To wonder how you can get enough calories eating healthily?

[moutonfou]

I'm not trying to lose weight, but I'm trying to eat healthily - a few relatives have had heart/diabetes scares lately so I really want to cut back on excessive fat/salt/sugar and try to eat more lean protein, wholemeal, etc.

Today I've eaten porridge for breakfast; a pitta with chicken, feta and salad for lunch; chicken in a coconut marinade with rice for tea, and for snacks strawberries with full fat greek yoghurt, some cherries, and some cashew nuts.

And I'm still 500 calories under my supposed calorie needs which is only 1800. I also burn about 1500-2000 calories per week through exercise (didn't exercise today so the 500 deficit is before any exercise).

How am I meant to make up the calorie deficit without resorting to something easy like chocolate or crisps? I guess I could have just eaten more of everything, like two pittas instead of one, but I get full quite quickly. Took two pittas to work for that reason but just couldn't face the second.

On the other hand, could quite easily stuff my face with 500 calories of chocolate before getting full....

certainly no rationing yourself with something ridiculous like an 800 calorie diet.

It's a medically proven diet which can reverse diabetes. Perhaps read up on the science before slagging it off?

I think I need to try this blood sugar diet. Anyone else have any success with it?

Unless you're seriously underweight, OP, then why bother calorie counting, let alone fretting that you're not eating enough? If your DH needs to lose weight he should take responsibility for that himself.

Are you losing weight OP? If not, then you are eating enough calories.

OP: loads and loads of olive oil. Job done.

TittyGolightly, can you maintain a healthy weight on that?
I've read that caloric restriction has health benefits, but doesn't that also make you really thin?

If you can fit all that into 1300 calories, you're a better woman than I am! Seriously, I don't know how that is actually possible! I also wonder about the counting involved - if this is wrong then you can just make up the 500 by just slightly increasing your portion sizes.

Giddy usually the BSD is followed for 6 weeks, not forever. I don't know if it's recommended for people who are a low or normal weight, but I think due to the Type 2 diabetes connection it is usually followed by people who are overweight to begin with.

Just responding to the OPs title...eating healthily means eating enough calories. Don't lose sight of that.

Ah, I see - that makes sense Quim. Thanks!

EAch round of the BSD is 8-12 weeks, with a 4 week break between where you follow the eating principles but don't count calories.

Tilly I have also done the BSD, I lost 21lb in the first 8 weeks but I have struggled with maintenance. It isn't for everyone but it has definitely changed the way I eat and I literally cannot remember the last time I ate pasta, rice, potatoes etc. Now I've place marked, I'll link to our lovely thread on here, come and have a look and see what we're about

Blood sugar diet thread 7
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/2954578-blood-sugar-diet-thread-7

however- in contrast to tittygolightly I do struggle on 800 calories sometimes, and to refer back to the OP (apologies if I have hijacked the thread!), op must be having very small portions. Why even count calories if you're not trying to lose weight? Why not just eat until you're full, and stop? How lovely that you could do that, eat what you want, not feel deprived, and still have room/calories allowed for a treat if you want them? Speaking as a lifelong dieter/ calorie counter, I can only dream of that freedom!

Quim and yes, it (BSD) would only really be recommended for someone of a 'normal' Weight to bring down their blood sugars and 'reverse' type 2 diabetes. If you're not type 2 but are insulin resistant, or have reduced insulin sensitivity, it can help with weightloss where other plans might not.

Is this thread a joke? That seems to be the carbs diet! Just add much more olive oil, nuts, avocado, animal fats. It's dead easy and ditch all those carbs you are eating!

But I love carbs! Literally all my favourite foods are carbs and I kind of only eat meat/protein because I know I should.