Huel Update 2021 and Something New

Well, where did the time go? It has been a while since I decided to stop with the regular updates, so I thought this may be a good time to check in and report on how things have been going. Did I go back to my old ways and resume eating junk food? Did I stop the exercise and put all my weight back on? Well, read on for details on how things may or may not have changed.

Let’s begin with a weigh in:

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 170.4 lbs

Current weight: 171.5 lbs

Success!! Since December of 2020, my weight has stayed relatively the same. After a massive cheat day on Christmas Day, my weight spiked to around 180 but dropped back into the normal range pretty much straight after. I have maintained the diet of shakes on 6-days out of the week with a cheat day on the weekends. This has worked extremely well in preventing a relapse. Example of cheat day meals can be summer barbecues, pizza (homemade and delivery), breads, salads, homemade smash burgers, etc. Pretty much anything I fancy but in moderation.

Something New – The Protein Works

For those that have followed this blog, you will know that I have used Huel products throughout my health journey. Overall, I have been happy with the variety of products available such as the powder flavours, flavour boosts, bars, Hot and Savoury and their latest Protein Shake. Then one day I just had the urge to see what else was out there. Was I missing another good brand that could possibly offer more of the same or something more?

I tried another brand, which I won’t name, and was extremely disappointed with the way they do business. After waiting for 10-days to get my first order shipped, I eventually cancelled and gave up. Not a good start. No money lost but no new customer for them.

I then came across The Protein Works after watching a review on one of my subscribed YouTube channels. After looking around the site, I was blown away with the number of different products available. Visually, it’s a very ‘muscle building’ looking website but don’t let that fool you. There are some gems to be had if you don’t mind digging.

Diet Meal Replacement Extreme – this one sounded similar to Huel so I ordered a 500g bag. Yes, you can order smaller bags so that you get the option to try it out without the big upfront cost. You can buy various sizes, including 500 g, 1 kg, 2 kg and 4 kg. I opted for the Salted Caramel Bandit and was instantly blown away by the flavour. It was liquid heaven and quickly became a regular in my cupboard. Be careful of the calorie deficit here as each shake is 207 calories and they keep you fuller for longer. To get over this, I use these shakes after a cheat day for a ‘mini fast’ before building up to a normal daily calorie intake. I also use oat milk in the mix to add a few extra calories.

Diet Breakfast Smoothie – I tried the Caramel Latte smoothie and this is full of flavour, although it was extremely sweet tasting at first. I put this down to avoiding sugary food and drinks throughout the week and soon adjusted to it. Again, only 200 or so calories so oat milk used to boost. A good start to my day if I want something lighter for breakfast.

Ridiculous Vegan Protein Bars – oh man, now these are decadent. When compared with Huel Bars, these have much more flavour. So much so, Huel Bars have now been replaced with these. The Caramelicious bar is similar to a Twix and the Biscuit Crunch reminds me of the base of a Double Decker (a British chocolate bar).

Overnight Oats – a nice breakfast alternative that comes in different flavours. I opted for Caramel Latte (have you noticed a theme yet?) and this gives me the option of actually chewing something in the morning. Very addictive and full of flavour.

Loaded Nuts – these are for the peanut butter lovers and again, comes in a variety of flavours. I tried the White Chocolate Fudge and Salted Caramel and these are wonderful on low carb bread. Be warned, they are hard to put down and not demolish with a spoon.

The products listed above are the ones I have tried but there is a whole range to explore should you have different preferences. I did try a Vegan Meal Replacement shake for free as part of my first order but I wasn’t keen on the flavour. I tried the Strawberries and Cream and it just tasted like medicine. Still, it was free so I didn’t feel like I lost out, it’s just not something I would purchase.

I’ve recently been eyeing up the Protein Pancake mix to try and will most likely try them out on my next order.

Pros

• Big selection of different products. It will take a while to get bored.
• A big variety of flavours across the products meaning there should be something for everyones’ taste.
• Various bag sizes so that you can try products without spending too much upfront.
• Student discounts for those that use Student Beans or Unidays.
• Daily deals (although a few too many at times, see below).
• Loyalty points for every order which can then be used to reduce cost of future orders.

Cons

• The website design is a little busy and can be hard to find what I am looking for. I’m still discovering products I haven’t seen before.
• Pricing is a little erratic. Ordering items is like playing the stock market due to different sales events happening pretty much everyday. This also makes it harder to budget effectively.
• Easy to go under recommended calorie intake if you are not using a calorie tracker.
• Delivery is at a cost if under a certain amount (Huel is free) and it will cost more for a weekend delivery.
• There is a subscription section on my account but I have yet to find out how to set one up.

Shameless Plug

If you would like to try The Protein Works, you can use this link which will give us both 1000 loyalty points when you place your first order.

Will I be Continuing With Huel?

From a cost perspective, absolutely. Using The Protein Works shakes is similar to Huel, often cheaper if ordered during a sale event, but the lower calorie count in the shakes would mean doubling up if used full time. This would push the cost above what I typically spend on Huel. I have reduced the amount I order from Huel but I am using both products side by side. Who knows, one day I may make the full switch to The Protein Works, there is enough variety to do so. The Protein Works wins my full time order for bars and breakfast products, plus a few shakes to add to my midday routine.

Current Weekly Diet

For 6-days a week I maintained a mix Huel and The Protein Works shakes, bars and overnight oats. The brand of shakes used would be dependent on mood. When using The Protein Works shakes, these were all made with 100 ml of oat milk and 300 ml of water to make up for the calorie deficit. Additional snacks consumed during the week would be salads, carrot sticks, high protein low carb foods.

Using the mix of brands, I aim for a calorie intake of around 1200 after a cheat day, which then builds up to 2000 before the weekend.

Huel Powders used have been Huel Black Edition Coffee Caramel (for breakfast every morning), Vanilla flavour (mixed with Strawberry or Apple Cinnamon flavour boosts) and Black Edition Strawberries and Cream

The Protein Works products used are Diet Breakfast Smoothie Caramel Latte, Overnight Oats Caramel Latte, Diet Meal Replacement Extreme Salted Caramel Bandit, Ridiculous Vegan Protein Bars, Loaded Nuts Peanut Butter for a small snack.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily; 1 x Time Health Lions Mane Extract Ultra Strength 50% Beta capsule daily.

On a selected day over the weekend I will use a ‘cheat day’ and return to regular food. The day will usually begin with a selected shake or overnight oats for breakfast, followed by any food of my choice. Calorie count kept within recommended daily amounts of approx. 2400 calories. 

 

A Very Late Huel and Last Progress Update

The time has finally come for me to discontinue the updates. The previous couple of months have been busy with moving, working, studying and coping with the current pandemic situation, which has led to the big gap between my last post. I was surprised to see that two months had almost past since I checked this blog, I guess time flies under lockdown restrictions. Before I get started, here is a quick summary of where things sit today.

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 170 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 170.9 lbs

Current weight: 170.4 lbs

 

As can be seen, my weight has pretty much remained stable since reaching what I feel is a suitable weight for me. I hit 170 and then pretty much decided that this was to be my maintained weight moving forward. At one stage I hit 168 and made some adaptations to my diet to increase my calorie intake. 

As before, I continued using Huel with the addition of oat milk to increase the calorie content. I am now using a mix of 150 ml oat milk and 350 ml of water. 100% Huel is being maintained throughout the week with some healthy snacks and the cheat days continuing over the weekends. These have remained healthy and within a suitable normal daily recommended calorie level. I have listed below my current weekly regime that I am following and will be continuing for the foreseeable future.

The Positives

I have so much more mental clarity now and my levels of anxiety have dropped dramatically. I contribute this to the combination of healthy eating, activity and Lion’s Mane extract. My University studies are going well and I have seen an increase in my grading over the last few assignments. 

I have a more positive outlook on things despite the pandemic and Christmas lockdown restrictions. It will most certainly be a different holiday season this year but it will be something we’ll look back on and talk about for years to come. Just imagine how special next Christmas will be.

I have a better body image which has affected my self-esteem. I like the person I see in the mirror now and gone are the feelings of wanting to eat to destroy myself. An odd mindset to be trapped in but one that was ultimately unhealthy and damaging. You hate what you see but you want to continue damaging it, a vicious circle and one I would suspect was based around my mental health at that time. It feels good to be free of those shackles.

The Negatives

There are only a couple of things to mention here on the negative side of things. One of which has been the difficulty with eating certain foods again. Having cut out various food types, I am finding my body experience difficulty digesting these once picked back up. As an example, I sourced fantastic DIY ramen kit as a special treat over the last couple of months. The first couple of purchases were fantastic but then on the third and fourth rounds, I experienced terrible stomach cramps and pain. I also indulged in some sour dough bread and experienced the same thing. Bread was a main staple for me before my diet, so it appears by cutting out breads and wheat, I built a little intolerance to it once reintroduced. I have experimented with smaller portions with success, so limiting is key and not overdoing things when adding them back into my diet.

The second appears to be a nerve issue which has developed in my left leg/foot. It was noticed when out for one of my walks, when I found my left foot wasn’t working properly. It was slapping against the ground rather than a normal heel to toe movement. Google research (not usually the best thing) highlights possible Peroneal neuropathy which may have been caused by weight loss. Not conclusive yet but I do have a GP consultation next week to discuss it. There are other factors to consider here as well, such as having a new desk and chair for work and study so I’ll wait until a formal diagnosis has been given before targeting causes. This has meant I have had to limit my walking for the time being but I am hoping I can pick that back up again to normal levels in the New Year.

Well, I have come to the end of my ramblings and the end of my weight loss journey. It’s all about maintenance from now on and I have built a good routine to support with this. I will be indulging over Christmas as it comes but once a year, although I will be proceeding with caution. I don’t want those nasty food intolerance issues to put a dark cloud over events. Moderation is key. 

Below I have concluded with my current weekly diet which I am using to maintain my ideal weight and will be continuing with into the New Year.

Current Weekly Diet

For 6-days a week I maintained a diet of Huel shakes, Huel Bars, Huel Hot and Savoury. Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and Hot and Savoury. Additional snacks consumed during the week would be Huel Bars, salads, carrot sticks, high protein low carb foods.

Each shake was made with 350ml water, 150ml oat milk and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (450 cal per shake including oat milk). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 250ml of water and 150ml oat milk with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. For Hot and Savoury, I used two scoops of powder and mixed with 200ml of boiled water. Calorie intake: 2000 – 2200 per day with snacks (increased on extensive exercise days).

Huel Powders used have been Huel Black Edition Coffee Caramel (for breakfast every morning), Chocolate (mixed with Salted Caramel flavour boost), Mint Chocolate (my favourite) , Original flavour (mixed with Strawberry or Apple Cinnamon flavour boosts).

The Huel Bars used have been Peanut Butter, Chocolate Orange and Chocolate.

Huel Hot and Savoury Flavours: Tomato and Herb, Mexican Chilli

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily; 1 x Time Health Lions Mane Extract Ultra Strength 50% Beta capsule daily.

On a selected day over the weekend I will use a ‘cheat day’ and return to regular food. The day will usually begin with Huel Black Edition Coffee Caramel for breakfast, followed by healthy food of my choice. Calorie count kept within recommended daily amounts of approx. 2400 calories. 

 

 

Huel – Progress Update

Over the last month I have been continuing with my method of 100% Huel each day, with only one regular meal on the weekend.

I maintained a diet of Huel shakes, Huel Bars, Huel Hot and Savoury and Ohso Good Chocolate (1-daily). Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and two bars or two shakes and Hot and Savoury. I like having this option. I stuck to regular times which has kept my body in a routine, which has led to hunger pangs starting approximately 30-minutes before my next shake or bars were due.

Each shake was made with 500ml water and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (400 cal per shake). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 400ml of water with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. For Hot and Savoury, I used two scoops or powder and mixed with 180ml of boiled water. Calorie intake: 1200 per day (up to 1600 on extensive exercise days).

Huel Powders used have been Coffee, Chocolate (mixed with Salted Caramel flavour boost), Mint Chocolate (my favourite) , Vanilla (mixed with Strawberry or Apple Cinnamon flavour boosts), Original flavour (new 3.0 version) and Back Edition Coffee Caramel. 

The Huel Bars used have been Peanut Butter, Chocolate Orange and Chocolate.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily; 1 x Time Health Lions Mane Extract Ultra Strength 50% Beta capsule daily.

Ohso Dark Chocolate Bar x 1 daily (Orange and Raspberry flavours used).

Exercise Goals: 30 miles walking per week.

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 174 – 180 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 179.9 lbs

Current weight: 173.3 lbs

Weight Loss/Gain: 6.6 lbs

Overall Weight Loss/Gain: 69 lbs

Positive Experiences: Maintained a good range within my target weight, house move completed and feeling positive.

Negative Experiences: House move was a little stressful and succumbed to first take-aways in 6-months.

Summary

With almost a month gone since I last posted an update, I figured it would be good to catch up with how things have been going. Well, after a few weeks of packing, cleaning and moving, things have returned to normal and my weight loss has been stable.

I can report having my first take-away after starting my diet in March. It started small with a Sub-Way and then a good ol’ Indian curry after the move out. Now that I am in my new home, I have stuck to a strict routine to remain in the habit of healthy eating.

Although I have reached an ideal weight, I have continued using Huel as it just fits into my new lifestyle. Work has been busy with a lot of new training and studies take up most of my additional free time. So reaching for shakes is just more convenient than spending time with meal prep. I have been taking in additional calories on odd days in the form of snacks such as celery sticks, carrots and the odd salad. I save these for days for when my body needs it.

 

Huel – Week 28 Results

Over the last 2-weeks I have been continuing with my method of 100% Huel each day, with only one regular meal on the weekend.

I maintained a diet of Huel shakes, Huel Bars and Ohso Good Chocolate (1-daily). Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and two bars. I like having this option. I stuck to regular times which has kept my body in a routine, which has led to hunger pangs starting approximately 30-minutes before my next shake or bars were due.

Each shake was made with 500ml water and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (400 cal per shake). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 400ml of water with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. Calorie intake: 1200 per day (up to 1600 on extensive exercise days).

Huel Powders used have been Coffee, Chocolate (mixed with Salted Caramel flavour boost), Mint Chocolate (my favourite) , Vanilla (mixed with Strawberry or Apple Cinnamon flavour boosts), Original flavour (new 3.0 version) and Back Edition Coffee Caramel. 

The Huel Bars used have been Peanut Butter, Chocolate Orange and Chocolate.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily; 1 x Time Health Lions Mane Extract Ultra Strength 50% Beta capsule daily.

Ohso Dark Chocolate Bar x 1 daily (Orange and Raspberry flavours used).

Exercise Goals: 30 miles walking per week.

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 174 – 180 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 181.7 lbs

Current weight: 179.9 lbs

Weight Loss/Gain: 1.8 lbs

Overall Weight Loss/Gain: 62.4 lbs

Positive Experiences: I have now hit my target weight range, tried paddle boarding for the first time and loved it.

Negative Experiences: Too many flavours and products to choose from. Okay, not really a negative but I do struggle to pick.

Summary

A great couple of weeks, with me now reaching my target range for weight. Some new Huel products were made available which have now been added into the rotation, making choices for meals and shakes really difficult now. 

Another change to the last couple of weeks has been the inclusion of Lion’s Mane mushroom extract into my daily pill popping. After researching the benefits, there is belief it aids with depression, anxiety, mental clarity, focus and possibly Alzheimer’s. Still too soon to tell, so I’ll see how it goes. You can watch Paul Stamets discuss it below.

Exercise has been maintained, with this week seeing a total of 44-miles walked. I even tried Stand Up Paddle Boarding for the first time, which was incredibly enjoyable. It might even become a permanent thing, although I picked a good time to start with autumn approaching. Still, die-hards paddle board year round, so I guess I have no excuse. 

Now that I have achieved my target weight, I will pause the regular posts but I will check in from time to time for updates. This will also help with the upcoming move, studies which have now started and the additional work training. 

Previous week meal (family back garden picnic):

• Pork pies
• Meat pies
• Salad
• Birthday cake
• Cinnamon bun

This week meal:

• Short grain rice
• Beef Gyoza x 5
• Kangaroo Fillett 
• Salmon Fillet
• Salad

New Flavours Used and Review

Huel Original Flavour Powder: Legacy Huel users have been requesting a new version of the original flavour. And recently Huel have just released their V3. I removed my regular Vanilla from this months subscription and opted in to try the original. Love it. The flavour of the oats makes this suitable to drink as is, but it’s also great with the flavour boosts. At times, using boosts in the Vanilla Huel can produce something overly sweet, so now I have something where I get the flavours I’m looking for.

Huel Black Coffee Caramel: I said I wouldn’t try the Huel Black edition again but when they released this new flavour, I couldn’t resist the urge to give it a run for the money. It’s really good and I was surprised with the flavour after using the others previously.  I still have two bags of the regular V3.0 to get through as well, but after they are gone the Black CC will be my morning shake moving forward.

Huel Hot and Savoury Thai Green Curry and Tomato and Herb: Oh boy, this stuff is so good. I was able to snag up some bags of these new products before the official launch next week. I wrote more on them here. I’m still torn on my favourite out of the two new flavours. The Thai Green Curry has a nice bit of heat. Not too hot, just enough to bring some warmth to the tastebuds. The Tomato and Herb is so flavourful that I find I savour every bite. Defiantly worth a try if you prefer something more solid. 

 

Huel – Week 26 Results

Over the last 2-weeks I have been continuing with my method of 100% Huel each day, with only one regular meal on the weekend.

I maintained a diet of Huel shakes, Huel Bars and Ohso Good Chocolate (1-daily). Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and two bars. I like having this option. I stuck to regular times which has kept my body in a routine, which has led to hunger pangs starting approximately 30-minutes before my next shake or bars were due.

Each shake was made with 500ml water and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (400 cal per shake). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 400ml of water with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. Calorie intake: 1200 per day (up to 1600 on extensive exercise days).

Huel Powders used have been Coffee, Chocolate (mixed with Salted Caramel flavour boost), Mint Chocolate (my favourite) , Banana and Vanilla (mixed with Strawberry or Apple Cinnamon flavour boosts).

The Huel Bars used have been Raspberry and White Chocolate, Chocolate and Peanut Butter.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily.

Ohso Dark Chocolate Bar x 1 daily (Orange and Raspberry flavours used).

Exercise Goals: 30 miles walking per week.

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 174 – 180 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 184.5 lbs

Current weight: 181.7 lbs

Weight Loss/Gain: 2.8 lbs

Overall Weight Loss/Gain: 60.6 lbs

Positive Experiences: End of module assignment has been submitted so I have time to unwind, walk and celebrate until study resumes in October, work stress alleviated.

Negative Experiences: Slower weight loss, but due to introducing additional foods to prepare for a regular diet, losing fellow team members.

Summary

More of an uplifting couple of weeks over the last period. Work pressure has eased, with my role evolving into a new position. The details so far are exciting, so I am looking forward to things being finalised so I can get stuck in. It does come at cost though, as I have lost some of my fellow team mates, people that I have looked up to as mentors. It’s a very strange time, you feel like celebrating yet there is still a dark cloud hovering over you. At times like these I find it hard to find words to say, so I mainly say nothing at all.

Outside of work, my studies have currently ended as my final assignment has been proofed, proofed again and then proofed again before submitting. The first module of my degree is now finished and I have a little bit of a break before moving on to the next in October. I will be making an early start in September, but officially the start date is October, 3rd. Now the painful wait for the final mark begins. I’ve found I’m a little lost without the structure of study to focus on, so studying Japanese has intensified. I’ve got to keep the brain active.

Monitoring my BMI, I have now dropped into the “Healthy Weight” range according the NHS BMI calculator. I have not been a healthy weight since at least 2002, so this has really surprised me and it has given me a positive boost with everything that I have been doing.

Before Diet (Mar 2020)

Current BMI (September 2020)

As before, I have listed my cheat meals below. But for this week I have been introducing the odd evening meal, mainly to experiment with slowly getting back to a regular balanced diet. This has been mostly salads, I just can’t seem to get enough of the green stuff. Low in calorie, yet filling. I have also been experimenting with jalapeños to satisfy cravings. This has helped on days when I have taken all my Huel, yet have a late night hunger pang. A handful of peppers leaves the mouth too hot to handle anything else.

So, I am almost at my target weight. It looks like I will be coming out of the Covid crisis having firmly hit the reset button.

Previous week meal:

• Homemade Peperoni Pizza

Extra Midweek Meal:

• Fried Venison Meat Balls
• Salad

This week meal (barbecue):

• Quarter Pound Burgers x 2
• Cumberland sausage x 2
• Chicken Wings

New Flavours Used and Review

Huel Chocolate Bar: I have seen this on the list for some time but haven’t gotten around to trying yet. I’m finding two boxes isn’t enough to see me through the week due to the need to snack on something after 10-mile walks. So, I decided to try add the Chocolate Bars to the mix, the last flavour for me to sample from the collection. This is a really nice tasting bar and the chocolate flavour reminds me of Coco-Pops.

 

Huel – Week 24 Results

Over the last 2-weeks I have been continuing with my method of 100% Huel each day, with only one regular meal on the weekend.

I maintained a diet of Huel shakes, Huel Bars and Ohso Good Chocolate (1-daily). Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and two bars. I like having this option. I stuck to regular times which has kept my body in a routine, which has led to hunger pangs starting approximately 30-minutes before my next shake or bars were due.

Each shake was made with 500ml water and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (400 cal per shake). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 400ml of water with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. Calorie intake: 1200 per day (up to 1600 on extensive exercise days).

Huel Powders used have been Coffee, Chocolate (mixed with Salted Caramel flavour boost), Mint Chocolate (my favourite) , Banana and Vanilla (mixed with Strawberry or Apple Cinnamon flavour boosts).

The Huel Bars used have been Raspberry and White Chocolate and Peanut Butter.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily.

Ohso Dark Chocolate Bar x 1 daily (Orange and Raspberry flavours used).

Exercise Goals: 30 miles walking per week.

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 174 – 180 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 188.5 lbs

Current weight: 184.5 lbs

Weight Loss/Gain: 4.0 lbs

Overall Weight Loss/Gain: 57.8 lbs

Positive Experiences: Weight still dropping at good rate, almost at my target weight.

Negative Experiences: Stressful couple of weeks with study deadlines and work/finances/possible move.

Summary

Apologies in advance, this entry will be a little shorter than most (hooray,  you cry). August is proving to be a busy month. The last couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster ride with work related concerns, possible house move and end of module assignment all hitting at the same time. With the levels of stress I’ve had to deal with, I’m surprised my weight has still been dropping. I’m sure my system is flooded with cortisol, which can affect insulin resistance. More on that here.

Last week, I logged my best ever activity week with over 40-miles trekked. But this week has seen a decline in mileage, mainly due to study deadlines and working hours, mixed with the poor weather that has hit the UK. I’m all for walking in the rain (did that this morning), but I’m not a fan of walking in the woods during lightening storms.

Still, almost at my target weight, which I have updated to be between 174 and 180 lbs. 180 is at the upper end of the scale, so being in-between would be more ideal. Or maybe that’s my brain trying to keep me on Huel for just a little bit longer.

On to the next two weeks when pressures should have eased a little bit, and then going into September where I should hit my target weight. I got this!

Previous week meal (barbecue):

• 2 Quarter pound beef burgers
• Cumberland sausage x 3
• Chicken wing x 4
• Smoked Salmon Sushi

This week meal:

• Sweet and Sour Venison Cabbage Rolls
• Rice
• Smoked Mackerel

 

 

Huel – Week 22 Results

Over the last 2-weeks I have been continuing with my method of 100% Huel each day, with only one regular meal on the weekend.

I maintained a diet of Huel shakes, Huel Bars and Ohso Good Chocolate (1-daily). Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and two bars. I like having this option. I stuck to regular times which has kept my body in a routine, which has led to hunger pangs starting approximately 30-minutes before my next shake or bars were due.

Each shake was made with 500ml water and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (400 cal per shake). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 400ml of water with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. Calorie intake: 1200 per day (up to 1600 on extensive exercise days).

Huel Powders used have been Coffee, Chocolate (mixed with Salted Caramel flavour boost), Mint Chocolate (sooooo good), Banana (new addition for the next month) and Vanilla (mixed with Strawberry or Apple Cinnamon flavour boosts).

The Huel Bars used have been Salted Caramel, Raspberry and White Chocolate and Peanut Butter.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily.

Ohso Dark Chocolate Bar x 1 daily (Orange and Raspberry flavours used).

Exercise Goals: 30 miles walking per week.

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 180 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 190.7 lbs

Current weight: 188.5 lbs

Weight Loss/Gain: 2.2 lbs

Overall Weight Loss/Gain: 53.8 lbs

Positive Experiences: My brain is now addicted to walking, if I don’t walk I get cranky.

Negative Experiences: Furlough/finance stresses (walking does help but I can’t walk 24/7).

Summary

The past couple of weeks have been a little trickier than most. For the first half, the threat of redundancy and trying to sort out financial plans should the worst happen has  proven to be extremely stressful. This has led to increased cravings to snack, and when coupled with a trip to see family, my calorie counting has failed on a couple of days. But that’s in my opinion and I am possibly being too hard on myself.

Weight has still been dropping, just not at the pace I have come to expect. A wake up call to ensure I’m on the correct diet once my ideal weight has been reached. Oddly, I’ve also become addicted to pickled gherkins which are low in calories, so they’ve helped curb the cravings.

My final assignment for my degree unlocked this weekend, so I have that to keep me focused over the coming weeks. Submission deadline is the 3rd of September, after which I will have a few weeks off before my next module begins. But given modules open a month beforehand, I’ll probably get started early to get a head start.

Previous week meal:

Family barbecue (yeah, I let my hair down on this cheat day):

• 2 Quarter pound beef burgers
• Cumberland sausage
• Chicken wing
• Chicken leg x 2
• Fresh Trout
• Salad

This week meal:

• Roasted Duck Bao Buns
• Homemade Maki (salmon and cucumber) and Nigiri (imitation crab) Sushi
• Salad

 

New Flavours Used and Review

Huel Banana Powder: this has a really nice banana flavour in the mix. My wife had used this during her Huel routine and I had sampled it then. Not sure if this is a keeper in my stocks, but I found I had a little extra coffee flavour left over before my subscription was shipped, so I cut back a bag and replaced it with the banana. A new flavour to rotate through the week.

Huel Salted Caramel Bar: I’ve been using this bar for around a month now, but I still love the Peanut Butter. Just not enough flavour in the salted caramel to keep me coming back. I think my use of the salted caramel flavour boost in my chocolate Huel is too hard to beat and I was expecting more from this bar.

Huel Raspberry and White Chocolate Bar: this is a brand new bar from Huel, so I amended my subscription to replace the Salted Caramel. These are really good and a nice addition to the monthly routine and will probably remain on my subscription for a while. Peanut Butter still retains top position for me though.

 

Huel – Week 20 Results

Over the last 2-weeks I have been continuing with my method of 100% Huel each day, with only one regular meal on the weekend.

I maintained a diet of Huel shakes, Huel Bars and Ohso Good Chocolate (1-daily). Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and two bars. I like having this option. I stuck to regular times which has kept my body in a routine, which has led to hunger pangs starting approximately 30-minutes before my next shake or bars were due.

Each shake was made with 500ml water and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (400 cal per shake). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 400ml of water with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. Calorie intake: 1200 per day (up to 1600 on extensive exercise days).

The Huel Bars used have been Chocolate Orange and Peanut Butter.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily

Ohso Dark Chocolate Bar x 1 daily (Orange and Raspberry flavours used)

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 180 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 194.4 lbs

Current weight: 190.7 lbs

Weight Loss/Gain: 3.7 lbs

Overall Weight Loss/Gain: 51.6 lbs

Positive Experiences: My brain is now addicted to walking, if I don’t walk I get cranky, continued weight loss.

Negative Experiences: Furlough/finance stresses (walking does help but I can’t walk 24/7)

Summary

MyFitnessPal Data

Overall, another positive couple of weeks. The weight continues to fall and the walking has certainly helped with dealing with the current furlough and reduced finance stresses. Only when I’m walking do I feel free of the mental torture of not knowing what will happen in the coming months.

Thankfully, I haven’t resorted to stress eating. Oh but the need to do it has been there, I’ve just had to push it aside by walking it off or reaching for a Huel bar or on occasion, Miso Soup.

I’m currently researching a Japanese diet to switch to once I have reached my target weight. You will notice that my cheat day meals are starting to incorporate some of these for test runs. I’ve invested in a few Japanese cook books, rice cooker and various Japanese ingredients to experiment with.  I’m not going to lie, seaweed thins are surprisingly addictive with little to no calories.

So once I have hit my target weight, my plan will be to continue with Huel for breakfast each day. I still can’t eat solid food in the mornings, no matter how good a Japanese breakfast looks. I will also keep a supply of Huel Bars for trips away from home. Prepping bento boxes might be an option, but the convenience of Huel is much more appealing. I will need to experiment more with bentos before ruling that out.

Previous week meal:

• Teriyaki Roast Chicken
• 1/2 cup Toyama Koshihikari rice (buttered)
• 1 cup cucumber
• Soy sauce for seasoning

This week meal:

• BBQ Beef Gyoza
• 1/2 cup Toyama Koshihikari rice (buttered)
• Bonito Flakes
• Salad

 

 

Huel – Week 18 Results

Over the last 2-weeks I have been continuing with my method of 100% Huel each day, with only one regular meal on the weekend.

I maintained a diet of Huel shakes, Huel Bars and Ohso Good Chocolate (1-daily). Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and two bars. I like having this option. I stuck to regular times which has kept my body in a routine, which has led to hunger pangs starting approximately 30-minutes before my next shake or bars were due.

Each shake was made with 500ml water and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (400 cal per shake). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 400ml of water with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. Calorie intake: 1200 per day.

The Huel Bars used have been Chocolate Orange and Peanut Butter.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z) daily

Ohso Dark Chocolate Bar x 1 daily (Orange and Raspberry flavours used)

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 180 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 198.9 lbs

Current weight: 194.4 lbs

Weight Loss/Gain: 4.5 lbs

Overall Weight Loss/Gain: 47.9 lbs

Positive Experiences: Plenty of energy to support my 30-miles of walking per week, continued weight-loss.

Negative Experiences: Not taking in enough water after long walks.

Summary

I tried a new product during the last couple of weeks and now added this to my daily routine. Ohso Good Chocolate is a dark chocolate bar that contains probiotics and claims to be gluten, nut and sugar free. These are designed for 1-per day and have around 64 – 72 calories per bar (depending on the one you opt for).

So far, I’ve tried the Ohso Orange (54% Dark) and Ohso Raspberry (70% Dark) and they add a little something special to my day on top of the Huel. I prefer the Ohso after my lunch Huel with a cup of coffee, followed by my dark chocolate sneezing. An ‘Orgasm of the Face’ apparently.

At the time of writing, they are currently offering 50% off for the first month’s subscription using code ‘ohso50’ and then it comes in at around £15.90 per month after. Not bad considering that would be a month’s supply.

Bear in mind, these bars are small. I’ve added a picture as the Amazon reviews for these did make me chuckle. Some people didn’t realise that a 13.5g bar would be small, so for clarity I wanted to show them. You get 7 in a box (so 28-bars in a 4-box subscription), and the point is to have one treat a day. So if you enjoy Mars or Snicker bars, think smaller. I’ve never been a dark chocolate fan but since the health kick, I’ve grown to like these and the flavours take the edge off of the dark chocolate taste. You can buy them from Amazon, but they are more expensive there so I stick with the official Ohso site.

I’ve become addicted to walking, to the point where my anxiety increases when I don’t get out. Even the weather is no longer a factor, as I’ve grown to appreciate walking in the rain. Using the MapMyWalk app, I’ve set weekly time and distance goals and used their provided challenges to keep on track. I’m now hitting 30-miles per week which I split into periods of long distances, days off and top ups when needed. My preference is a long walk at the beginning of the week on Sunday,  which allows for interruptions during week days as a result of work or other factors. If I’ve had a larger cheat day meal on the weekend, I’ll follow this up with a 7 – 9 mile walk.

Previous week meal:

• Family barbecue (Buffalo burgers, Venison Sausage, Chicken wings)

This week meal:

• Home made pizza (using sugarless dough recipe)
• Home made pizza sauce
• Grated Mozzarella Cheese
• Pepperoni Slices

My company has now cancelled future furlough rotations, but reduced working hours to 3 days a week. Financially, things are starting to get a little scary but walking is helping get rid of that stress. I’ve booked a week of annual leave for next week, which will bring in a little extra and also give me the time I need to complete my next written assignment for my degree.

I’ve been researching diets to use once I’ve hit my target weight, so that I can maintain a healthy weight moving forward. Huel will remain a part of that as I struggle with solid food for breakfast. So at the very least, I will carry on with a Huel Coffee shake for breakfast, with a balanced diet for the remaining meals during the day. I’ve almost settled on what that diet will be and I will provide details once it’s been ironed out.

 

Huel – Week 16 Results

Over the last 2-weeks I have been continuing with my method of 100% Huel each day, with only one regular meal on the weekend.

I maintained a diet of Huel shakes and Huel Bars. Depending on mood, somedays it would be three shakes, and on others it would be two shakes and two bars. I like having this option. I stuck to regular times which has kept my body in a routine, which has led to hunger pangs starting approximately 30-minutes before my next shake or bars were due.

Each shake was made with 500ml water and 2 scoops of Huel Powder (400 cal per shake). My preferred method of preparing my shakes was to use 400ml of water with the 2 scoops and shake. Leave in the fridge overnight and then add the final 100ml of cold water before drinking. Calorie intake: 1200 per day.

The Huel Bars used have been Chocolate Orange and Peanut Butter.

Supplements: 1 x Multivitamin and Minerals Tablet (Zipvit A-Z)

Starting weight: 242.3 lbs

Target Weight: 180 lbs

Previous Recorded Weight: 204.1 lbs

Current weight: 198.9 lbs

Weight Loss/Gain: 5.2 lbs

Overall Weight Loss/Gain: 43.4 lbs

Positive Experiences: I’ve finally dropped below 200 lbs for the first time in years, weight loss has increased.

Negative Experiences: None over the last 2-weeks.

Summary

With the shin splints finally healed and new shoes worn in, I managed to get back out and complete 8 miles of walking last week, followed by 28 miles this week. This has helped me mentally and physically to get back to a regular routine. I was concerned that being back at work would impact my mileage, but I just switched to walking later in the evening and longer distances on weekends. This has resulted in the weight loss speeding up again after the plateau I went through.

The return to work was a welcome change, although a second round of furlough has been scheduled for the 1st of July. At least that will only be for 3-weeks this time. I have two final written assignments to complete for my degree, so I will using my furlough time for those plus some extra exercise.

Previous week meal:

• Home made pizza (using sugarless dough recipe)
• Home made pizza sauce
• Grated Mozzarella Cheese
• Pepperoni Slices

This week meal:

• Wagyu Beef Steak
• Boiled Potatoes
• Garden Peas
• 1 White Pita Bread

As I get closer and closer to my weight goal, I need to start planning how I will continue a healthy diet to maintain weight. I am currently researching foods to support this and I’m pleased not to have any urges for junk food or sugary snacks. It would seem I have finally trained my brain to think more healthily. Better late than never.