Healthy eating/gardening/anxiety

[rainbowninja]

Is anyone interested in joining a thread about the impact of healthy eating on their mental health?

I've suffered from anxiety for years but it's been a lot worse since I became a mum.

With lockdown in the mix I just feel physically and emotionally depleted.

I've had some tests done and I know that I am low in certain vitamins etc. I've been recommended supplements to take and to 'eat the rainbow' (basically eat shed loads of veg). I want to give it a go for my own sake and my daughter because I know I'm not being the best mum to her. I'm anxious and irritable.

It feels quite overwhelming but I am quite interested in learning about nutrition, I also quite like the idea of having a go at growing some of my own veg as I've been enjoying being outside lately and I know it helps me.

I don't want to do it on my own though so I wondered if there were any other anxious mumsnetters out there that would be interested in learning/growing with me. No pressure to change anything overnight, maybe we could just cheer each other on for drinking an extra glass of water or something?

Hi Rainbow, I think it's called person centred therapy. My counsellor is understanding but there's a lot of awkward silences and repeating everything that I say. I find that uncomfortable and will just be glad when it is over.

Lockdown has affected a lot of people's mental health. I have a lot of family stuff going on, so I know how hard that is. I hope you find something that helps you feel better.

Beef casserole sounds yummy. I treated me and my daughter to Nando's on Sunday.

My art club went well today. Only 7 children came which made it easier. I kept the activity really simple. Just made playdough in a few different colours and got them to make things like aliens and cake.

I started my autism star yesterday evening. Discussed how I was doing with physical health, life skills and self esteem. The woman doing it was really easy to talk to and the hour session went really quickly.

Playdough creations

Hi @Lokikitty, sounds like starting the autism star was a positive experience and I get what you mean about the awkwardness of the therapy conversation.

The playdough creations are fab! Glad you found an activity that was at a good level and that the children enjoyed.

I had to chair a meeting this evening on zoom for my course and I found it quite challenging but I'm glad I did it.

I used to like a Nando's, it felt like one of the healthier takeaway options. We had left over beef casserole tonight. I'm running a bit low on ideas now until my online shop arrives on Friday.

Hi Rainbow, well done on chairing the meeting. That sounds hard.

I like the healthy options at Nando's. I can get chicken and vegetables. Hope you think of something nice to cook.

I'm so glad the playdough activity went well. I was beginning to get a bit worried.

How has your day been?

Hi @Lokikitty,

Struggled with the healthy eating yesterday, just ran out of energy to think of what to cook. I ended up snacking on energy balls and olives because that's pretty much all I had in that was minimum effort. I had a proper evening meal though and after that I had some non alcoholic wine which was a nice treat for me!

How are you doing? Do you have any plans for the weekend?

Hi Rainbow, it's hard to eat properly when you're really tired. I didn't sleep well yesterday and had to force myself to eat some toast for breakfast this morning. It just felt like too much effort.

I'm working on Saturday. Thinking of going to the Christmas market on Sunday. Just going to see if I feel upto it. I've had a hectic and emotional week. What are your plans for the weekend?

Hi @Lokikitty,

I know what you mean, I haven't been great on breakfasts at the moment and I've been snacking again today but my husband has made a bolognese for tea and I'm going to have it with edamame pasta as I'm staying off gluten for now.

I went to a little Christmas market today at my local church and it was lovely actually as I don't think we managed to do anything like that last year. I hope you had a good day at work?

Hi Rainbow, hope you enjoy your bolognese. Has not having gluten made a difference?
I've just had salmon and vegetables that my daughter made.

Work went well. I've been told that I can apply for a job at the special needs centre. Still doing Saturdays and school holidays, just won't be through agency. I'd get better pay and training.

Unfortunately it went downhill after work. The busses were worse than last week. I waited an hour for my second bus. My sister had a bit of a rant at me because of a mistake I made a few days ago. I feel quite low.

Sounds like you had a good day. I'm really glad that the Christmas markets are back on. I don't feel upto going this weekend but hoping to go next week.

Hi @Lokikitty,

I think skipping gluten has made me realise that there just isn't a lot of nutritional value in those types of foods so it means I'm eating more vegetables which seems like a good thing!

It sounds like a job directly with the special needs centre would be a good thing?

I used to like travelling by bus when it worked but the frustration when it doesn't is a nightmare. Sorry you had such a long trip home 😟

Hope you're having a more restful day today. I couldn't be bothered with much of a breakfast but I had left over bolognese for lunch and roasted veg so I've had one decent meal at least.

Hi Rainbow, I know what you mean. Having less carbs mean that I have more protein, healthy fats and vegetables in my diet.

Having a job directly with the special needs centre would definitely be a good thing. As long as the recruitment process isn't too stressful for me.

Busses are definitely a nightmare at the moment. I'm going to try switching to a train journey next Saturday.

Still feeling a bit low today, so been taking it easy. Went to a Italian restaurant for a very late lunch, so only had one proper meal as well. Treated myself to lasagne and creme brulee.

Hi Loki,

Yes hope the recruitment process isn't a stressful one 🤞🏻

The meal at the Italian restaurant sounds nice, I've been snacking again today but don't think it's done me any favours. I'm seeing my health coach later in the week so hopefully she can help motivate me to get back on track.

I've spent a lot of the day reading, not felt like studying but I did go for a walk again and although I didn't go as far as I did on Saturday it was just nice to be outside walking and seeing people and feeling part of the world. I realise I need that as much as anything.

Hi Rainbow,

I hope you feel motivated again soon. It's hard to stay on track with healthy eating. I've just had chicken and vegetables for tea. The thing I'm struggling with at the moment is having the time and energy to do a full weekly shop.

What do you like to read? It's sounds like your walking is going really well. I walked to and from work today, which I was really pleased with.

Did snowflakes at art club today. It was a nice, simple activity and the children enjoyed it.

My post diagnosis appointment went well yesterday. We discussed sensory issues and communication. The woman that I was talking to kept saying how everyone says the same thing in response to some of the questions. It's nice to know that others have similar issues to me.

Hi @Lokikitty,

I know, eating healthy is hard work. I ended up having a cereal bar for breakfast and felt awful, just wanted to go back to bed. I had leftover bolognese for lunch and chicken and vegetables this evening too which I feel better for. I'm not surprised you are exhausted by the weekly shop, I struggle to think that far ahead sometimes.

I read a lot of self help books at the moment, could probably do with something a bit lighter!

It is so reassuring to think that you are not alone in these things. I find certain sounds for example people eating really intolerable and it makes me think there is something wrong with me because it brings on a really intense reaction in me. I sometimes have to put my earphones in when my husband is eating 😳

Hi, Rainbow
How has your week been? I got offered chocolate by a colleague today. She felt my fruit and natural yogurt was way too healthy! I'm full of a cold, so decided a few treats won't do me any harm.

I got a lift part way home after work today. So feeling less stressed this weekend. Only thing is that I didn't know that I was getting a lift, so have spent a lot of money on train and bus fares today.

I've got a bit of an art project for my art club. Been given a massive canvas to do something on. If it looks good it will go on display. I'm looking forward to it, just wish that I had more time to get the children to do it.

I realized last night that I can fit into a dress that I have never been able to wear because it was too tight. I'm looking forward to wearing it next Friday at a Christmas do with people from my Zumba class.

I love self help books. I'm the same, I often feel that I should read something lighter. I just love finding out as much information as possible.

When my misophonia is playing up, my daughter insists on eating her meal in her bedroom. It's sweet of her but I feel terrible.

Hi @Lokikitty,

How's your cold? I think I'm pretty much on track with the healthy meals again, I've done a meal plan and I'm sticking to it in the main. My husband and daughter had pizza tonight and I had my own version which was made with gram flour and grated carrot.

That's great news about the dress, such a good feeling!

I knew there was a name for it - misophonia, it's nice that your daughter understands, it can be really distressing.

I can't remember if I said that I found out I had adrenal fatigue? I'll know more when I meet with the functional medicine doctor later this week.

Hi Rainbow,

I'm hopefully over the worst of the cold. Just hoping it's gone by Friday, so I can enjoy my Christmas do with my Zumba class. It's rare that I go out and I don't want a cold to ruin the night.

What's adrenal fatigue? Hope you can get something to help you feel better.

How has your day been? I'm dragging myself to work at the moment and I hate that.

Hi @Lokikitty, fingers crossed that you are feeling better for Friday 🤞🏻

I'll know more after my appointment but the adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and they release the stress hormone cortisol, they are also involved in your metabolism and blood sugar control. So if they are worked too hard everything can get out of balance.

I've been feeling a bit low, it's that time of the month, but got some good news. I went into the pub at the bottom of my road with my husband. I only stayed for 5 minutes but it's still quite big for me!

Is it your art club today? Hope it goes well.

Hi Rainbow, well done 👍. That's great news about the pub. When are you going again?

I'm feeling a little bit better today. Over the worst of the cold, so should be fine by Friday.

Art club was cancelled because of staff training. Then training was cancelled because a lot of staff are off sick. Had a quiet evening, which I needed.

Hope your appointment goes okay.

Hi Loki,

I think I'll just carry on with my walks and stop again when I feel able to, it appealed to me yesterday because it looked so nice and Christmassy! 🎄

Are there many covid cases at your school? There's one in my daughters class and now her teacher is off, hoping it's not related though.

Appointment went well, the doctor can adjust my supplements to support the adrenal fatigue. She suggested that sticking to a low sugar and low carb diet would be a good idea for me right now.

Are you eating out on Friday?

Hi Rainbow,

I love looking at all the Christmas decorations when I'm walking.

There are a few covid cases but luckily not enough for a class to get sent home.

That's good news about your appointment. I will be having a meal tomorrow. The food's not that great at the place that I'm going to. Hoping it will be okay. I'm not great at socializing, so not sure how the evening is going to go.

Any plans for the weekend?

Hi Loki,

How was your evening out?

We went back to the pub on Friday with my daughter this time as she had a teacher training day and we just stayed for a quick drink again but it was worth it to be out as a family.

I feel a bit down in the dumps today. Tried to make a blueberry waffle for breakfast and it didn't work and just made a mess of the waffle maker. I tried to make a pancake out of the mixture and that made a mess too. However it was sort of edible and in fact my daughter liked it and ate most of it.

Apparently for adrenal fatigue you need to eat a good protein breakfast. I need to come up with some better ideas 🤔

Hi Rainbow,

My evening out was okay. Food was disappointing, especially considering how much I paid for it. Me and my daughter enjoyed dancing. I paid for a mini bus there and back. I had to wait until 12.30 to go home. My daughter fell asleep!

Glad you've managed to go back to the pub. You are doing really well.

Sounds like your breakfast was a bit of a faff. Do you know what went wrong? Hope you can find some easier things to make.

I've just had butter chicken for a very late tea. I haven't cooked it for ages and was quite pleased with how it turned out.

Hi Loki,

Sounds like a good night out, shame about the food.

I tried combining 2 recipes for the waffles and it wasn't the right consistency.

Butter chicken sounds lovely!

I'm going to try and make bigger breakfasts this week and lighter dinners. I snacked again last night and then woke up with a racing heart about 15 mins ago. I'm my own worst enemy sometimes 😩

Hi Rainbow,

Have you found any nice recipes for breakfast. I made aussie crunch on Monday. Just have to stop myself from eating too much of it!

No art club now until spring. I'm going to miss doing it.

I'm hoping that my work's do won't be cancelled. We've gone back to wearing masks in school.

Hi Loki,

I've found a blueberry pancake recipe that works well. It was on the back of some chestnut flour that I bought and is really nice.

Love Aussie crunch, are you doing any Christmas baking? I told my daughter we could make a gingerbread house.

I hope your Christmas do can go ahead, how do you find wearing a mask all day? I've not had to do it.