Tweaking the Carb, Protein, Fat ratios

When I do it, I use http://www.sparkpeople.com/ to track my food intake. I am vegetarian (verging on vegan) and very "anti-Atkins" in my approach to food. Loads of fruit and veg and whole foods. Only problem is with portion sizes! (and chocolate if I let it!) The Spark thingy is quite a good tool. Only problem was that with my style of eating I was always over with the carbs and under with the protein and fat. So it was really only of use for tracking calories. Then I read it properly(!) and realised I could tweak the ratios to that more akin to "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell recommendations. Now I've got a more accurate plan to work towards, helps me see if I am eating the way I feel is right for me. I'm ever so pleased.

Ooops! Where are the chocolate biscuits??

Thought I'd resurrect a long unused recipe. Spiced fruity bran buns. Easy-peasy recipe .

• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup tea (I use green tea, but any sort would do) if you prefer you can use milk instead. (Next time I might try soya milk so it'll still be dairy free.)
• 1 cup all-bran cereal
• half cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice

Put that lot in a bowl and stir then leave til squidgey. (15 minutes or so)

• Add 1 cup self raising wholemeal flour. Mix thoroughly. Spoon into greased muffin tins or silicone cake cases (easier as you don't have to grease them) Bake medium oven til cooked. (15 minutes or so)

Great, tasty and pretty healthy.

Unless of course you put them in the oven and forget about them - like I did yesterday. Came back into the kitchen after around 40 minutes and the place was filling up with spicey smoke. How I didn't smell it and how the smoke alarm didn't go off I don't know. But not only were the buns like canon balls - my dinky-brightly-coloured silicone cake cases were all discoloured. Though they kept their shape amazingly. Better luck next time... Where are the chocolate biscuits??

Edit Sunday 31st May 2008

Tried again using soya milk instead of green tea

(it needs to soak for a bit longer before you add the flour)

More importantly - kitchen timer at the ready!!

Here's the result:-

Yummy, even though I say so myself!

The forest trail again

Having had a successful ride in the forest earlier in the week, we decided to go again today. It was marvellous, this is the life!! Disturbed a deer grazing at the side of the path. It very obligingly stood just long enough for us to get a photo.

Hubby saw a fox running across our path. I didn't, as I'm not yet at the stage of looking too far ahead of me! And it was way too fast to photograph!

Don't know how far we went - probably only around 6 or 7 miles maybe - but still a fair distance for me! I do feel myself gaining confidence and (a little) ability each outing we have and am enjoying it so much more than I imagined I would.

Here's our bikes at the start of the trail.

Let's hope it's not raining tomorrow...

and again....

Wednesday off we went again. This time round the back lanes. It was very quiet, just one or two cars and they all slowed down for us. Marvellous. Tootled along quite the thing. The lanes are fairly hilly, but I managed not too badly.Couple of sections walking but that was all. Came back, puggled but pleased as punch, 8 miles or so later. Pulled up in the drive and promptly toppled sideways. Luckily plenty padding and gentle fall so no bruises or worse! Still smiling! Thursday planned to go out, but things went wayward and ran out of time, so Friday we headed off round the lanes again, same route. This time, however, the maniac drivers were out in force and that unsettled me. I have a problem slowing, stopping and getting off. Wee legs, higher saddle, need to practise. So the cars passing really give me the spooks and make me realise I need to get better quick. BUT I managed to cycle all the way, the hills didn't defeat me. So it was a pretty successful week. Next time out though I think we should go to the forest trail again!

Small achievement - big grin!

It was a very silly time to start cycling with the onset of winter weather, my feardie-cat nature & my complete lack of skills and fitness (any excuse really!). So apart from a few 3 or 4-mile rides round the back lanes (an achievement in itself - for me!) have done next to nothing over the winter. Then this week the weather changed dramatically and it was time to start… Tuesday past, we loaded the bikes on the trailer & set off for a forest trail just north of where we stay. Was super-brave & raised my saddle - as many on the marvellous bikeforum.net and my husband had suggested. What a difference, not as scary as I thought, until it’s time to stop, (but that’s another story - please tell me someone else was once as hopeless…?!) The track was wide (thankfully) & dry but loose & gravelly. That was OK, but the thing that got me was the hills (little inclines most people would probably sail up). It really sunk in that I should have worked more on my fitness & weight-loss over the winter. It was hard going at times – had to get off a time or two and walk (particularly when I’d made a mess of my gear changing, very much the beginner) but I felt less of an eejit than I thought! We managed about five miles, but this time last year that would have been beyond my wildest imaginings. More soon...