Q: First of all, thank you so much for all the help you have given me over the past year.  Last January, I read your book ‘Fat Around the Middle’ – I was skeptical at first, but the case study could have been written about me and I implemented your suggestions with fabulous results.  I feel the best I have for years, but I would still like to maintain my weight and, if possible, reduce it even further. 

However, my problem is that I have difficulty maintaining control when the first ‘strictest’ 3 months of the programme were complete.  When the guidelines are very strictly prescribed I am OK, but when the guidelines are relaxed, I tend to have more and more frequent lapses i.e. eating chocolate etc. 

Do you have any suggestions?  I would very much appreciate any advice on how to moderate these binges.

A: Thank you for your kind words and glad to hear that it has made such a difference not only to your weight but also your health. 

There are some people who actually do better if they have strict guidelines because otherwise when the limits are taken away they don’t eat so well.  There would be no problem in carrying on with the same first three month programme all the time.  It contains a good variety of food and it would not be unhealthy to do so. 

If though you would really like to expand the food out more without the lapses then the best way to do this is to have a proper ‘cheat day’ once a week.  You would then know that it is only on that day that you would have chocolate etc and you keep to that agreement with yourself.  So in a way you give yourself permission to lapse but only on that one day a week, that way it is controlled and you won’t have the frequent lapses.

Tahini also known as sesame paste is made by crushing sesame seeds.  It is used in both Middle Eastern and East Asian cooking.  In the Middle East the tahini is made from seeds which have been hulled but the East Asian is made from unhulled seeds which makes it darker and more bitter but higher in nutrients. 

Tahini is a good source of calcium, B vitamins and essential fatty acids.  It also has good levels of vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant and helpful in slowing down the ageing process. Tahini and sesame seeds are good foods in terms of bone health because of the high calcium levels.  The fats from the sesame oil are mostly unsaturated and are helpful in maintaining healthy skin and hair.

 

Tahini also had good levels of an amino acid methionine.  This amino acid is important for efficient liver detoxification. 

 

Tahini is most commonly used in making hummus which also includes chick peas, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic but it can also be a substitute spread instead of butter or margarine.  It can also be used to make a sauce for vegetables just by adding a bit of tamari (or soya sauce) and lemon and mixing to the consistency that is preferred. 

Tofu Fruit Whip

Serve this topped with slices of fresh fruit or on your favourite breakfast cereal.

– 100g (4oz) organic tofu, drained

– 100g (4oz) fresh or frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pears etc.  (If you use some tinned fruit like mandarins then make sure the fruit is in juice rather than syrup.)

– Maple syrup to taste

– Dash of pure vanilla essence

– 1 tablespoon tahini (optional)

 

Blend all the ingredients until smooth.  The addition of the tahini gives the whip a creamier taste.