Common Sense Eating

[SouthernNorthernGirl]

I wanted to start a thread about eating sensibly / healthily etc without any diet fads involved.
Would love a bit of support in this, and I'm sure there are others that feel the same.

lucky glad you've had a good day I'm definitely finding the calorie counting helpful at this stage as it helps me feel in control of my intake and, as you say, keeps me accountable. If I stopped counting I think I'd be on a slippery slope.

I'm convinced that snacking is healthy too. I remember when Paleo Diet became a big thing some people were saying humans aren't designed to graze etc, but I get bloody famished and hangry if I don't eat frequently enough and therefore gorge myself on whatever I can find. Surely that can't be healthier than snacking in a controlled fashion!

This week I've been trying to keep in mind that it apparently takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that you're not hungry anymore. I've started to divide some meals into two parts, eat one, leave the rest for 20 minutes and come back to it. I definitely think I'm eating slightly smaller quantities and reassessing how much I actually need to be comfortably full.

I had breakfast out today; just scrambled eggs, bacon and sourdough, but it was such a treat. I got plenty of steps in too.

Sleep well all!

Ooh lovely! Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. Yours sounds perfect floss! We're having brioche today. Going to try and have plenty of fruit so I don't eat a big pile!

I had a good day food wise yesterday and ran 10.5 miles. Normally that would mean free license to eat rubbish all day but I had a fairly large lunch of veggie chilli wraps with cheese and plain yogurt and I avoided the binge. :)

I'm calorie counting, but my general approach is sensible portions of whatever I fancy, healthy choices mostly but nothing off limits. I reloaded mfp and it's working fine now yay! I've joined the mfp thread as well. I think it's the way to go for me.

Hi everyone

I've just read through this thread with interest. I am really struggling at the moment, I feel like I've been on and off diets so much that I no longer know how to eat 'normally'. I feel guilty every time I eat something 'bad'. A couple of years ago I lost quite a bit of weight and have since put it all back on and I hate myself for it. My biggest problem at the moment is that when I lost weight I actually found it reasonably easy, I felt positive and focused. Since then I have started a new job, it is so stressful and has taken over my life. I am miserable and have piled the weight on. I am unable to find another job at the moment and I find myself so stressed and exhausted that I struggle to focus on eating healthily.

So at 5ft 3in I am 11st 6lbs and feeling pretty rubbish and such a failure. This thread seems really positive and I've found it quite inspiring so well done to all of you - hoping I can somehow find a healthier approach as you all have.

x

Oh BeBe that sounds miserable. :( I'm definitely a believer in working on my own happiness first as a good foundation for other changes. Have you tried meditation or yoga? Or maybe trying to fit in a hobby or some you time while you're waiting for a new job opportunity to come up?

You're not a failure, you just sound tired and stressed. That's not your fault and it happens to us all. (Unmumsnetty hugs)

Submariner thank you for such a kind post. I don't really have any hobbies anymore to be honest. It feels like I spend all my time working and worrying about work and have no time for anything else. I'm so cross at myself that I've allowed myself to put all this weight back on, it feels like such a mountain to climb to lose it all again and I don't feel like I have the energy or motivation to do it! I know I have to do something though. It feels like if I could sort out the work issue everything else would follow but I know that's not going to happen any time soon so I need to sort myself out somehow.

Thank you again, this thread is generally very positive and very inspiring.

xx

Floss I'm exactly the same! I can't have just 3 set meals, I get so hungry in between like you say and usually end up binging or overeating because I've let myself get too hungry. Downloaded MFP again today so hopefully things go in the right direction now!
Breakfast out sounds lovely too. I love a good brunch out.

Bebe, sorry to hear things feel so bad for you :( easier said than done I know but try not to be cross at yourself, these things happen so easily and like you said it's the job causing you stress, it's not you being a 'failure' at all

Submariner veggie chilli wraps sound so tasty right now!
Diemme I think that's what would work for me too :) no limits necessarily but portion control and where I can making healthy choices.

Veggie chilli wraps sound lovely!

I've had roast beef today, and it was good! I had Yorkshires too - no guilt.

Glad to see how everyone's doing.
Interested to know what you all love for breakfast?

Thanks luckycatclover - I think I am just lacking the belief that I can actually lose all the weight I need to, it seems so daunting and in recent weeks I haven't lost a single pound. I think I've just given up on myself really.

Don't give up BeBe!

Like others, I find using mfp to log calories really useful as it makes me feel more in control. I had a very poor week last week, (half term, dinners out, away for the weekend...) but I'm back to it today.

Good luck this week everyone!

Hi all!

Just checking in after a busy weekend.

I managed to get to body pump on Saturday and then did 40mins yoga and 30min Davina DVD at home yesterday. I have a Zumba class tonight too; I'm really enjoying exercise at the mo!

Menu plan today is:

B: homemade pancakes with lots of fresh fruit
L: tuna sandwich
D: chickpea curry and rice

bebe, don't give up!

If getting on the scales is just making you feel demotivated, maybe you could have a break from weigh ins? I'm only speaking from personal experience and am definitely no expert, but I seem to go through phases where I need to focus on the positive changes I'm making instead of on weight or I end up losing the will to bother and hit the famous fuck it button!

Hi everyone

Bebe I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling so down. Please don't give up. Looking at the total amount of weight you want to lose can be so daunting. You need to start by being kind to yourself and take one day at a time. Work out how to make some positive tweaks to your diet and lifestyle. Doesn't matter how small they are. Then start today. Don't think about tomorrow, or next week and don't focus on the total amount you want to lose. I'd really recommend myfitnesspal, it's really helping learn how to eat sensibly again.

Southern glad you enjoyed your Yorkshires! I haven't had a proper Yorkshire pudding for ages.

Well done on all that exercise klingy you must be feeling great

I had microwave tagliatelle last night and some Haribo; within 20 minutes I felt so rank. Like I had a hangover 😩

I'm beginning to wonder if wheat doesn't suit me very well. I've not been eating very much white bread or pasta recently and every time I do I seem to get cramps

Southern, I could write an essay on my favourite breakfasts! Like Sub, it's my favourite meal of the day. At the moment I'm having porridge in the week, but porridge season is nearly over so will swap to something else soon.

The other day I baked some mushrooms with rosemary and thyme then cracked a couple of eggs over and baked for another couple of minutes. That was excellent.

Have a great week everyone!

Thanks everyone, some great ideas. I think you're right about taking things a day at the time, it does feel so daunting. Well done to all of you, you're doing so well,

xx

Ooh, floss, that sounds so good!

My weekday breakfasts are
porridge with raisins and half a teaspoon of honey,
overnight oats done in the end of a jam jar with flaked almonds and raisins,
Peanut butter and banana toast - I like the meridian peanut butter with no added sugar and salt,
Boring muesli,
Tomato and/or pepper omelette.

I would like more breakfast ideas too.

I used to love kippers and a poached egg when I was little, might have to get some although my boys would be horrified!

First weigh in day and i have lost the total amount of bugger all !

Hopefully this will give me the kick up the arse I need to take it a bit more seriously this week .

Well done to all the grown ups who have managed to lose weight and not just maintain the same lardiness .

I've gained 2lbs I'm not weighing in this week...

Oh dear. Maybe it's muscle? I'm buckling down this week. Will really focus and definitely avoid wine. I am blaming that plus Valentine's Day for weight.

B: fresh fruit and spoonful of peanut butter
L: salad or sushi from Waitrose
D: not sure... will have a think. Hopefully someone else will post a menu soon and inspire me!

Ok I am now promising to post every day and take this seriously . I really want to lose weight so why do I keep messing it up ?

So today
B 1 slice wholemeal toast with peanut butter .
S I have brought 2 apples and 1 Orange to work with me .
L Soup , ryvita with Philly light ( won't get to eat lunch until after 3 because of work .
D My dh is cooking toad in the hole which I might have to swerve and have something a bit healthier.

Today I will not have any booze . Dh is off work this week so thinks it's holiday time .

I also have no excuse to not go to the gym today .

Good luck everyone !

Sounds like lots of people are doing well it's lovely to hear positive stories 😀. I posted on the first page but as usual lost momentum, my weakness is tiredness and I have been up all night with ds 7 which means my midnight brunch/lunch was a giant bag of sweet chilli sensations and 2 pieces if peanut butter on toast, brilliant.

I don't know if I can do this its not rocket science I understand what other posters say about feeling a faliure, I feel disgusting and will not weigh myself oh and none of my clothes fit 😩.

I have so much respect for you guys going to the gym and doing a 10.5 mile run!! I don't know how to help myself, dont Know where to start and feel so fed up.

Quickly posting to weigh in, then will be back to reply!

I weighed in at 12st.11 today, which is 2lb off for me.

Howlong I'm sure you're not messing it up! I do understand that feeling though. Can I make a suggestion re dinner tonight? Perhaps have the toad in the hole - just thoroughly enjoy it and stop when satisfied? It may help with the good / bad food mindset.

Lilyben I'm not exercising! I can't just yet - like you, it's too much for me at the moment. However, I am going to start soon, just by a little bit of walking. What is it you're actually finding the hardest? Food ? Mealtimes? snacking etc

Lilybens - you can only do one thing at a time. None of us ran 10 miles the first time we stepped out the door. Just step out! So you might walk round the block for ten minutes run for 30 seconds, nearly keel over and come home. If it's better than what you did yesterday then great! Or search for a yoga video on YouTube. My Goddess (who I will not stop going on about) Adrienne has yoga videos that are 7 minutes long. Easy pips. Then when you do something congratulate yourself on what you did do, not worry about what you didn't.

Also, be kind to yourself. If you've been up all night you probably need a nap or a long bath. You certainly didn't fail at making sure your 7 year old was well cared for last night, so big yourself up for that. Be kind to yourself so you can carry on being kind to your loved ones. You can do it!

Well done everyone :) I've maintained my weight, the exact same as last week but I'm quite happy, had a few meals out last week where I didn't even try to be good... been invited to a brunch tomorrow too, to my favourite cafe that does these amazing massive stacks of American style pancakes. They also do relatively healthy stuff like soup, eggs, avocado on toast, that sort of thing. We'll see what happens tomorrow :D

Calorie counting also opening my eyes to how much I was eating before hahaha... upsetting.

I just need to make myself move more (i.e actually go to the gym). But I feel so exhausted all the time, I don't know how any of you manage it. It's my day off today and I planned to get up at 8.30 and go then but obvs am still sat in bed. I think I'll go later, just going to print out my little exercise booklet, I'm going to try Kayla Itsines BBG if anyone's seen it? The PDF of the old version is free online. It's basically 3x sessions of circuits/resistance training and then 2-3x LISS 'low intensity' cardio basically. It doesn't seem too bad until I remember I haven't exercised that much in like, 3 years!