1940s experiment

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OMG I love you ALL!!!

OMG I love you all!!!! Your comments are exactly what I needed and promise to answer all this weekend on my days off!

I didn’t visit my blog for a week… I have been thinking so many things through. Painstakingly analyzing minute details of my psyche. Mentally preparing myself to surge forward and grasp this sucker by the throat (jeez I never knew I could be that violent!) and finish the job. There is no doubt in my mind that more than anything else I want to rid myself of 100 lb on top of what I have already lost. According to my scales this morning I am down 55 lb from my heaviest ever weight and despite, at times, not eating 100% wartime rations, am still down 25 lbs from when I originally started the 1940s experiment.

I’ve been looking at my shape in the mirror. There is not a lot I like about the body I wear. Not so much that I am saggy and should you see me in silhouette after I’d placed an antennae on my head, I would indeed resemble a teletubbie (except not so young and cute) but simply that the fat suit I wear stops me from being the person I am inside sometimes. I am playful (despite my 45 years)… I love hugging and giggling and am affectionate towards fellow human beings (if they don’t put barriers up). But sometimes I hold back, afraid that folk will think me strange, I guess it is all to do with lack of confidence now that I wear a different sized body.

Today I have taken another step. I brought my sneakers to work with me and grabbed an exercise t-shirt and after work I go to the indoor walking track to start an exercise routine. It will be difficult at first, my weight causes a painful crushing sensation on my spine when I walk for extended periods of time but I’ll push through it bit by bit until it gets easier as my weight continues to drop. I am committing to go 3 times a week. My goal today will be to complete a minimum of two laps without stopping….

In the 1940s people were far more active than we are as a society today so to be successful in my experiment I have to keep busy. I may not be digging for victory in the fields like a Land Army girl but I’ll certainly be heading towards victory in my own way…

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Nostalgia

I first started trying to reduce my weight by following a 1940’s WW2 rationing plan back in 2006…. I did quite well on my first attempt and managed to cook and eat strictly by my Home Front recipe books for about 4 or 5 months and lost 57 lbs…. Of course when I went back to normal modern day eating which included high fat and processed foods the weight soon crept back up again.. At least this proved to me that my theory worked.

During the 1940s Experiment I have never counted calories…..I have my ration allowances for the week put aside in my cupboard and my fridge (oh the luxury of it all) and I make do with that to build my meals on. There are no crisps (chips), large quantities of meat, huge amounts of butter or cheese or eggs and a limited amount of sweets (candies)..

I was reading through the very first attempt back in 2006 which I documented with an audio diary- I think I will start doing that again or a video diary or something as it is very helpful indeed to put your thoughts out there, get them out of your head, be silly, be sad, be honest.

CLICK HERE FOR DIARY< PHOTOS< AUDIO< VIDEO from 2006

Of course it’s difficult when things go wrong, when you fail, when your personal life affects your weight loss and lots of people know about it. However I look on anyone who reads my blogs and ramblings (of an affectionate but insane woman) as friends and we all need friends to help us get through our days, months, years and life.

CLICK HERE FOR A DISCUSSION ON 1940s FOOD– My daughter Hobbit Em & I in 2006

And of course audio allows you to be silly and have an audience… I love singing retro songs… I guess one day I’d love to have the guts to get up and sing, just be brave enough to do it for fun. For now it’s fun just singing in the bathroom or the kitchen or singing when the kids start arguing and ignore all the “Oh Mum shut up”…s. Mum doesn’t care- it’s called escapism..

CLICK HERE FOR A LITTLE RETRO SINGING from CHICAGO– at the end of this short audio log from 2006

BTW- the good news is over the last 4 weeks I have dropped 15 lbs… (the last 2 weeks I have been back to eating 1940s)!! Yay!!!

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Succeeding after failure


Today I seem to need to think and to communicate..

As I sat on the loo earlier (a great place in my house to do my thinking so not to be disturbed by Hobbits) I got to question myself and the attempts over recent years to lose the weight that attached itself to my body, at an alarming rate, since the birth of Em Hobbit 13 years ago. Most attempts have resulted in weight loss, all attempts have eventually been followed by weight gain.

For several moments I wallowed (as all large things do) in self pity…. so many times I have tried and so many times I have failed. What is it with me? Am I a flake? Don’t I care?

But then I thought of all the people who DO SUCCEED in life…. whether it is weight loss, business, health & fitness or other personal goals and achievements.. “Do these people succeed first time?”.. “Do these people give up when the going gets tough?”… “Do these people give up when they fail, once, twice, thrice?”….. NO- they most certainly do not…. successful people pick themselves up and keep trying, keep going, keep believing…

successful people pick themselves up and keep trying, keep going, keep believing…

Sitting on the toilet, akin to a strange gnome on a toadstool (I have one of those noses)  I briefly felt morose but before long, following my washroom contemplation, all seemed right with the world again.

One day soon I do believe I will grab success, firmly with both hands and refuse to let go.

Gorgeous 1940s retro clothing and sparkly girly crazy lady outfits and big naughty shoes- you will be mine one day….mwah mwah mwah…
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Keep Calm Carry On

I’m back…hopefully for good this time!

Life has been interesting the past couple of months. Although life has been challenging in many of it’s aspects I keep soldiering on. My Hobbits (children) are now 22, 17 and 13 and keep me busy and sane (ish) above and beyond my full time job as a web manager with a local newspaper group.

It’s in the midst of winter here in Nova Scotia, Canada. Having moved here from England (UK) in 2004, each winter still catches me unawares and I still find that 3-4 months of snow covering the ground takes a bit of getting used to.

My personal life too has taken some interesting turns and at this moment in my life I am a happy bunny. I wish I could share more with you about this but choose to keep this close to my chest at this moment in time to respect an individuals privacy. However any reference in my blog to Aragorn is someone who is currently there for me and who I hold in high respect…

It is with the support and encouragement of those close to me including my children that I return to complete what I started. My eldest (Jess Hobbit) sat down with me the other day and said “Mum- you look beautiful but I am so worried that one day something will happen to you and we will not have you anymore”….(isn’t it wonderful how your children see you as beautiful despite your appearance!) I love my Hobbits, we have become very close. When Jess Hobbit left the room I cried…

Apart from the health issues of carrying around an extra 100 lbs or so I simply have grown tired of not being the person I know I am.

I am a woman who wants to be adventurous, wants to wear gorgeous clothes, wants to express herself in ways my current body shape does not allow.

Finally… I do this because of my continuing interest in the WWII Domestic Home Front especially the cuisine and rationing of the time. I have always and continue to believe that adapting to a simpler diet of eating fresh healthy foods (locally sourced) and following a 1940s wartime rationing diet will lower my body fat and improve my health.

I do this for my children… I do this for ME!

C xxx

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I’ll be back..

Click for great movie clip

Just wanted you all to know I am still here- things didn’t go the way I wanted these past months and I fell well and truly off the wagon but am coming back to continue the journey and my passion very shortly… I now have HIGH SPEED at home which although is not 1940’s is a much needed addition to our rural household to keep the blog updated with photos and videos.. YES videos are coming… should be fun!

So thank you so much for coming back and checking out the website. Am very determined to lose 100 lb despite setting myself back

Hope everyone is well and has tried cooking one or two of my 1940’s recipes!

Love to all

C xxxxx

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Wartime Welsh Cakes

Believe it or not I first started making these several years ago in a very old Welsh farmhouse! Authentic or what!

This is a delicious recipe and to me, the Welsh Cakes taste even better the day after where the flavour of the nutmeg comes through.

Wartime Welsh Cakes

  • 6 oz plain flour with 3 teaspoons baking powder added (or use self raising flour)
  • 2 oz margarine, butter or dripping
  • 2 oz sultanas (or mixed dried fruit)
  • 1 small carrot grated
  • 2 oz sugar
  • 1 fresh egg or 1 dried reconstituted egg
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

Method

  1. Rub fat into the flour and baking powder mix until resembles bread crumbs
  2. Stir in nutmeg, sugar and dried fruit
  3. Mix the egg and milk together and add to dry mix to form a stiff dough (add more liquid or more flour as needed)
  4. Treat mixture as pastry and roll out on floured surface to 1/4 inch thick
  5. Use 3 inch rounds to cut out
  6. Pre-heat griddle or heavy frying pan
  7. Grease
  8. Put in Welsh Cakes and cook until golden brown on both sides over a moderate heat (about 4 minutes)
  9. Set aside a cool
  10. Sprinkle with a little sugar
  11. Serve with butter/jam and a nice cuppa strong tea!

Makes about 12-18

PS: If you are interested in reading the blog from the beginning- be sure to check out the blog archive all set out in order from beginning to end- makes things easy! CLICK HERE

“This post is part of Twinkl’s VE Day Campaign, and is featured in their Best Wartime Recipes to Celebrate VE Day from Home post”

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I am alive…honest!

NO blog for 3 weeks, No brushy hair for 2 days, no massive weight loss and STILL no man to snog, but I am alive... Yahooo!

I can’t believe its been a few weeks since I’ve updated my blog…..

I posted this piccy from the webcam now so you could see that in the three weeks of non-blogging I HAVEN’T returned to being a full size Jabba the Hutt but have remained at Jabba’s Slightly Slimmer Sister level… still nearly 70 lbs to lose before mid August (which will be the one year up)

Since the Christmas blip I have only lost a few lbs BUT there is light shedding itself in my direction….. HB Studios Fieldhouse and FREE walking passes. As most of us already know, people living through the war were very active in comparison to how we live our lives today. My job as a web manager for a local newspaper/ media group has me sat on my arse 8 hours a day and then when I get home at least a few more..

Because of my obesity I find it almost impossible to run or participate in very aerobic exercise BUT I can walk. And that is what I have been doing at my local sports centre with my friend and work colleague Jana. I think this is REALLY going to help..

Apologies for not posting JULIA’s recipe. I will do that tonight and please pop back for a TON of recipes I have been working on as well as weigh in updates and even how you can save LOTS OF MONEY by following a WWII rationing diet.

C xxx

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Cottage Pie or Shepherds Pie (if made with lamb)

Tonight I am well stuffed (in the culinary sense)… I baked a wartime ‘cottage pie’ and fear that an actual cottage could have been the main ingredient as I am so full! This was one-hell-of-a-satisfying-meal on a cold winter night! I must make this more often…

One of the most satisfying things about the meal was the comments that flew my way as it was being gobbled down

Youngest hobbit…” Yum- this tastes good! There is no bits of starch in it like last time…”

Eldest hobbit …. ” Jeremy (boyfriend) wants to hire you as a cook”..

Eldest hobbits boyfriend.… ” Every meal I have tasted here has tasted so good..”

Middle hobbit …” Ewww- what’s that????” (this is not surprising as he is a vegetarian who doesn’t like vegetables)

Eldest hobbit….(who is also vegetarian but who I prepared a separate topping for)… ” ………just silence….”  (trust me this is good!)

Try this fabby, tasty, tummy filling, stick to your ribs meal- it is worth the effort!

Cottage Pie

  • 1 lb mince beef or soy mince made up to 1lb in hydrated weight ( note a weeks ration of mince beef for one person was about 1 lb ). Make it with minced lamb for a Shepherd’s pie.
  • several large potatoes
  • 2 oz cheese
  • dried herbs (Rosemary & Thyme work well)
  • salt and pepper
  • beef stock or vegetable stock ( 1 pint or more)
  • bisto gravy powder
  • peas and finely chopped carrots and onion optional
  • blob butter or margarine

Method

  1. Brown the mince
  2. Add the chopped veggies (optional)
  3. Add salt and pepper and herbs
  4. Add beef stock, stir and simmer for 15 minutes (thickening towards the end by mixing bisto powder with a little cold water to a runny paste and adding to beef stirring all the time- beef sauce should be quite thick!)
  5. Meanwhile chop up all the potatoes into small chunks
  6. Place in salted hot water and bring to the boil until tender and drain.
  7. Mash with generous (if rations allow) blobs of butter or margarine, add salt and pepper to taste
  8. Finally add milk so mash is spreadable
  9. Place mince sauce in a small cooking tray with deep sides or shallow casserole dish
  10. Pipe or spread mashed potato on top
  11. Sprinkle with 2 oz of grated strong cheddar (or vegan alternative) and some dried herbs if you like
  12. Place in oven for 20 minutes at 200 c
  13. Finish off under broiler/grill to brown top

Serve with steamed fresh veggies!

Serves 4 with veggies

“This post is part of Twinkl’s VE Day Campaign, and is featured in their Best Wartime Recipes to Celebrate VE Day from Home post”

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Cheese Dreams

Earlier today I talked about convenience food and how the busy 1940s housewife would really have appreciated some convenience in her life…
Convenience food was of course available prior to and during the war although some of it, like canned fish, was only available on a points system. In the UK you were allocated, in addition to your standard ration, 16 points a month which could be used to purchase goods like canned meat and fish and other cooking ingredients like dried fruit for cakes and split peas for casseroles and stews. 16 points didn’t get you much though. One can of fish used up all your 16 points…

Although some convenience food was available during the war years, availability was often very scarce due to the sinking of supply ships.　However there were quick snack meals and lunches one could make occasionally when there wasn’t much time to make a substantial meal.

I read through one of my WWII cook books, Feeding the Nation by Marguerite Patten, for inspiration, and came across a snack meal often served to the ARP (Air Raid Precaution Service) volunteers during their busy nights on duty as night time fire watchers..

There is no reason to doubt that a snack like this would have been used at home for convenience too.

Cheese Dreams

  • Make a sandwich with two pieces of wholemeal (wholewheat) bread with margarine and a sprinkling of strong grated cheese
  • Add chutney if desired
  • Mix one egg with 2 tablespoons of milk (this is enough to coat 3 sandwiches made from 6 slices of bread)
  • Pour onto plate and place sandwich on plate and turn once and remove
  • Place into frying pan that has hot cooking fat in
  • Cook for a few minutes over a medium-high heat until golden brown and cheese inside has melted
  • Serve with some salad and a cuppa tea

PS: I am a Brit currently living in Nova Scotia, Canada. My 1940s experiment is mostly based on the rationing system used during WWII in the UK however during my research many things were similar in the UK to the US and Canada. I intend to incorporate some North American recipes as time moves on as well as provide more details on the differences in rationing back in blighty compared to here.

PPS: If you are interested in frugality, making ends meet, living on less and saving some pennies in your everyday life please pop on by to my other blog. Latest post is on what we spent, as a family of 4, for our frugal Christmas CLICK HERE

“This post is part of Twinkl’s VE Day Campaign, and is featured in their Best Wartime Recipes to Celebrate VE Day from Home post”

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Time to knuckle down and get the job done..

Youngest Hobbit on Christmas Day

Now The ‘Christmas Blip’ is coming to an end which means the choccie boxes are nearly empty and all the ‘delicious-naughty-foods-that-lure-one-to-them-with-their-mystical-subliminal-chanting’, have nearly all disappeared, it’s time to get back to rationing and knuckle down and get the job done….

In 7.5 months time my year long culinary experiment on eating a diet based on authentic WWII 1940’s rationing will come to and end. My hopes by the end of the year were to

  • Recreate 100 authentic recipes, eat and photograph them
  • Record the effect living on a 1940’s ration diet would have on my health and hopefully achieve a weight-loss of 100 lbs

I have for several years been convinced that to LOSE WEIGHT we do not need to starve ourselves but feed ourselves properly and generously! By making fundamental changes in our eating habits (all the time) I believe our bodies will become the efficient fuel burning machines they used to be…

Cut out the plethora of modern foods we crave that have artificial sweeteners, preservatives, hidden added fats & colouring, from our lives and go back to eating basic, little processed, fresh, local foods. SIMPLE  (but actually I’ve found out it isn’t always so simple as processed foods are a HUGE business in our modern world)

We don’t need to count calories, we don’t need to be obsessed with counting grams of fat- life is tooooo damn short!

Just get rid of all the modern crap, limit your meat, eat basic foods, eat tons of fresh veg, eat some healthy carbs and drink water (and tea!!)

Saying all that- this means in 7.5 months to complete my experiment successfully I have to still

  • Re-create and photograph a new recipe every three days for the next 7.5 months
  • Lose 1 lb of body fat every 3 days for 7.5 months

YIKES!!!!