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Original poster

Thread for those who are trying to eat "better"

997 replies

Octopus37 · 07/02/2014 14:26

Following on from yesterdays thread "Do I eat too much", which I posted on, I was unsurprising told that what I eat is crap. Have been feeling pretty crap the last few weeks, not enough energy low libido, sluggish, wound up, down - so have decided to see if changing my eating habits can shift things a bit. I'm not overweigh 5ft5, 8st6lbs, (slightly on the heavy side for me), but would be pleased if I did loose a few pounds, trying not to make weight the focus. Have decided to take a vitamin pill with iron every day, last year had v low ferratin levels so had to take iron tablets for a while. I'm not promising to do well every day and cut out sugar completely as I feel that I would be destined to fail. However, I am going to try to I improve. Today have eaten:
1 pack of Belvita biscuits
1 Actvia extra creamy yoghurt
1 large apple
1 Danone (high protein yoghurt)
3 Oatcakes
Some cashew nuts
I am planning on sweet chilli chicken & rice (ready meal cause of money diet) with some stir fried veg for tea and plan to eat some red grapes afterwards. Also may have some sort of a treat on school run. Also aim is to replace the Belvita biscuits with oatcakes for breakfast and maybe eat them with some cheese. Know I'm not doing perfectly but I am making an effort. Buddies welcome.

OP posts:
fuzzpig · 27/02/2014 19:46

I am also really looking forward to Mondays. I work a late shift, so am free in the day to cook, and the DCs will be with a childminder so will eat there. I plan on Mondays to cook something a bit more grown up (eg spicy stuff that DCs don't like) so we can eat once the DCs are asleep.

Rummikub · 27/02/2014 19:53

I roasted the chicken. Will try roasting next time. It went down well with the dc.

Fuzzpig, it's weird isnt it. We are important too! Sometimes I won't open a can of beans for me or waste an egg. Confused

Sleepwhenidie · 27/02/2014 21:20

Rummi-I'm happy to have a chat re energy/skin etc if you like, see if I can help at all. PM me Smile

Some delicious sounding meals here! Roast chicken a big favourite in this house too. I always try and make stock afterwards with the carcass to use for making soup too, it really makes a difference to the taste. I have just had roast figs with blue cheese and walnuts and am about to mash some parsnips to serve with gammon hock and green beans.

fuzzpig · 27/02/2014 21:44

I would definitely like to know more about improving skin.

My hair seems ok, I went through a phase of losing a lot (common in people with my illnesses) but thankfully it's thick anyway and it's the one bit of me that gets compliments :o but yeah, my skin looks like crap.

phonebox · 27/02/2014 22:03

Apple Cider Vinegar seems to be working a little bit for my skin (a solution, directly applied). I suspect it's mainly down to hormones though...not much I can do about that :(

Coumarin · 27/02/2014 22:32

Rummi cutting out refined sugar has improved my anxiety. Hasn't completely conquered it but the physical symptoms have dramatically reduced.

I've just eaten far more dark chocolate that I should have and I can feel my heart racing. Confused Trying not to get anxious. Won't be doing that again.

Sleepwhenidie · 27/02/2014 22:45

Phonebox, diet can affect hormones massively. Sugar is a particular culprit (again) Smile.

Poor skin and hair is often down to a lack of EFA's and protein. Anxiety can be affected a lot by caffeine, everyone's tolerance for it varies but it is a very powerful substance and if you suspect you may be sensitive it's worth cutting it out for a while to see what effect it has.

Rummikub · 27/02/2014 22:52

Sleep, thank you for that, I will do.

Coumarin, I've read some stuff about a diet that cuts out all sugar to relieve anxiety. It sounds pretty hardcore.

fuzzpig · 27/02/2014 22:53

I am quite badly affected by the caffeine in chocolate - don't drink coffee and hardly ever have tea or cola type drinks, so I really feel the effects.

Coumarin · 28/02/2014 00:05

Rummi I still eat fruit that's high in natural sugar and honey. It's things like bread and white sugar that I'm cutting out. I've been reading the ingredients of everything and if sugar is high on the list I don't have it. It's honestly been very easy so far. Apart from tonight's chocolate glitch. Well worth it if it helps my horrible anxiety. You could just cut back a bit if there's obvious things like having sugar in your hot drinks, that kind of thing, small changes and all that. Smile

Sleep I avoid caffeinated drinks like the plague because I know they aggravate my anxiety and mood but for some reason I still eat dark chocolate as if the caffeine in it is different... Blush Usually I only have a couple of squares though.

Coumarin · 28/02/2014 00:08

Fuzz I only drink herbal and fruit teas and water because caffeine has a bad effect on me. I shouldn't have has the dark choc earlier.

fuzzpig · 28/02/2014 07:18

I reeeeally love chocolate

I'm not having it at night anymore though. If I have any I'd rather have it during the day and really enjoy it. If I eat at night it's generally out of boredom TBH.

Got a busy weekend ahead. Would rather sleep!

Original poster
Octopus37 · 28/02/2014 07:19

I couldn't do without caffeine tbh, but I don't think it has any negative effects on me. Also I don't drink coffee, just black tea no sugar. It definitely helped me through when I was fasting yesterday. I do have the occasional diet coke (again had one yesterday), but don't feel the need to drink it all that time. Back to normalish for me today. I did my fast yesterday and actually didn't wake up feeling starving hungry. Have just eaten my usual sugar free peanut butter on toast. Aiming to have soup for lunch and a healthy dinner.

OP posts:
Beechview · 28/02/2014 08:06

I can't do without my coffee in the morning. As well as being nice to drink and, admittedly, a caffeine fix, its time I actually have for myself where I can just relax and think. I usually like to have it in the garden, or looking out on to it if the weather is bad.

I also never cook if its just me eating. I'll usually eat toast.
Rummikub your comment of we're important too really got to me. You're right, we are. Since I've had kids, I've not really bothered with myself. I've always put myself last.

Sleepwhenidie · 28/02/2014 08:42

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone should give up caffeine, some people cope perfectly well on it, I have builders tea first thing and usually one latte during the day at some point. I feel fine on that and don't crave it if I don't have it.

It's always interesting to try staying off certain things (sugar, dairy, caffeine or gluten for example) for a week or two and then reintroducing it just to see what, if any difference we feel. If we do realise there are negative effects that we didn't have a clue were attributable to whatever we gave up, then we can make a decision on whether we then eat it according to the risk/reward ie how much we enjoy something and how badly it affects us. It's also worth remembering that just because you have tolerated something perfectly well for years, doesn't mean it will always be that way. Our bodies change over time. We may also be borderline intolerant to something (eg wheat) and a period of particular stress or upset can tip us over into a much stronger reaction - I'm looking at you Beech Smile.

Sleepwhenidie · 28/02/2014 08:43

Sorry, not Beech, I meant Bramshot!

fuzzpig · 28/02/2014 09:05

For me it's purely 'luck' that I don't drink coffee. I don't like the smell. Same with wine (I have tried white and will have a sip of champagne at a wedding etc but the smell of red wine makes me feel sick) and beer and most spirits. So I'm not getting calories through drink really. I will have the occasional tea but it seems to disagree with me Hmm

When out I'll usually have coke/Pepsi (try not to in the evening though as it'll just keep me awake!) or nice juices/smoothies. I now think of fruit in drink form as a treat because of the sugar. We pretty much have water only at home.

Increased sensitivity to things is actually a common symptom of CFS/ME - lots of sufferers find they can no longer handle things like wheat/dairy/caffeine/dust/air pollution/pollen etc as well as they could before. It's another reason I'm trying to eat cleaner. Can't do much about traffic pollution (affects my chest a lot more now) so I need to work hard on the things I can control.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 28/02/2014 09:38

I can't have caffeine, anxiety goes through the roof and I get jittery and upset stomach. I gave it up years ago when I was in America.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 28/02/2014 11:51

I had my check over at the doctor's today,I asked the nurse not to tell me my weight as I was on a healthy eating plan and didn't want to get dis heartened, she was fine and said 'good for you' and that was thatSmile

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 28/02/2014 12:09

Nice lunch today-green salad, avocado, tomato, dollop of Greek yog, tuna and sprinkle of roasted soya beans.

fuzzpig · 28/02/2014 12:16

I made the mistake of not planning what to make today. I just stood dithering in the kitchen Hmm so I've had half of one of those dried veg/couscous things with some cream cheese. The couscous had been lurking in the cupboard for a while, I won't buy them again.

It reminded me though that I really need to plan in advance, a few days at a time. Must get the chicken (got a whole one) out of the freezer so DH can roast it for me and I'll use it over the weekend. Got some rice noodles and bean sprouts (DD loves them) so will defintely include a stir fry - and I've already got the chilli/ginger etc cut up in the freezer ready to go.

I think I'll try to get a head start on planning mon-wed next week too, as I'm back to work and will be even more tired.

sunshinemmum · 28/02/2014 12:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Coumarin · 28/02/2014 12:40

Caffeine and sugar definitely have a negative effect on me. The caffeine has an obvious and immediate effect but I hadn't realised what a difference reducing or cutting out sugar would make.

No breakfast today as I felt a bit queasy. I've had a stabbing pain in my lower right abdomin for a week and it's getting worse. Really hoping it's not my appendix. Hmm I'll go to doc if any other symptoms appear.

For lunch it's chicken and avocado salad, pimped up with feta cheese, beans and mixed seeds.

Any ideas for filling snacks I could eat on the go?

I was planning on taking some almonds and an apple but not sure if they'll be enough.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 28/02/2014 12:44

Appendix is left moving to centre iirc. Hope it eases soon.

I take nuts and bananas for snacks but I try not to snack as I eat 3x a day instead.
What about a boiled egg?

Bramshott · 28/02/2014 12:55

Currently making swede and squash soup for lunch, but have as usual left it a bit late so I'll be starving when it's done and then eat it too fast...

Filling snacks - I would take dried fruit & nut mix or oatcakes, but as we've established, I am not very good at getting in enough protein Blush.

I have been trying to stay off wheat sleep, but it's hard to keep it going if there don't seem to be any visible benefits, i.e. I feel worse now than when I originally gave it up! After the endoscopy I might reintroduce it and keep a detailed food diary so I can see what my triggers are.