to overcome.
I live in the UK, so I can't attend classes, plus I can't really afford to join the online plan at the moment, but I'm doing my best with just the books (and hopefully some help from the lovely people on this forum  )
Thanks again.
x

[Kiwismum]

Ok well how about letting us help you out then.

If you post your foods we can help you to get it right.

Which book are you using? Are you following the recipes?

Maybe you could afford just the recipes on the online plan and believe it our not if you just follow them you will be going a long way to getting it right.

Just remember we all want to help you so the more info we have the better we can help out.

[libbylondon]

Hiya again,
I'm using The New Kiwi Kiss Diet Book and Kiwi Kiss in the kitchen. I've also recently bought the online recipe package. I'm following a lot of the recipes and also fitting my own into the plan. I'm finding it really easy to do actually because there is so much choice and flexibility.
But the only problem I'm really having is fitting in the weekly indulgences. I haven't included them yet and I don't really know where to begin as I'm not sure of what would be considered a weekly treat. The only things in the book listed as weekly indulgences are ice-cream, cream and alcohol. I don't drink so it seems there is quite a limited choice really. That's why I wondered, if I could get a rough guide on how many calories 1 weekly indulgence should be so that I can make some different choices.
I was just trying to get an idea of what most people on the plan eat with regards to indulgences?

[Kiwismum]

Hi Libby,

I have never really worried about these things as I find if I am using the recipes it is all included in it, but I have now got our my books and will try to give you my understanding. So ice cream is quarter of a cup of either regular or frozen yogurt. Chocolate 3 small, jelly 1/2 cup, marshmallows 6, jelly beans 12. whipped cream 3 tablespoons.

There other weekly indulgence that cover alcohol and also avocado but you really asked about the sweet stuff.

Now you can only have 4 of these a week so plan carefully.

Let me give you an example, if you saved your daily fruit allocation for the day and made a fresh fruit salad with it, you could put in some marshmallows or add some jelly, or cream to make it more the way you might like it. But not every day.

It is these things that make the plan work for so many people, because you can have your ice cream and chocolate etc. just be sensible about it.

Keep us posted how you go.

[Yvonne]

Hi Libby,
as another fan of icecream thought I would tell you my secret indulgence (I am more at maintenance than the weight losing stage..but having said that still could lose a few more kilos)...I know low fat products arent recommended but I find the weight watchers chocolate icecream helps me through the snack attack time..just love the berry mudslide one we have here..I thought they may be lower in calories if you where considering them...
You are doing great, keep up the good work...

[lynda]

Hi Libby,
I think the ladies have covered it all in there.  I do use my daily and weekly allowances as tehy do help me stay on track more.  I just use Tip Top ice cream and the serving is quite small.  Also I do use the marshmallows and jelly beans as sometimes I just need them.  The thing with the weekly allowance is IT IS A TREAT and so the occasional treat is allowed.  Sometimes if you have something totally different you have to think "okay, that was (at least) one of my weekly treats - move on back to programme.

Anyway, I think you are do really well and we are here to help.  If you do as Kiwimum suggested and "write" a few days diary sheets for us (start a new topic thing) then we could help with suggestions - but its only if you want.  Carolyn has been really pushing us to make sure we use our full protein allowance as it stabilises our hunger (so she tells us).  So if you think you are doing better by cutting it back, perhaps make sure you do weigh and have the full amount.

Also she does talk about carb free nights - and I do have them but I don't always like having them!!!  But that is still our own choice.  If you follow the serving sizes, in all honesty, unless you misunderstand them, and are being honest with yourself, you should go down. 

Good luck and do keep us posted. 

[Jill]

Hello Lynda

What is a carb free night?  Can you use the carbs earlier in the day or just not at all?  How often do you do this?

Hi Libby
It is good to hear from you. I have a lot of weight to lose and was glad to hear from someone who is doing it too.  Congratulations. That is a fantastic achievment.

[Kiwismum]

Hi Jill,

A carb free night is a night when you do not have any starchy carbs in your meal. So after your four o'clock toast, no more carbs. It is discussed in the middle age spread diet so if you have that one it has all the info in there.

If you are not following the middle age spread plan, then don't worry about it.

[Jill]

Thanks Kiwismum

I don't have any of the KISS books. I haven't even seen any.  I discovered this through the internet.  A website that evaluated diets.  KISS came up well except for alot of home cooking(having to have the time to cook), which is what helped to sell it to me.

Is there any particular reasoning behind it?

[Kiwismum]

Hi Jill,

You can order the books via the web site, and they are full of recipes and information which is really handy.

It is the Keep It Simple and Succeed, and that is exactly what it does.

Some of the advantages of cooking everything at home, and there are many, you know exactly what is in your food and have full control, so if you don't like a particular herb or spice, you can adjust accordingly to suit your own personal taste. Also because there are no prepackaged foods, you are not left wondering what to replace and item with because you can't get that product.

Also for those of us who live in NZ, it is great to have a tried and tested for the way we eat anyway, always an advantage.

I find the books an advantage now that I am not on the online plan. When I was on the plan I would just search on an ingredient in the recipe file, and choose a recipe to make. I might even go back on the recipe only plan for a while just so I can do that.

I also like that to program isn't based around salads, since I started in the middle of winter last year, salads were the last thing I was wanting. In fact the big advantage for me is to give me clear guidelines as to portion size.

Now I want to say here that I am not an expert, I have never been to a class, or even met Caroline in person. I am just someone who has used the plan with success. Going on the online plan was great, because Caroline was there to guide me every step of the way, and I learnt how to make the plan work well.

[lynda]

WELL SAID KM.
YES THE PROGRAMME IS GREAT.
IT WORKS.
ITS EASY AND IT GIVES US GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW FOREVER.  MY MEALS ARE  ALWAYS FOCUSSED AROUND THE PROGRAMME ITS JUST "OTHER STUFF" THAT GETS IN THE WAY.
THE FAMILY AND I ALL EAT THE RECIPES WILLINGLY AND I ALWAYS USE THEM WHEN WE HAVE VISITORS AND THEYLOVE THE FOOD.  LETS FACE IT, PORTIONS ARE A HUGE PART OF IT.  THE RECIPES ARE THE BONUS AND THE KEY TO SUCCESS.

[Kiwismum]

Ok Lynda I now know you feel really strongly about this since you shouted it out

Actually today is hubbys last day at home and I jumped on the scales this morning, and now I wish I hadn't.

Anyway I will be back doing the program full time now, So I need to hang that sign around my neck for him