Diet Chef Review: Week 1 Results!
2014 started off well for me.
I felt motivated about losing weight and I’d planned ahead about how I was going to achieve my target of losing 1½ to 2 stone.
At 5”5 and 11stone, my BMI was 26 which is classed as overweight. Not massively overweight, but just on end of the healthy weight scale and the very beginning of the overweight scale.
I’d received a new 2-in-1 cross trainer and exercise bike, as well as some dumbbells, and I’d bought myself a kettle bell too.
I found an online weight loss programme that suited me and my needs and made a start.
It went well for just over a month, but sadly I resorted back to my old ways. I’d managed to lose almost a stone and as well as the confidence boost this gave me, it also adjusted my attitude toward food.
I seemed to be able to maintain my weight well by eating healthily yet without the need for exercise.
But…
I soon became trapped in the mind set of ‘one cake won’t hurt’.
Of course this soon became two cakes and then a pack of crisps or some chocolate and before I knew it I was back to square one.
Not this time!
I need to learn about portion control, healthy eating, sensible snacking and exercise.
Just as a side note on the whole exercise front, having two year old twins can sometimes leave me without the energy to exercise and obviously I don’t get much time for myself, but I’m determined to make the most of the spare time and opportunities that arise to help me achieve my goal.
This is me at the moment:
This is me at the moment:
About Diet Chef
Diet Chef have kindly agreed to send me a 28 day trial hamper to review.
I could choose what meals I wanted for breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to choosing my own snacks.
Kevin Dorren, the CEO and Head Chef at Diet Chef started Diet Chef because he wanted everyone to be able to have the same advantage. No more labour intensive cooking, no more worrying about calories, no more counting points or struggling with portion size.
Sounds great to me!
I’ve spent many months recording the amount of calories I’ve consumed onto an app on my iPhone.
Diet Chef is your personal chef! They prepare your food for you, control your portion sizes and send you everything you need direct to your door!
Diet Chef have a great range of foods to choose from with lots of new dishes and innovations.
Did you know that Diet Chef are now the largest diet home delivery company with over 80,000 customers!
That’s pretty amazing!
I also love that Kevin has provided his email address on the Diet Chef website so if you have any questions or just want to let him know of your progress then you can!
Want to know more?
Before starting Diet Chef or any other type of weight loss or nutritional programme you should seek medical advice.
Delivery is within 7 days of your order.
Diet Chef plans can be arranged for repeat delivery on a 4-weekly basis and can be continued indefinitely until you decide you want to stop receiving them.
Each Diet Chef plan is backed by a 21 day money-back guarantee. You can also exchange any of the products contained within your hamper within 21 days of receipt.
Vegetarian options are available and Diet Chef also encourages you to add fresh fruit and vegetables to your diet each day, as well as two portions of dairy. This combined with your Diet Chef meals will usually come to around 1200 calories.
What plans are available?
4 week plan
£61.25 a week (£245 per month).
The 4 week plan is great if you don’t have much weight to lose.
8 week plan
£195 per month
This is a great value plan and perfect for smaller weight loss goals.
12 week plan
This is plan ise £185.00 per month.
This is the best value plan and perfect for on-going weight loss.
What’s in the box?
I started Diet Chef on Thursday 28thAugust. Exactly one week ago!
I received a text message on Tuesday notifying me that my Diet Chef parcel would be delivered the following day.
It was!
Here’s what I received:
28 breakfast meals
28 lunch meals
28 dinner meals
28 snacks
My food diary
Day 1. Thursday
Breakfast: Banana and vanilla porridge
Lunch: Tomato, red pepper and cheese pasta pot. This was delicious and really filling. I’ve tried pasta posts before and have never found them filling, but this one is.
Dinner: Pasta Carbonara. I wasn’t keen on this, but after contacting Diet Chef Customer Services they promptly sent out replacement meals for me. Great service!
Snack: Sweet Maple Popcorn
Day 2. Friday
Breakfast: Chocolate Chip Bar
Lunch: Minestrone soup with slice of bread
Breakfast: Chocolate Chip Bar
Lunch: Minestrone soup with slice of bread
Dinner: Coq au vin with vegetables. Tasty and filling!
Snack: Cranberry and chocolate snack bar
Day 3. Saturday
Breakfast: Porridge with strawberries and fresh banana
Breakfast: Porridge with strawberries and fresh banana
Lunch: Tomato and herb bulgar wheat and couscous post wrapped in a tortilla with salad. You can eat this straight from the pot, but if you want to why not try filling a tortilla with salad and pouring the couscous in. Delicious!
Dinner: Mild chicken tikka masala and rice. I absolutely love curry and this one didn’t disappoint. Full of flavour and the chicken was lovely and tender.
Snack: Greek yoghurt with fresh blueberries and rasperries. Oat bar with strawberries and apple
Day 4. Sunday
Breakfast: Chocolate soft cookie with Greek yoghurt with fresh blueberries and rasperries.
Breakfast: Chocolate soft cookie with Greek yoghurt with fresh blueberries and rasperries.
One of the things I love so much about Diet Chef is the variety. I’d usually have the same thing for breakfast every day, but Diet Chef makes it easy to add variety.
Lunch: Vanilla shake with bean and cheese salad
Dinner: Chicken chauseur with vegetables
Snack: Stem ginger oat biscuits
Day 5. Monday
Breakfast: Fruit & oat cookie with Greek yoghurt, blueberries and raspberries.
Breakfast: Fruit & oat cookie with Greek yoghurt, blueberries and raspberries.
Lunch: Creamy pesto pasta pot
Dinner: Paella
Snack: Sour cream & chive flavour pretzels. Apple.
Day 6. Tuesday
Breakfast: Apple and cinnamon porridge with fresh banana
Lunch: Chocolate protein bar
Dinner: Tuna rigatoni
Snack: Salt & vinegar popcorn
Breakfast: Apple and cinnamon porridge with fresh banana
Lunch: Chocolate protein bar
Dinner: Tuna rigatoni
Snack: Salt & vinegar popcorn
Day 7. Wednesday
Breakfast: Original oat porridge with fresh banana
Lunch: Lemon and herb couscous pot in a tortilla
Dinner: Paella
Snack: Chocolate chip bar
Week 1 results
Weight on Thursday 28th when I started Diet Chef: 11st
Weight this morning exactly one week since starting: 10st7
I am genuinely surprised, happy and over the moon!
To have lost 7lbs (half a stone) in my first week is amazing.
I wasn’t sure whether I would actually see any weight loss because since starting Diet Chef I’ve never been hungry!
It’s like eating what I would normally eat, although less snacking and healthier.
I’m incorporating more fruit and vegetables into my diet and Diet Chef also ensure that I have a proper lunch.
If I was having a lazy day before I started Diet Chef my lunch would have been chocolate and crisps. Of course that wouldn’t fill me up so I’d end up snacking on and off all day.
Diet Chef is a quick and convenient way to loose weight and I love it!
I’m looking forward to next week’s results already!
I am genuinely surprised, happy and over the moon!
To have lost 7lbs (half a stone) in my first week is amazing.
I wasn’t sure whether I would actually see any weight loss because since starting Diet Chef I’ve never been hungry!
It’s like eating what I would normally eat, although less snacking and healthier.
I’m incorporating more fruit and vegetables into my diet and Diet Chef also ensure that I have a proper lunch.
If I was having a lazy day before I started Diet Chef my lunch would have been chocolate and crisps. Of course that wouldn’t fill me up so I’d end up snacking on and off all day.
Diet Chef is a quick and convenient way to loose weight and I love it!
I’m looking forward to next week’s results already!
17 Comments
First Time Mummy
September 5, 2014 at 6:54 am
I've been looking forward to reading this since I saw your post on Twitter the other day. It all looks yummy and I've been thinking of trying Diet Chef, but the expense is what puts me and probably most people off. Having seen your trial week though it all looks pretty good for your money! The coq au vin looks absolutely tiny though – especially the chicken portion. What did you think of the size of that meal? Also with Diet Chef do they have any kind of plan when it comes to eating out? How do you eat at a pub or restaurant occasionaly without ruining your day, as if they calculate everything for you it would be hard to know how to make the right choice when eating out? x
Emily
September 5, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Hello, I don't think it's that expensive when you consider how much a monthly costs. Although I guess that's down to the individual. For me it would save me money to do an 8 week plan as I'd only have to buy rice, veg and fruit on top so works out well for me. The coq au vin does come with mushrooms and a lot of sauce, but I don't like mushrooms hence why I didn't put them on my plate! The food is very filling though. With regard to eating out Diet Chef have lots of information on their website. They say not to worry about eating out and just to eat normal food. They have lots of information on eating out in their diet guide. I'm really enjoying it so far x
Bella Matten
September 5, 2014 at 7:00 am
Good luck I used Diet Chef a few years ago together with husband and we both lost weight in time for our wedding! X
Emily
September 7, 2014 at 8:34 pm
Thanks Bella x
Louisa
September 5, 2014 at 9:21 am
You've had a great weight loss for your first week. It is a good way to have a short term kick start but I think it's much to expensive to maintain for any length of time.
Emily
September 7, 2014 at 8:36 pm
I think it's a great way to learn portion sizes, calories and appropriate snacking. Thanks for your comment.
Emily Vaughan
September 5, 2014 at 7:22 pm
Wow what an amazing result after just one week! It's great you didn't feel hungry too, although some of the portions look tiny to me! xx
Ickle Pickle
September 5, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Well done! Mummy is very interested in this, but it is expensive. Worth it if it works though! #BinkyLinky
Claire Jacobs
September 5, 2014 at 8:35 pm
love that you lost so much so quickly!
think i need to save up some pennies to try this myself!
#binkylinky
Hannah Budding Smiles
September 6, 2014 at 7:40 am
What a great start! I think this sounds like a brilliant idea and I can see how it would stop you from snacking too. Good luck for the rest of it!xx #BinkyLinky
Loving life with little ones
September 6, 2014 at 7:31 pm
Sounds great but it is too expensive for me! #binkylinky
Mama Herself
September 7, 2014 at 6:55 am
I can certainly see why it would work. Nothing like having someone else put food in front of you and say eat that and nothing else rather than relying on you to make a good choice. Erm, by you, I mean me. Clever! #BinkyLinky
BakedPotato Mummy
September 7, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Wow! Congrstilations. That's a great weight loss in your first week. I need to sort my weight out. I'm v overweight. Weight watchers is what works for me. Diet Chef sounds great but too expensive for me and would mean I'd have to do something else for Potato too. I prefer him to eat the same as me and at the same time.
Emily
September 7, 2014 at 8:39 pm
Yeah that's one negative I guess is that you would need to prepare a separate meal for your family x
Anonymous
September 7, 2014 at 8:16 pm
That's a lot to lose in a week! What was your exercise regime like? I've been on diet chef since the end of july and have lost 11pounds so far (from 11 stone 2 to 10 stone 5). But commuting to London to work leaves me no time to work out, so i'm curious to know how much to squeeze in to make the difference!
Emily
September 7, 2014 at 8:38 pm
I don't exercise, but I never sit down as we have two and a half year old twins so I'm always chasing after them and playing with them. I think one thing that's made a big difference is that I'm snacking sensibly as I usually over eat, but with Diet Chef I'm full so don't over eat
MummyWhiskers Kat
September 11, 2014 at 3:24 pm
Well done on such a great loss in week one, I have to say from your pictures the meals look really tasty! #binkylinky