Do you eat well and how do you feel?

[RedSquirrel111]

My diet is quite frankly shocking and I think it's really starting to affect my health. Im tired and lethargic all the bloody time.

I live off sandwiches, toast and pizza. I can honestly go days without a piece of fruit or veg. The only time I have a 'proper' meal is when I eat out.

So 2022 is year of the diet overhaul. I'm on Sainsburys ordering fish, veg and fruit. All a bit daunting!

So I suppose my question is do you think you have a healthy diet? What do you eat? (Inspiration needed!).how do you feel? Energy levels?

Favourite food is fish, especially smoked. I'm looking at Gusto now and I looks fabulous but a little daunting!
Also there's just me to cook for. Do you think there would be a lot of waste?

Also there's just me to cook for. Do you think there would be a lot of waste?

I've used Gousto before for myself and just eat it over two days, it's been fine. Portions were fine (rather than stingy or generous) imo.

I would say I eat well. I meal plan, I aim for one red meat based dish a week, one chicken, some fish and the rest vegetarian. I cook from scratch and buy seasonal produce. I can really tell if I don't eat this way, it makes a difference to my energy levels, my skin, everything. Usually it goes a bit to pot if I'm staying with my parents or just away on holiday.

Food is fuel,.l am 53, slim, never dieted. l eat fruit, porridge and nuts for breakfast, and later on protein as in turkey, salmon, chicken, tuna, for rest of the day with rice or pasta, as it fills me up and gives me energy, l have a physical job, moving around on my feet six hours plus a day at work, and also a single parent.
l don' t eat much in the way of bread or sugar, it makes me feel bloated and sluggish. l snack on the healthier yoghuts and eat a ton of fruit.
l also recommend taking a supplement, l take spatone water with natural iron, or Floradix liquid iron and vitamin formula.
Sleep is also important, l have really early starts, and l exercise for 20 - 40 mins most days.
If l don't do above l always notice it affects my mood and wellbeing, as well as energy levels, its a way of life for me and well worth it.

@Moonface123

Food is fuel,.l am 53, slim, never dieted. l eat fruit, porridge and nuts for breakfast, and later on protein as in turkey, salmon, chicken, tuna, for rest of the day with rice or pasta, as it fills me up and gives me energy, l have a physical job, moving around on my feet six hours plus a day at work, and also a single parent. l don' t eat much in the way of bread or sugar, it makes me feel bloated and sluggish. l snack on the healthier yoghuts and eat a ton of fruit. l also recommend taking a supplement, l take spatone water with natural iron, or Floradix liquid iron and vitamin formula. Sleep is also important, l have really early starts, and l exercise for 20 - 40 mins most days. If l don't do above l always notice it affects my mood and wellbeing, as well as energy levels, its a way of life for me and well worth it.

This is what I need to hear. Thank you.

Do you like podcasts OP? One I found due to recommendation on MN was Just One Thing with Michael Moseley. It's one small thing you can add to your day (he goes through one per episode) to help you develop healthy habits. I find him interesting and easy to listen to, and I like the fact that it's about adding positive habits to your life, rather than giving things up.

@SantasScaryHat

Do you like podcasts OP? One I found due to recommendation on MN was Just One Thing with Michael Moseley. It's one small thing you can add to your day (he goes through one per episode) to help you develop healthy habits. I find him interesting and easy to listen to, and I like the fact that it's about adding positive habits to your life, rather than giving things up.

Yes, thatt sounds right up my street!

I normally have fruit mid morning at work, and a yogurt for lunch at work, and I’ve felt quite bloated these last two days.
So I had porridge with berries for breakfast and I’m feeling much better today.
I think your body is just used to eating what you eat day to day.

Hi OP,

Id recommend reading one of the books by Dr Rangan Chatterjee. He is talks a lot on tv
Radio and podcasts about helping his patients make small lifestyle changes which transform their life.

He is a huge advocate of starting small. And sustaining it. So id say rather then radically transforming your whole diet and then feeling like you have failed the first time you get busy or ill or fall off the wagon.... Try and say in January i am going to start my day off well with a good breakfast and a fruit snack mid
Morning. Then perhaps in feb alternate your cheese on toast lunches with soup or something else simple. Then in March swap out fast food on alternate evenings.

He basically suggests planning your changes so they are sustainable even at the bottom of your motivation curve-not just at the new year peak. And then you are far more likely to change your habits.

@jackiebenimble I listen to him on podcast and totally agree with your post.

I noticed a huge difference to my energy levels and a vast improvement with my bloaty IBS symptoms when I started to low carb because of T2D. I eat very few carbs and not much sugar, no fruit and selected veggies, meat, dairy and plenty of eggs!

I feel awful today after eating to much junk food and drinking to much alcohol the last few days..I generally try to eat fresh vegetables, fruits, Chicken or pasta based meals with very little cream. I have had toast for breakfast, home made veg soup for lunch and home made Chinese stir fry for dinner today. The difference in my health is pretty big when I eat well and the difference in my mental health is quite significant when I workout.

I dabble with slimming world (not much weight to lose so not religious) and that suggests a lot of fresh fruit and veg plus good meats etc and when I follow that principle I feel so much more alert and energetic so it’s definitely true you are what you eat! X

If you aren’t a big veg fan consider some of the hidden veg recipes (often used to get veg into kids.)

I’m a big veg fan, rubbish with fruit. I wonder if it’s what you are doing with your veg that is the problem? If boiled cauli isn’t your thing try using it in a curry. I think if you make the veg ‘the star of the show’ rather than a side, it’s so much easier to get plenty into your diet.
The other thing I’d say is, if you just find the veg a faff, don’t be afraid to cheat and buy ready chopped stir fry mix or a try a of prepped Mediterranean veg to roast.

Do you like soup? I noticed some in Tesco which actually contain 5 portions of veg. Obviously you could make your own, but if that’s unrealistic let someone else do it for you.
If you like fish your are onto a winner as it is literally the quickest thing to cook. Eggs are also great.
Maybe pick one meal a day to start and work on getting that meal as good as you can.

Yes, I think I eat well. Plenty of veg, some fruit, meat, fish, dairy, grains, more carbs than most MNers would approve of! I have quite a fast metabolism and can eat a lot without gaining weight. I do feel well.

I’ve had a radical overhaul since splitting up with a bad-diet man in the summer. I thought I’d sorted “our” diet out but he liked a LOT of meat with his veg & we would have omelettes with LOADS of melted cheese, plus tons of alcohol & flavoured yoghurts. He also liked BIG takeaways, so although my diet felt ok, I got overweight & felt bloated and unfit.

Since breaking up with him, I’ve gone vegetarian. It’s just me at home & I did almost no exercise. I now do a few weights & stretches in the morning, lunch is homemade soup: I make batches and freeze so I can mix them up. Dinner is a mahooosive salad of lettuce, spinach, avocado, celery, cucumber, olives, apple, sometimes I add nuts & zingy dressing. I have it with a mozzarella or cheeses/cottage cheese and sometimes a dollop of coleslaw.

Occasionally, I have risotto or pasta, or a toasted cheese sandwich. The main thing is the veg. I don’t like fruit all that much but over Christmas I’ve had dates & tangerines, barely touched any chocolate. For the first year in decades, I’ve had ONE mince pie all season! I’ve worked out how to respect myself, and that includes controlling what I put in my body.

I sometimes get Gousto when my kids are here, but it helps that one is vegetarian so I just omit the meat or replace with aubergine, parsnip, or mushrooms. I don’t eat quorn & stay away from processed.

I can seriously say, I’ve never felt better! My weight is back on track.

Easy abundance of high energy but nutrient poor food is the reason why developed countries have overweight but malnourished people. Human nature plus societal pressures mean it happens all too often. I don't think anyone should feel bad for finding themselves in that place.
But, it is definitely a good idea to do things differently if you can. I eat very little highly processed food, loads of veg (though not much fruit) and I have lots of stamina and energy.

Yes I eat very well. I meal plan and try to get a wide variety of different foods every day. I am vegan and my meals consist of plenty of veg, nuts, whole grains, pulses, tofu and some olive oil for cooking. I do eat things such as white pasta and bread but only in small portions. At least half my plate will be full of vegetables. I avoid processed foods where possible but do like to have a little soya yoghurt in the afternoon as a snack.
I used to eat a lot of processed stuff but noticed a huge difference in how I felt once I improved my diet.I have relaxed over Christmas, eaten lots of crackers, chocolates, cake etc and I am feeling more drained and sluggish. Looking forward to eating more healthy foods again tomorrow onwards

I've been doing WW since May. The main changes have been a vast amount more fruit and veg and cutting a lot of carbs and sugar. I still eat similar things but will sub pasta for butternut or roasted root veg. Or have a feta salad but with spiralised beetroot instead of bread. I've lost 2 stone in that time, but more importantly felt so much better. I'm 44 and was overweight but not huge, but energy levels, skin, hair - all much better. I've been eating anything I like the last week or so and I'm afraid it shows. I feel like I've gained a load of weight back but I'm sleeping poorly, digestion is off, I'm tired and I just feel crappy. Last big meal tomorrow and then I'm back to vast salads and lots of protein, and I know I will feel better for it.

I'm the same OP. Constantly tired but all I eat is processed food and maybe one bit of fruit per week (if that). I just find fruit and veg extremely dull, like it's a chore to eat it. I don't exercise at all either.

I think it's definitely down to bad habits. I was never encouraged to eat well as a child and I've never been bigger than a size 10 so it's not bothered me much. Reading this thread has been useful because I know I need to change! I hope it goes well for you.

Hi Op! I’m in the same boat. I had to do some research recently at work and found out that 80% of severe illness is avoidable through healthy food and exercise. Also you need a waist measurement that is less than a certain number which I have now forgotten, but I’m over it at a size 14.

I’ve been eating crap for ages. Cheesy pasta dishes, chocolate, sugary cereal, bleurgh. I have excema, acne and a spare tyre.

I just made myself a dinner of avocado, quinoa, a salmon fillet, sweetcorn and courgette. It felt like I was eating a big bowl of health! I need to keep going and need motivation!

I’ve been eating sugary fatty food since Xmas eve and drinking and I feel so fucking lethargic and demotivated it’s shocking.

In just 4 days I feel so different.

Thank you everyone for this thread.
You begin to feel 'it's just you' but I've felt for years 'certain' foods effect me differently.
It's very inspiring and will listen to Michael Mosley at some point very soon.

Also you need a waist measurement that is less than a certain number which I have now forgotten

half your height I think

I have been getting Mindful Chef food boxes. They are gluten and dairy free and are really tasty meals. They have made a huge difference to my diet so its worth the extra money. I generally avoid gluten and dairy now as it was making me bloated and have totally cut back on sugars and processed foods.
Feel great for it!