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!

Sending you best wishes for a smooth recovery @thenewaveragebear1983.

I'm under the cosh with the bug still. Been in bed for two days and looking like I'm going to need another one today. Hoping to be well enough for a nice gentle walk with my doggy tomorrow, before back to work on Monday.

Appetite has increased a bit beyond normal bounds. Am totally not fighting it, just making sure I'm feeding it nourishing healthy foods. Lots of Greek yoghurt, nuts, berries, protein and veg. Doubt I'll lose any weight this week, with the increased food and decreased activity, but thats perfectly fine by me.

DP currently making me smoked salmon abd scrambled eggs as I languish in bed. I'll have that with some berries, nuts and yoghurt on the side.

Good morning all. I am seeing some very slight improvement in my facial palsy, just tiny flickers of movement and some lines returning. Never thought I would be so glad to see my wrinkles! I was very very low in mood all weekend, I think the despair just hit me and the enormity of possibly having to cope with this massive change in my face as a permanent thing, I just was totally overwhelmed by it and I cried a lot. However I actually feel a lot better today, and seeing those little changes is very reassuring, I think I have a little while left to go but the chances of a full recovery seem a bit more likely now,

One thing it's definitely made me realise is just how much of my life I have punished/hated myself for my looks and my weight. Years and years. I've never been a beauty and have never been thin, always a little chunky and I have to work very very hard to maintain that size (if I didn't I would be much bigger, I have a tremendous, almost insatiable appetite). But suddenly when faced with my face actually changing in an instant, wow I realise just how fragile everything is and how much I should appreciate what I have because one day it could literally be gone forever. I've not really processed that yet, just know that I have experienced something and I know that I not only need to look after myself better, but I also need to be kinder to this face/body that doesn't deserve this brutal treatment.

So on to today. I have planned my meals, I have a shopping delivery coming and my dc are going out for the day so I can rest. Despite the little improvements I am still feeling very tired, my face gets tired and is quite painful, and my vision and hearing are affected as well. So still need to be in rest mode. I hope to make some food for the next few days, roast a chicken and make some soup (reminds me I need to soak my soup mix). But all in all I feel a lot brighter and optimistic about the weeks ahead.

Great news on the palsy @thenewaveragebear1983!

I am properly starting today as DS goes back to school so I have the mental headspace to properly plan meals etc. Don’t think tennis will be on as very icy but will try and do a good walk instead.

Well I've not been particularly healthy or nourishing yet, and have let my thread slide away. I'm now 4 weeks since I was diagnosed with bells and I still have some numbness on my lip and cheek and cannot fully close my eye. I've gone through the full rollercoaster of emotions, thinking it would never get better, then it has started but it's ever so gradual. I am very impatient and I hate the not knowing. Will it be better? Will I need another sick note? Will I have to go back to work before my face is back to normal? And of course no one can answer these questions so I'm driving myself insane!

I am seeing the dr on Monday. In the end I have decided that I will return to work on Wednesday and ask for phased return, half days until the following Tuesday. My immediate boss is on leave from Thurs which doesn't help as I will be going back on my own, but I don't feel it's doing me any good to be off any longer.

However, I felt much better after making that decision. Then today I did a few hours housework and went to Asda and then my face was back to feeling really twisted and tight again! So now I don't know. 🤔 I will see how I am on Monday and either return on weds or get another week signed off and plan phased return for the week after.

I am sick of feeling unwell though and I need to get myself back to feeling a bit healthier. My meals have been good but I'm snacking on loads of sugary rubbish so that's my aim this week, to stop the snacks. Still doing dry Jan though and feeling the benefits now especially my sleep. I bought done multivitamins and some probiotics today and have started taking my iron again and b complex. I feel like I need an old fashioned 'tonic' like my gran would have given!

I miss exercising but the thought of it makes me feel exhausted so I'm not ready yet. Still walking doggo every day.

I've been watching the glucose goddess and I'm definitely going to apply some of her hacks. I might try adding one a week.

Why do you have sugary rubbish in the house. Stop buying it. Bin or gift whatever is left in your house.

Well that's helpful @Cormoran 👏

Maybe check out this thread 🙄 Comments to threads that make you go FFS www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/5254265-comments-to-threads-that-make-you-go-ffs

Maybe it will serve its purpose, if next time you step into the corner shop, this FFS comment comes back to your mind and makes you get out of it without buying anything.
One can find motivation in many places. A positive one like the "I am embracing a healthy mindset" you had when starting this thread or a "fuck you Cormoran" that might put you back on track.

I am happy to fill that space in your brain anytime your hand reaches for sugary rubbish, and have it move to grab a pear instead.

Your aim this week is to stop the snack, you say. Let's do it. You can do it. You are an adult who is facing health challenges and struggles to make changes stick.
Come back here, every day, and tell me off. Before then, grab the bin bag under your sink, and fill it with everything that is sabotaging you.
Your mind is playing trick on you, luring it to buy and eat junk. Which mind trick will be stronger . The rubbish or the FFS?

I’m managing without Diet Coke, it’s been 6-7 weeks now. I’ve had just 3 cans of this or Pepsi during this time and I don’t miss it. When I go out I’ve been having alcohol-free beer, or just sparkling water. It’s like a light switch and I don’t know why it didn’t happen before.