Why We Eat (Too Much) Thread 3

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

We’ve chatted as much as we (used to) eat! New shiny thread for more support.

General principles:

No sugar
No wheat
No processed foods
Honourable mention to tipping the balance of omega 3 and 6, but that’s mostly achieved by doing the above.

Everything else is fair game!

For portions I try to use the hand measurements as a guide, but I'm going to start using side plates for my meal too.
I'm guilty of hoovering up leftovers though, there's six of us , frequently seven at the moment with DD's boyfriend and my older two are often changing plans so there's usually leftovers to be had. I'm trying to put them straight into containers for the fridge or freezer rather than eating them myself.

Meal plan for today:

Nothing yet, feeling a bit hungry now, we've dropped DD at school & been to the supermarket.
Lunch - grilled mackerel, lentil salad
Tea - rice, beef mince (because i have it in the freezer) & whatever vegetables I can find that seem appetising. Probably leek, spinach, green beans & courgette. Maybe some red pepper.

If I want anything else I have rhubarb stewed with a miserable amount of sugar & lactose free yoghurt, or strawberries. Or a small piece of melon.

Decided I'm only buying caught fish from now on, not farmed fish. For ethical reasons as well as health. Our supermarket does label all the fish to state whether it's farmed or wild caught, & there are plenty of affordable choices.

Lol @LegoCaltrops and the miserable amount of sugar! 😂

I did exactly the same - we were given about a dozen sticks of rhubarb, so I stewed them and decided to try and use as little to sweeten them as possible, just enough to take the tart edge off the taste. I think I managed with about 3 or 4 tbs of honey, but that resulted in 8 jam jars of rhubarb, so it's really very little per portion.

Sorry I've been MIA for a while. DS got told to SI by school last Friday. He then tested positive the next day. So we are locked down for another 6 days more! Argh!

Anyway i hope everyone is well. I'll have a read back and see what I've missed.

I have to say I'm a bit bored of rice and potatoes. I want something different like bread or cous cous!

I'm OK with lunches, generally OK with dinner, just would like a bit of toast or something at breakfast from time to time.

Anyone found anything nice recently?

I'm not missing crisps, biscuits or anything like that. Just bread.

Some nice catch -ups here, although sorry to here about those not feeling well or self isolating :(
Portion control is such a big issue for me. I really am greedy I am afraid.

Today has been a fishy day as the fish man is at the market so:

Grilled mackerel and salad
Glass of gazpacho with flax seed
Yoghurt with berries
And dinner will be salmon cooked in a bag with butter, lemon juice and capers, served with veg and a few salad potatoes. Then it's gym and Pilates so will wait till I get back to see if I am hungry ( who am I kidding )

will also NOT feel obliged to do extra veg just because it's healthy or to finish up a packet of something.

And I will NOT have any berries and Greek yoghurt afterwards for at least 30 mins so I can properly gauge if I'm still hungry.

This is me to a Tee!

Oh has anyone listened to the latest Dr Xand and Dr Chris podcast that came out a couple of days ago? V interesting.

@CatherineCawood

Oh has anyone listened to the latest Dr Xand and Dr Chris podcast that came out a couple of days ago? V interesting.

I've listened to one and two so far and enjoyed them, might listen to the third later this evening.

@CatherineCawood

Oh has anyone listened to the latest Dr Xand and Dr Chris podcast that came out a couple of days ago? V interesting.

I have too - the behaviour change psychologist part was very interesting

Woke up early so I'm listening to the podcast now. Think I've got a migraine starting. I'm supposed to be taking DD to a birthday party after school. DH is planning to go out with friends for the first time since the start of the pandemic so I'm hoping it holds off for a while. He'll cancel if he thinks I can't cope with it.

Just wondering why my previous post didn’t make the thread show up in active.

Sympathy, @LegoCaltrops Hope it holds off. Not sure re the active threads thing...

Have not listened to podcast yet. I remember seeing a documentary a few years ago where they looked at obesity but in identical twins where one was obese and one wasn't. Their conclusion albeit not fully proven was where one twin became obese it was linked with a major tragedy/stress. They thought this led to epigenetic changes in the body.

I do wonder if the most important message in his book is actually about stress and cortisol. I have been trying to follow general principles in his book and I never knew how much sunflower oil is in stuff. I don't even like oils much and normally avoid it. Little did I know it is everywhere.

Morning everyone, just checking in to keep this thread in actives. Holiday has been amazing, have really enjoyed every minute. Food been difficult to juggle which I knew it would be. But not fell face first into the cream teas and crab sandwiches. A mix of pub teas, quick stuff in the caravan and fish and chips.

Looking forward to getting home and filling the fridge with healthy food, but am so busy when we get home, got ponies to move stables on sunday which will be busy, busy,busy and depending on traffic, not sure what time we will get home Saturday. So new start may have to wait until Monday. Am not beating myself up, it is what it is and it's a lifestyle change not a diet.

Scales won't be very kind to me but am not even worrying about that.

I think that's a really positive outlook @HighlandCowbag - it's important to be able to enjoy holidays and special occasions without being so hung up on food that we can't celebrate with people we care about.

As long as our normal everyday eating is on-plan having a birthday celebration or holiday is not going to derail our progress over the long-term.

We're on holiday as well - it's self-catering, so most meals have been on-plan. We had a BBQ with friends last night and I just took the meat with salads. Did have ice cream afterwards, but I'm ok with that as it's a holiday. Tonight is going to be fish and chips, but again I'm ok with that. Having salad for lunch.

I've been listening to the Xand and Chris podcast - what has struck me the most is Chris' realisation he can't make Xand change. It has to come from Xand. I think there's a lot we can all learn from that - too many people think they can force change in others, but unless the person themself wants to change it will not happen. True for obesity, alcohol abuse, drug misuse etc.

Highland I agree you shouldn't worry - holidays and stuff like that isn't every day. Next week I'm off glamping - have to cook our food on a fire! I'm hoping for lots of BBQ meat and salads, but I won't deprive myself from fish and chips at the seaside or an ice cream too!

I made a really nice recipe from the one tray recipe book earlier - wild rice, kale, duck, lots of ginger and Chinese 5 spice and garlic. It was really nice! Sub the sesame oil for a mild olive oil!

Managed to take DD to the party. In bed now. DH still not back, I didn’t tell him because he always cancel plans when I’m ill & he deserves a night out. He gives up a lot for me. Feel rough though.

I went away and now I am completely off the wagon. Been a month or more and I am grumpy again and feel sluggish.

Need to get back on that wagon

I’ve been stalled at much the same weight for 5 weeks now, it’s really depressing! Partly holidays and partly the kids being off is reducing my exercise - DH is taking them out because he’s signed off, and I’m not doing any school runs etc. A few takeaways have sneaked in too. We’re at the in-laws this weekend so food isn’t on plan, but I’ll be back in it on Monday and I aim to start more exercise.

@jewel1968

Have not listened to podcast yet. I remember seeing a documentary a few years ago where they looked at obesity but in identical twins where one was obese and one wasn't. Their conclusion albeit not fully proven was where one twin became obese it was linked with a major tragedy/stress. They thought this led to epigenetic changes in the body.

I do wonder if the most important message in his book is actually about stress and cortisol. I have been trying to follow general principles in his book and I never knew how much sunflower oil is in stuff. I don't even like oils much and normally avoid it. Little did I know it is everywhere.

This really interesting. I’m a twin (fraternal), and my sister is a healthy weight whereas I’m not. I’ve had a major trauma in my life, and apart from that, my life in general is much more stressful. DH has depression, and the kids, while lovely, are a lot more work and stress (eg homeschooling during Covid) that my sister just doesn’t have to deal with. She’s free to please herself outside of work - plenty time for exercise etc.

Room for a newbie?
I feel like I’m more accountable when I am chatting (honestly) with others. A few years ago I joined some weight loss threads here and managed to lose over a stone, still wasn’t my goal weight but looked and felt so much healthier. Motivation then was a holiday with extended family, knowing everyone would see me in swimwear.
This time I’m looking to be healthy. Dr Chris’ programme about ultra processed foods was eye opening, and I’ve been looking at how much junk I put inside my body. Also trying to choose better options, so have switched from white rice, spaghetti and pasta to wholemeal (or at least mixing a pack of each). Have in the last few days gone cold-turkey with snacks, as it’s the only way for me. Switched squash for tap water. It’s difficult with kids, because they are so used to sugar-laden yoghurts etc. Tried serving Greek yoghurt with fruit and honey mixed in, think they’re getting used to it.
I haven’t read the book but planning to get it this weekend.

Very welcome @SingaporeSlinky, I know what you mean about being accountable, it helps me as well which is why I'm posting regularly on this thread.

I got up early to watch some of the Olympics, had breakfast (porridge) at 5am so have already had my lunch (salad).

I know having such an early lunch may mean I need something mid-afternoon, but will take an apple and some cheese if I need.

Another BBQ planned for dinner later, again I'm intending to only have the meat items with no bread rolls and fill up with salad.

Welcome @SingaporeSlinky!

I weighed myself this morning and I've lost 5lbs in the last three weeks. I haven't been cutting calories or meals, I've just improved the quality of what I eat (and cut out wheat). I have had some dark choc and ice cream (checked ingredients and only ate one with no veg oil) too. It's much slower going than when I diet and can drop half a stone in the first week, which is pretty much just water weight and ends up in me having a higher set point weight. But I can live with that because this is for life!

I have a lot of weight to lose, but so far, so good!

I have now listened to the podcast and Dr Xand's weight gain was linked to stress and moving to US where food was plentiful. So, chimes with the other documentary I watched. The genetics expert explained the likely link.

I do think the principles in the book are good and sensible but it's harder to follow than I thought. Sunflower oil is everywhere. Harrissa paste for example is not something I am likely to make myself (perhaps I could buy the dry version and add olive oil?) and has Sunflower oil. Loads of things like that do so lots of pastes are out.

And could someone tell me best oil to use in a wok as Olive oil doesn't like high temps.

The reason I am trying to follow this is mostly to do with inflammation and arthritis. Wondering how long I might see improvement as am having flare up now which I think relates to stress. I do think if we were less stressed we would all be lighter and have less pain.

Thank you.
I think my bad habits get so out of control that I simply have to cut out snacks 100%. Moderation just doesn’t work for me. I just can’t control myself, so if I try to have one piece of chocolate or one pack of crisps, I end up having more and more and more. But it never stops me feeling hungry (not that I was truly hungry to start with).
On Tuesday I actually ate 6 packets of crisps. I’ve never done that before, I can easily eat 2, but I had 2 after morning school run, didn’t eat any actual food the rest of the day, just 2 more packets, then in the evening had 2 more, plus ice cream. I have no idea what I was thinking! I actually felt sick, and then worried what I’d done to myself.

So on Wednesday I started. 3 small, proper meals, zero snacks, 2 coffees and water the rest of the day. It’s early days but I must change!

I’m really interested in the sunflower oil thing as I used to always use olive oil and I don’t remember why I switched, so will switch back.