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!

Finished the book!

Is there an easy way of working out the omega ratio and glycemic load values of various foods? I know there's a couple of tables in the books, but I'd like an easy and lazy way to work everything out please 😁

@CatherineCawood

Wild is less bright pink, more of a muted colour. Its more 'fishy' to me.

I'm not sure, but I think they sometimes add the pink colour artificially to fish as it increases sales.

Re the constipation. I take 2 teaspoons psyllium husks in either orange juice or plain yoghurt watered down to make a drink, every day. It looks horrible and you have to drink it fast before it solidifies but it doesn't actually taste of anything. It's just a bulker and has no nutritional value because it goes through you. Works well, no drama, no processed food. I have also added out to smoothie and put out in cereal before now. I've also used it in LC bread.

I have swapped in oat granola with my Greek yoghurt for breakfast. I probably still don't eat enough fiber but I don't think it's any worse.

@Words

Was anyone else a bit constipated at first? Nothing serious, but noticeable.

Getting to end of first week. I eat tons of veg and have considerably upped my water intake too. I've definitely been hitting the saturated fats and protein too. Maybe my body is just re calibrating.

On thé good side: I have a bit of a glow too, and the other day noticed my ankles are slightly less swollen - this has been an issue for me for years, whether or not I'm overweight, so that is interesting too.

I've had a couple of dates that just happened to be covered in chocolate today - aware of the sugar load that will punch, but hoping they will have the desired effect, together with a baked potato and its skin.

Any other ideas? Prune juice is so very sweet.

Flax seeds are fabulous, low in calories, high in fibre and omega 3. Sprinkle them on all meals, I love a dessert spoon full in Greek yogurt or on salads. I take iron supplements too but am very regular, twice a day even though I don't eat breakfast. Another plus is that your gut microbiome adores them.

I have some inulin powder that I stir into hot drinks, as it's supposed to be good for our gut bacteria and help sleep, but I think I overdid it yesterday, resulting in the opposite of constipation.

Lots of great ideas here, thank you. 24 hours now which is very unusual for me. I will visit my local health food shop today! ( have you ever noticed how UN healthy people in health food shops often look?)

Anyway. Weigh in day today. Despite the full fat and protein extravaganza that has been going on this week, I am 1.34 lb down on last week, and 3/4 on the week before that ( my weight bounced back up in between, as it often seems to, frustratingly at the moment.) There is also the stoppage to account for, so it could be even more.

I thought you might be interested in the following graph ( hope it attaches) Its a screenshot from my Fitbit stats and exactly makes Jenkinson's point. I am the female figure in that illustration in the book.

I was tempted to edit out th numbers and then, in best Mumsnet style, gave my head a wobble.

I know what you mean Words, weight is such an emotive topic and we become so accustomed to hiding the true numbers.

I was the same for a while on here as I mentioned how much I'd lost or how many more lbs until I reached my target weight, but never actually said what weight I was. On an anonymous online forum! How ridiculous!

Then I realised it doesn't matter if I'm still 2 stones heavier than some of the other people on here, that we're all trying to be healthier and move towards our own personal targets that are different for each one of us but right for our body shape, age profile, lifestyle, etc. I also think it encourages others to know there are people in a similar weight category for whom this way of eating is effective.

So, thank you for not cropping the numbers - my weight journey has been very similar to yours over the last 8 years with gradual increases between diet losses but an overall climb until, at my heaviest, I was over 14 stones. I'm currently 11st 6lbs and aiming for a further loss of between 7-14lbs.

Congratulations on your great progress! 🎉🎉

Though just think how much more you might lose once the train departs the station... 😂

Aww thank you tired. Well done on your amazing progress too!

Please don't anyone feel pressured to go down the full disclosure route too, by the way!

That graph is so interesting though. Weight gains triggered by life stressors ( my dog dying, getting my mother into a care home, selling her house, managing her finances etc etc) I thought I was coping well, but actually I was turning to food- sugar, too much wine, and then slipping into the ready meal routine, rather then the cooking and exercising I so much enjoy. Which then affected my mood, my sleep, my reaction to every day stress, my performance at work - and so the vicious unhealthy cycle starts.

I finally bought the book yesterday, had reserved from the library but got fed up of waiting.

I went to the supermarket yesterday to buy food on plan, but saw McVities Digestives new covered biscuits (I'm blaming you Mumsnet, you kept advertising them on here ) I just put them in my basket unthinkingly There were 6 in the pack. The old me could easily have eaten 6 biscuits in one go but last night I physically couldn't manage it!

Because the only sugar I'm consuming is 85% dark choc, I think my palate is already changing and becoming more refined, the biscuits weren't even that nice. When I used to binge I was never really tasting and paying attention to food I was just mindlessly throwing food in my gob. This WOE is changing everything.

Because the only sugar I'm consuming is 85% dark choc, I think my palate is already changing and becoming more refined, the biscuits weren't even that nice. When I used to binge I was never really tasting and paying attention to food I was just mindlessly throwing food in my gob. This WOE is changing everything.

Yes, this has been the key for me. So much processed stuff just tastes too sweet. Also, there is something in baked goods/cakes which make my mouth feel really strange - not quite tingly but similar. Makes me wonder what it is I’m reacting too!

there is something in baked goods/cakes which make my mouth feel really strange - not quite tingly but similar. Makes me wonder what it is I’m reacting too!

Yes! Is it the emulsifiers?

The dark choc I eat only has 5 ingredients and no additives and doesn't have any negative effects at all. I still feel sick after the biscuits

[quote veryblearyeyed]@CatherineCawood, what's the difference you notice between farmed fish and wild? I've never paid attention to what I'm eating, which I guess means it's probably farmed.

I'll take the cult gown in a Boden size 12 (jersey only) and then not want to wear it out because it's far too tight and makes me look pregnant. In actual fitted clothes I'd probably be 16 or 18 but I'm in denial and also have the opposite of a waist.[/quote]
Apart from the colour and slightly different flavour it won't be grain fed like farmed fish so much lower in omega 6.

@Tiredandbored bloody hell they dye it???! I had no idea. Of course they dye smoked haddock but I never thought about salmon. Good grief can't they leave anything alone. We all need to get used to wonky veg and having to clean soil off stuff again. World has gone mad!

Congrats on your 1.33lbs @Words 😊

Thanks @Aria999

On which topic, Chia seeds bought and a liberal spoonful applied to my Greek yog. They're a bit gritty aren't they ! Also got stuck between my teeth. Could I swallow a spoonful whole perhaps?

I will persévère as they are Good For Me. No laxative effect so far.

I thought you all needed to know that.

@Words

Thanks *@Aria999*

On which topic, Chia seeds bought and a liberal spoonful applied to my Greek yog. They're a bit gritty aren't they ! Also got stuck between my teeth. Could I swallow a spoonful whole perhaps?

I will persévère as they are Good For Me. No laxative effect so far.

I thought you all needed to know that.

No I don't think chia seeds do (although I sprinkle them too) it's the flax seeds that really get things going and fill me up. www.health.com/nutrition/flaxseed-benefits

What are oatcakes like? They seem to be low GI and some don't have veg oil in them (some do have some palm oil though). Do you think they're okay to eat? (With a bit of cheese and apple)

Palm oil doesn't seem too bad, and oats are ok.

Just wondering how flax seeds fill you up? They’re really small - do they expand in your stomach?

Whenever I embark on any new way of eating I seem to adopt the naughtiest principles to eat and tell myself it's okay as it's all part of the plan. I've just inhaled a bowl full of strawberries with nearly a tub full of fresh double cream. I'm beyond help aren't I ?

@BrightShark

Just wondering how flax seeds fill you up? They’re really small - do they expand in your stomach?

Yes! In the link I posted "the soluble fibre in flaxseeds combines with water to form a gel like consistency that slows the emptying if the stomach which leads to increased feeling of fullness"

When I started eating them I didn't know this and was wondering why I wasn't hungry at all in the afternoon.

Arghh! Back to the dreaded health food shop for me tomorrow !!

@words, I love your graph, thanks for sharing. I’m 14st currently so it’s encouraging.

What's the difference between golden flaxseed and brown flaxseed?