Thread for us who are focussing on nourishment and healing in 2025

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I normally love a January detox, the harsher the better. I'm all or nothing. I'm go big or go home. Dry Jan, no sugar, new year new me etc etc.

Not this time.

I've been so unwell, all December getting more and more run down, and it's culminated in developing Bell's palsy, I've had an utterly miserable Christmas and I am still suffering. It's made me rethink my incredibly hectic lifestyle, my rigorous exercise regime and my constant diets and instead I want to focus on nourishing myself back to health and happiness.

I love exercise and make time for it, but it's my food, and specifically my food quality that I really struggle with. I am a total sugar junkie and could happily eat rubbish all day long. I am a fairly good cook and I love homemade hearty comforting foods.

My initial plan is to meal plan and prepare for a gentle start on 1st Jan. I am going to do dry January (I actually do want to stop drinking completely but will aim for just Jan for now). I do need to lose some weight but I want to do it through cutting out UPFs and ensuring that what I eat is good for me.

I am also keen to explore whether certain foods could be aggravating to this inflammatory reaction which has caused the Bell's palsy. I don't really know where to begin with that but I am looking into it.

I'm hoping that some food changes and some lifestyle changes (less phone usage, better sleep, maybe some supplements) could have a really positive impact on 2025 for me.

If anyone else is thinking the same and would like a nice chat thread, please join me!

@thenewaveragebear1983 the UPF programme on Netflix is probably 'you are what you eat', there's also a good book called ultra processed people by Chris Van Tulleken

@cartreffi thank you I will look for that one. Is that the one with twins who do 2 different diets? I have read ultra processed people, (also twins!) and there is a really good bbc sounds podcast about the experiment they did if anyone is looking for things to listen to.

I went to town today and thought myself some bits in the sales, some make up brushes and skincare in tkmaxx. I was absolutely exhausted after being out for 2 hours and cane hone and slept. My boss called to talk to me, they are so lovely at my work and completely understanding of me being signed off, which is very reassuring.

you are not alone I also have developed scalp psoriasis, or what was diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis , its gotten so bad.

One thing I will say to (hopefully) encourage and motivate us is that in my experience, once you kick the sugar/gluten/ dairy or whatever, you very very quickly start to feel so much better that actually willpower isn't so important anymore. The first few days can be tough but the rewards can come quite quickly.

I'm properly starting on Wednesday. I did an Asda order for tomorrow, I've ordered lots of frozen fruit to make smoothies and ingredients for some nutritious soups, loads of veg. I'll do boiled eggs for snacks. I am the batch cooking queen in my circle <preens> so I have got some 2 sided food containers from Amazon so I can prep some meal boxes. I have also ordered a couple of gym kitchen ready meals as I find them the least processed and they are good for emergencies.,

Tomorrow will be the first New Year's Eve I can remember, probably since millennium Eve where I will not be going out. Dh will take out dc to his parents and I am staying in with my doggie watching a boxset!

I'm a mum of two, one who is awaiting an assessment for Autism. She had a massive burnout earlier this year and with the unmasking came the change in her dietary intake. I was just happy to have her eating again but now I'm hoping to move us back to some healthier meal options. I used to go the gym but that's changed too, so hoping to get out and do some more walking.

@Fishandchipsareyum Sorry that you’re dealing with the same issue. Have you ever had it before? I used to suffer with psoriasis all over my arms and legs but it disappeared when I got pregnant. I’ve had it on my scalp on and off for years but this time it is particularly itchy. Have you tried anything to help it? I used to have a liquid steroid in a squirty bottle (can’t remember the name). It used to sting like mad but did help it feel less itchy and I could move my head without a snow blizzard happening! I’d prefer more natural ways to cure it though. Hope you find a way to get rid of it 😊

Sorry to hear about the psoriasis @Sukin and @Fishandchipsareyum - I have also suffered on and off for 25 years, including on my scalp. I never had much luck with any treatments other than medication sadly but I hope you both find something that works for you. It's bloody miserable.

We have a Tesco order coming today and I've started watching the Christmas lectures with the kids. Eldest is all up for reducing upf but youngest is quite anxious about changing her diet. We're all ND and she's the more beige one. We're not going to take everything away and say "never" to her (I'd work better though at not having it in the house) but rather start by trying to do nourishing meals.

Its partly dealing with "fussy" kids that leads to my overwhelm and falling back on upf food. So I'm hoping to have the energy to manage this. Ti's a vicious cycle. I have little energy and so we eat freezer food and I end up with little energy...

Place marking on this thread.
I have so much to do today, but lots of this resonates

Good morning all and happy new year 🥳

I stayed in last night but did stay up til midnight with the dog, there were lots of fireworks very near to us so we watched woofed at those and then went to bed.

My plan today is to start small, I've planned my meals, I made soup yesterday with a soup pack and a some chicken thighs and boiled some eggs for snacks. Fruit and veg. Walk the dog somewhere nice as long as the weather improves. Take my vitamins. Lots of water.

I did a weigh in yesterday, I've put on a fair bit over Christmas and I was higher than I'd like anyway to start with, so it wasn't a surprise. I've jotted it down but I'm not going to weigh again for a few weeks, I just want to focus on my wellbeing and not the scales.

Have a lovely day everyone

I'm in :) Have spent the last two years doing unsuccessful IVF which wrecked my physical and emotional health for some time. Lots of headaches, body pains, medically induced menopause etc. My hormones are finally returning to normal and I want to focus on cherishing and nurturing my body after putting it through hell.

I don't need to lose much weight but I do want to eat more healthily and exercise more. I want to run my first 10k in 2025 and also take up pilates.

I'm so sorry for you that's really tough :-( lots of excersise is a good idea :-)

Feeling good today! Had a lovely lie in, then took the hound for a very wet abd windy walk. Came back and had vegetable crudités, smoked salmon pate, hummus and a wrap for lunch. Currently snuggling in a blanket on the sofa, then the plan is to do another dog walk in an hour or so before home for a bath, salmon and roasted calyflower for tea and an early night. Bliss.

Tomorrow will be more tricky. Still on holidays technically but I have some work (marking, emails, form filling, lesson planning) to do so aiming to do that Thursday and Friday, allowing a nice, relaxed weekend before going back to school on Monday. The plan is to get out for an hours walk at around 8, with the aim of sitting down to work at about 10. Will probably work till a out 6, with a break for lunch and another walk. Hopefully I'll break the back of it tomorrow, leaving Friday a little less intense.

Happy new year, everyone. Let's give ourselves the gift of good health for 2025.

Happy new year all. I was going to say that I've started today with a nice yoga workout but then I realised it's nearly 3pm. Not sure where the day has gone. I had one small G+T last night so I'm feeling pretty clear headed today. Just wish the weather wasn't so miserable - my DH went out for a run and got absolutely soaked.

I just cooked a really lovely chicken curry with chicken breast, chunks of potato, spinach, tomatoes, coconut milk and a tbsp of mango chutney, it was delicious and felt very nourishing and comforting. At lunch I had soup, and I didn't eat breakfast, just had a banana when i took my tablets. I took my vitamins and I've had a glass of one of those expensive juices. I had a lovely afternoon nap watching back to the future and took the dog on 2 short walks. I've packed away a lot of the Christmas goodies now, put unused things into the freezer and put all the chocs away into the kids treat boxes.

My face feels a tiny bit better today, I've taken nurofen on the clock and that seems to have kept the worst of the puffiness down, plus I noticed today that I have a tiny flicker of movement in my eyelid- that's really really positive as I read that if you get movement back within the first few weeks then you are far more likely to have a complete recovery so I am absolutely thrilled to have even the tiniest flicker.

Oh that's great news about the flicker @thenewaveragebear1983!

I made a really nice salsa type salad this evening. I do like having time and energy to make things but when I'm back at work a bit worried I can't keep it up!

We watched the last Chris v t kids lecture and listened to the adult one too.

I'm going to try and think of how he "made" ice cream when I am tempted by upf.

I've seen these lectures mentioned on another thread, where can I find them please @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden

Kids ones are on BBC iokayee "royal institute lectures"

But found the adult one on You Tube - Royal Institute have a channel and he did a lecture this year and last year!

Oh great, thank you! I will find that tomorrow

Can I join please. I have 2 stone+ to lose but I want to concentrate on eating better and exercising more rather than quick weight loss. I did a yoga session this morning and aim to walk more but didn’t manage to get out today as the weather was so awful. I’m back at work tomorrow but will try and get out at lunchtime.

Morning all. I had an early morning walk yesterday and did a gym session this morning. I try and do 3 gum sessions a week (I go to the 6a.m sessions as I'm an early bird and I like to get them done at the start of my day, plus I'm good for nothing in the evenings). I've barely been to the gym this past month so aiming to get back into it this new year. I always feel so good once they're done, it's a great feeling being back home before 7 knowing I've got my exercise done for the day. I'm also aiming for around 8000 steps a day for the winter ( I'll go back to 10,000 once the weathers better and lighter). Thinking of going for the no sugar diet as it's my biggest downfall but I'm also sure it's causing me gut issues. TMI possibly but my guts grumble terribly when I've eaten a lot of sugar (u think it's the sugar anyway) thought it would be worth a try to see if it helps anyway

Afternoon, all. Well, after my best laid plans of healthy early morning walks etc, I woke up this morning with a stinking virus and abandoned all thoughts of exercise. Currently shivering under a blanket in the living room, marking school books and drinking lemsip.

Interestingly, the cold seems to have killed my appetite completely. Had a couple of apples and some nuts and then resorted to a Slimfast just to get some calories in. This isn't normal for me- usually being unwell INCREASES my appetite and I'm on Deliveroo at the first sign of a sniffle- so I'm assuming its the Mounjaro effect.

Going to finish my books and then have a nap. Hope everyone's day is going nicely. Jealous of those of you who managed to get out and about!

Oh no @PresidentBarklett hope you feel better soon.

Well done on your strong start @cartreffi

I had a good day yesterday, but I did not sleep well. I took my vitamins late in the day and I think they kept me up, I had insomnia and was still up at 1.30am, so felt very tired today. I have no further movement in my face, but my eyelid is still flickering a bit. I did walk the dog this morning and then came home and did a few chores but then this afternoon was totally wiped out. I ended up on the sofa all afternoon watching Gavin and Stacey and I did have a piece of Christmas cake and a couple of biscuits. So not exactly a sugar free day but hey. It was always going to be a gradual start. I had the dc by myself since dh has gone back to work today, so I couldn't just go to bed. I am quite looking forward to next week when they are back at school so I can then sleep properly in the daytime.

I've made a nice cottage pie with lots of veg and will have it with broccoli and carrots tonight once dh and ds get home from football training.

I've not been doing great on the nourishment and healing unfortunately. I wasn't well yesterday so reached for toast, we (finally) finished the Christmas cake, and I just generally ate more than I needed and not the right things.

Going to start today on a better foot, I need to plan all my meals not just my evening meals (breakfasts especially) and then actually eat those things. Breakfast is particularly difficult if you’re trying not to eat cereals, bread, sugar or cheese.

I'm now signed off for another 2 weeks, my face is still very puffy and not really improved further than the tiny flicker of movement in my eyelid. Slow recovery and rest. 🥱 but hopefully once the dc go back to school next week I will be able to rest completely during the days