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11/5/10 MFC Healthy Living thread
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Message 1.Â
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Welcome to this week's thread. The MFC is a place to discuss healthy living and healthy eating. It's not a diet club, though we often do discuss ways to eat more healthily and lose weight. We don't mention actual weights or sizes (because we're all different sizes and shapes and don't want to discourage anyone), but we do talk about where we're at on this journey of healthy living.
Different people follow different routes to healthy eating, whether it's low GI/GL, Rosemary Conley, Slimming World or their own plan. And we all have our different demons of temptation, particular stumbling-blocks which hinder us. There is usually lots of encouragement on here, so please do feel free to post.
Other threads which are of interest include GEm's Cyber Gym & Katy's Recipe thread (healthy eating doesn't have to be boring!)
We also operate a rota for starting a new thread each week, so as to avoid too many posts in one thread.
G.K. Chesterton said, "The trouble with always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind." I'd like to think this is a place where we look at both things and seek to have a balanced way of healthy living... -
Message 2
Posted by archingmad (U8292055) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Lost got lost, but now is found!
Thanks for opening, Lost, and for your interesting post at the end of the last thread.
My comment is about envy - I admit that as I go along the supermarket aisles, or past a bakery, I look longingly and wistfully at all the food that tempts me (and it can be sweet or savoury) and I do feel envious of those who are buying it, whether it is because they don't care about what is in it or are not ever affected by what is in it. I am hoping that one day I won't feel that envy and will be happy not to have it (or those foods) in my life. -
Message 3
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Monday, 10th May 2010
I think that envy is understandable, but not helpful to us in our quest to live well. It can lead us to bitterness or resentment, and both these things eat away at our peace of mind - I do think that how we think and how we treat our bodies are definitely linked.
I think it's natural to feel wistful or to long for things. The problem with envy is that it looks at other people, not just at ourselves, and when we start comparing ourselves to others, we usually end up either feeling smug (we're better than them) or despairing (it's not fair that my OH can eat whatever he likes and never puts on a pound!) Neither response is really helpful to us, since we are the only ones who can determine what we choose to eat. -
Message 4
Posted by welshteddy (U3680635) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Thanks for opening Lost.
I have had a disastrous week and weekend. I felt fed up and, consequently ate all the wrong things, so managing to give myself a nasty tummy ache yesterday. Why did I do that?
Back on track today (so far) -
Message 5
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Monday, 10th May 2010
I think it's natural to feel wistful or to long for things. The problem with envy is that it looks at other people, not just at ourselves, and when we start comparing ourselves to others, we usually end up either feeling smug (we're better than them) or despairing (it's not fair I am aware of a new feeling about other people.
I am aware of seeing numerous passers by, stomach hanging over waist, (like mine still does a little), breathless when walking (like used to happen to me)etc., etc. and feeling great sorrow and regret for them.
I used to compare self with others, querying to Mrs T, I am bigger than him, her them etc.?, I don't know why but I did, but I was acutely aware of my size in relation to others. Now eleven stone lighter but still several stone more than I really want to be, (A weight I have not been since my early teens) almost 50 years ago, I feel a sense of sadness that so many are carrying around unnecessary physical luggage which is doing them harm, when as I have discovered there are many who are able to find a way to reduce their weight.
I am certainly not judgemental because it was eleven years after I joined Overeaters Anonymous before I got abstinent, one day at a time from eating addictively, another year before I gave up addictive eating altogether, so I truly know that getting to a healthy weight, although possible, for me, is not, for me a short term thing.
For me the key was and is and will be not eating addictively and only eating what I believe is definitely safe. -
Message 6
Posted by archingmad (U8292055) on Monday, 10th May 2010
I do remember looking at some extremely dangerous looking objects in M*S called (of all things) yum-yums. They were like iced doughnuts in a twist. Although I am generally able to shun such things, on that occasion I looked at them in such a rage and thought: who is buying these things? How can they eat them and not suffer the consequences or not care? Why is it alright for them but not for me? 'Snot fair ...
I should add that I was not a child at the time but a fully-fledged mature (whatever that means) woman, jealous in the knowledge that my fit-as-a-fiddle nonagenarian neighbour was a regular indulger.
The problem is, as Tolkny is well aware, I could not allow myself the luxury of an *oh alright, just this once* moment as the subsequent guilt would have led to a major binge/self-hate fest.
I want to blame the manufacturers and suppliers and retailers, but realise the futility of such a mind-set. -
Message 7
Posted by eriskay (U2846175) on Monday, 10th May 2010
I have started getting cross with so much junk food around too. I never indulged in chips or burgers or pizzas. I shudder to think of the consequences if I had. It is really annoying that some people stay slim no matter what they eat-ok I know that not everybody does, and some do end up with health problems.
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Message 8
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Monday, 10th May 2010
The one thing that has helped me with envy is the knowledge that I can't in honesty blame anyone else for how I eat. It's down to me. It's not the fault of manufacturers (even though I might deplore their advertising techniques or other such things), because no one else forces me to sit with a 'family-sized' pack of crisps and eat the whole lot, rather than sharing it out. I don't believe any food is wrong in and of itself; I believe it's our misuse of food (eating too much, too often, not eating enough of what is good for us etc.) which causes the problems.
To be envious of someone else's metabolism seems to me just pointless and achieves nothing except dissatisfaction. There's no point comparing ourselves with others; we have to know that we have been true to ourselves in what we ate and how we lived. -
Message 9
Posted by FlufflesB (U14188870) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Thanks for opening the thread Lost. Since washing up here (in the nicest possible way
) a couple of weeks ago, I have found a great supportive community of people who are willing to talk honestly about weight control and the struggle that it can be.
My thanks to you all,
Welsh Ted - Courage! No beating yourself up.
Envy - well, I think wistful is a good word for what I feel too when seeing food that I know I must ignore or ration. In the supermarket I use most often and so know the arrangement very well, I can walk past the end of several aisles filled with confectionary, crisps in all their incarnations, biscuits, cakes and fizzy drinks and squashes (ok, I do get diet cola). Add that to the pies, pizzas etc, how much processed high calorie food is that. Actually, I think it is frightening. Where people are concerned, my 'envy' is usually down to them wearing something I would like to be wearing but wouldn't get within a mile of doing up
I too look at people carrying excess weight and feel sad, particularly the young. I have found myself wanting to shout at them 'get the weight off now!'. I don't want them to be like me and go through an adult life of what being fat does to you both physically and emotionally.
Ok, feeling hungry so time to make dinner.
FB -
Message 10
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Thanks for opening up Lost. There is already a lot to think about on this thread - no we can't blame anyone else for what we actually eat. I am a firm believer that once I have had a lapse it no longer means the end to it all, I have to turn my back on that lapse and move forward. I am getting better at it, and honestly (yes honestly!) there are fewer lapses now than a year ago - and that is thanks to MFC. Welshted - don't torture yourself, tomorrow is another day, what is past is past.
I am back home after our Portmeirion Lunch, slightly frazzled by some people being awkward but mainly glowing with the number of compliments on my appearance. The vision in turquoise was admire by many people and several also thought I had lost weight - which I have. Such comments really do make you want to walk tall.
I did actually eat most of what was on my plate, but they weren't oversized portions. Now on with life, this lunch has hung over my head for some weeks - seating plans, numbers coming, more coming ... I don't know how many emails or phone calls it has taken. The speaker was excellent, but went on a bit longer than he had been asked to!
While I was out, a new mattress was delivered for our bed - I wonder how I'll sleep tonight?
KOKO one and all
F-P -
Message 11
Posted by ForeverAmbridge (U14194783) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Would this be the place to bring up microwave meals?
Seriously after hearing Brenda say that she'd cooked enough for Tom to just microwave I looked up info about micorwaving to reheat & frankly it's frightening. Or have I been looking at alarmist sites?
I usually make extra quantities to freeze & then microwave.
Does anyone else have concerns about this? -
Message 12
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Monday, 10th May 2010
I regularly reheat food in the microwave, ForeverAmbridge. Like you I cook ahead and freeze. I usually take the frozen curry, or whatever, out of the freezer the night before to thaw before supper and then reheat while I cook rice or veggies to go with it. We haven't suffered and until you posted this, I have never been worried about it!
F-P -
Message 13
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Monday, 10th May 2010
I want to blame the manufacturers and suppliers and retailers, but realise the futility of such a mind-set. I much identify with that sentiment BUT then I also think why should others different to me be deprived of something they find enjoyable and also those who produce and sell them be deprived of the commercial opportunities to generate income with all that is entailed in that.That is why I aim to concentrate on doing what is right for me and letting others be responsible for their actions. I did not used to be of such attitudes.
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Message 14
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Mon, 10 May 2010 19:37 GMT, in reply to LostInML in message 8
To be envious of someone else's metabolism seems to me just pointless and achieves nothing except dissatisfaction. There's no point comparing ourselves with others; we have to know that we have been true to ourselves in what we ate and how we lived.Â
And to be realistic. I love those dainty little ribbon-strappy floaty chiffon slip-dresses, but even when at my lithest and slimmest I still have what are kindly called broad shoulders* and the dresses make me look like a man in unconvincing drag...
*I often used to have people strike up conversations waiting at the bar on the assumption I played women's rugby...
I can't change my strongly-built skeleton, and it's no use my sighing wistfully as I pass a tiny slip of a chit of a girl in the street, all 5'1" of her, because I could die of starvation and wouldn't become shorter and more lightly-built!
I am basically built sturdily and strongly, not in terms of soft tissue but in terms of skeletal structure. BUT what i can do is take that structure and choose clothes to suit it (wardrobe cull ongoing all this and next week! Everything down on spare room bed being sorted, mended, laundered, and then A Decisions Is Made).
And as well as clothes to make my body-type look its best, I can work to get the excess flab off. Three normal-sized meals a day of varied balanced nutritionally-good food, plenty of water and lots of walking.
No idea of loss/ gain as am only here briefly (couldn't resist!) (bad girl!!!) - back on Sat, will post then
KOKO all!
laura -
Message 15
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Monday, 10th May 2010
there is an awful lot of alarmist claptrap on the web about microwaves and reheating food in 'em (and all sorts of other stuff besides), foreveramb, dont read it, please?
Reheating a pot of leftovers / sth from the freezer that you have made yourself isnt going to do you any harm, well I'm not dead yet slightly strange maybe but not dead -
Message 16
Posted by countrypug (U9227943) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Thanks for opening Lost - good quote too!
It has been a very sociable weekend for us, with lots of friends, good food and wine, and a lovely long walk too (5 miles or so, quite hilly). In general not too good on the healthy eating front, but so good for morale and well being generally, that I am not going to get too hung up on it. I am going to wait till next week to weigh myself. I did actually have a sneaky hop on Friday, and I had lost another 300g or so from Monday, but that is probably back at the moment.
I did get nicely into the groove last week though, so I know I can do it again.
F-P, well done on the compliments. Laura, nice to see you, even fleetingly. I so agree about the clothes - I am not the shape for shift dresses, and never will be, but I can aspire to a curvy good body shape, and more than ever I now recognise what suits me in clothes.
I have never read anything too alarming about microwaves, and I now think I won't check, as it is so useful for reheating things. So I am with Guzzi - I too am slightly strange but still here!
Pug x -
Message 17
Posted by welshteddy (U3680635) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
I read somewhere that you should reheat rice. We do this regularly and are never ill.
On another note I have just become victim to 'lengthening skirt syndrome'.
You may remember last week that Fire-Pig was noting that her skirt were getting longer, but I had only noticed longer trousers. Anyway. I put on a skirt this morning that is long anyway. I noted the looser waistband (hurrah), rushed up the stairs, trod on the bottom of the skirt, bruised my knee and ripped the skirt!!
Never mind, another sign that things are going in the right direction. -
Message 18
Posted by hazeyjane (U11228450) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Another one who is broad of shoulder here. Have found shrugs useful to wear over strappy tops or floaty dresses. The three-quarter length sleeved ones especially seem to flatter my shoulders and arms.
My eating has been erratic over the last few days, partly due to problems with my elderly mother and also just the cold weather. Will try to get back on track after the shopping's delivered tomorrow. Am trying to vary my snacks a bit and have ordered some marinated tofu to keep in the fridge for a bit of extra protein. I prefer it to other forms of tofu I've tried although it does taste a bit like cold omelette.
Getting out my summer clothes and trying them on was a bit of a spur for me to eat more healthily but of course since then the weather's got cold again and am back in jeans and body-warmers.
Hope everyone has a good a week as possible and KOKO. -
Message 19
Posted by welshteddy (U3680635) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Sorry, that should be shouldn't reheat rice!
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Message 20
Posted by GEm (U4356909) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
In terms of strappy dresses, shrugs, cardigans and pashminas are a useful add on. Also look for dresses that have square necklines with the straps set further apart (and perhaps slightly more substantial straps, or even halter necks with broad halters. This can give the illusion of narrower shoulders.
Equally look at perhaps floaty tops with substantial skirts, trousers with pockets on the hips which broaden the hip line and balance out the shoulders. -
Message 21
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Welshteddy - sorry to hear about your knee, but lovely to have skirts too big! We are another family that regularly reheats rice, from frozen. We always reheat it on the hob and ensure it comes to the boil, and have never knowingly been ill. It has been frozen very soon after the original serving.
I have a book published in the 80s called 'Dressing Thin', all the photos show the same two models who can look like frumps or models. I think standing tall and feeling confident can make a big difference to how people see you.
KOKO one and all!
F-P -
Message 22
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
I read somewhere that you should reheat rice. We do this regularly and are never ill. So do I occasionally in a microwave oven and did not realise a danger and have never been aware of being consequentially ill.
However, presumably previously boiled rice can safely be recooked by a quick plunge into boiling water, that presumably would remove any bacteria etc.? -
Message 23
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
trawls back of brain for microbiology notes
There is a certain sort of bacteria that lives in rice, at room temp and at the temp which a restaurant "keep warm" equipment runs. I think the do not reheat rice stems from this...
quick link
soooooo, dont let it sit at room temp for hours (common sense!) and make sure it is heated thru completely -
Message 24
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Stressful day today... came home and ate blackberries immediately, the type of 'get-me-to-the-fridge' reaction I haven't had in weeks. Admittedly, blackberries are by no means the worst thing I could have eaten (I wanted a cheese and onion sandwich on thick home-made bread, smeared with butter, so from that point of view, I made a wise choice!), but I was surprised by the desperation I felt. Ö÷²¥´óÐã = sanctuary from the stress. Sanctuary = food. H'mm. Still need to process that kind of thinking...
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Message 25
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Ö÷²¥´óÐã = sanctuary from the stress. Sanctuary = food Thanks for sharing the feeling, I recognise it, I hope the honest recognition of the link between feeling and food helps with the next step.
For me the next step to that scenario is to admit my powerlessness and "surrender" and then find some alternative activity to eating. -
Message 26
Posted by anagramladysin (U14258840) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Not about microwaves but on the same sort of thing -- I saw chefs on one of those TV programmes COOKING meat wrapped in cling film. I was amazed. Is this a special sort of cling film? I thought there were concerns about the chemicals from cling film entering the food it was wrapped around ... and I would have thought it would melt at high temperatures and spoil the food, as well as poisoning the eaters.
Does anyone know? -
Message 27
Posted by GEm (U4356909) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Lost
for me it's a steaming hot strong cuppa in my favourite mug - either that or going for a run with the iPod on full blast with heavy rock music from the 70s!
Blackberries were a good choice. If you'd had the bread then you'd have felt depressed afterwards. This way all you did was stock up on vit c. Can't be that bad can it?
G -
Message 28
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
No, it wasn't that bad a choice. It was just the recognition that I had a sort of Pavlov's dog's reaction to stress!!
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Message 29
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
blackberries - good choice! dont beat yourself up about it
I tend towards a mug of hot chocolate (semi-skimmed) , or a chinese food bowl (the small ones) with bombay mix it it...
you avoided the sandwich so thats good
there is cling film made to cook with, or so I have been told, the normal stuff can melt :-0 but we have one of those little saucepan jobbies with a lid, Bloke uses this daily -
Message 30
Posted by HamsterMama aka nifty-fifty (U14121030) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Tue, 11 May 2010 21:29 GMT,
Just saying hello and bookmarking incase I might make some good decisions for a change. Putting MFC on my list will remind me - I hope. -
Message 31
Posted by Sister Primrose of the Red Tinsel Flag (U5405579) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Evening all.
Got weighed this morning and was very pleased to see I had lost 12 oz and am no longer Z stone but now Y stone 13 pounds and 4 oz.
I have been concentrating on upping the fruit and veg intake and am deffo feeling the benefit, so even with limited mobility at the mo things are getting better.
I too have to fight to remind myself not to obsess over others shopping trolleys. It occurred to me recently that it was entirely possible that the skinny minnie in front of me at sainos, with the trolley full of crisps and cream cakes, might actually be eating it all and then sicking it back up and have an even more toxic relationship with food than me.
We make assumptions about other people that only serve to undermine ourselves. The grass might look greener but that doesn't mean it is.
I actually eat very healthy food, just too much of it...
PP -
Message 32
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Tuesday, 11th May 2010
Welcome Nifty - you have made the first good decision by peeping around the door and putting your toe in! All it takes is good decisions all along the way!
PP many congratulations on having a weight starting at Y not Z! I hope to be able to report reaching W soon! (What will others think of us?!!)
Interesting idea about other people's shopping trolleys. We can never know what happens in any other family.
I actually eat very healthy food, just too much of it...Â
I agree with you!
Sorry to hear about the stress Lost but if it makes you feel any better you did a lot better than me on Sunday - the cafe downstairs at work played its siren song and lured me with a KitKat! At the time I was not at all happy with my boss - to put it mildly!
F-P -
Message 33
Posted by archingmad (U8292055) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
The scales dipped down a little this morning, but they are so inaccurate I shouldn't really be taking any notice of them. In fact, I should really stay off them if I knew what was good for me.
I have had some struggles tonight, my weak time. I had an *valt*ne Light with a sprinkle of C*dbury's Highlights Plain choc drink to *beef* it up a bit. That's when I went searching for chocolate/biscuits. The barrel was empty, there were two unopened packets plus some loose P*nguins. I opened a packet of R*ch T*a, which I thought was less damaging than a P*nguin, but the first biscuit was just a mass of crumbs. I ate those and taped up the rest of the packet. (Apparently, biscuit crumbs contain no calories as they all leak out as the biscuit breaks!) My supper was not large but hardly virtuous - H*inz Tomato Soup, tiny left-over steamed salmon, bubble and squeak made from left-over mash and kale, fried in olive oil, only small though, followed by a tangerine.
What troubles me though, is that I wasn't really hungry but the compulsion to eat all evening is so strong. I wonder if this article on "stress eating" applies?
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Message 34
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
Interesting article, Archingmad.
I am certainly working at understanding the links between stress and comfort eating and trying to defuse them. I'm also trying to understand how perfectionism links in to all this, since much of the stress I felt yesterday occurred because someone made a mistake at work which affected what I was doing and which impinged on my little perfect world of doing things right... (Theirs was a genuine mistake, but the stress it generated in me was way out of proportion to the mistake itself.) It's why I'm as interested in the health of the mind as the health of the body, as I find the two things interconnected. The stress at work did not /have/ to lead to stress in me and stress in me did not /have/ to lead to eating (which obviously then causes additional stress, since I know I shouldn't be doing that!), so I am trying to work out what those links are and how to weaken them, because I believe I have the choice on how I react, even if I can't control the original circumstances...! -
Message 35
Posted by FlufflesB (U14188870) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
Welcome Nifty! You will certainly find encouragement and support here.
Onward and Downward Primrose! I share your fascination with shopping trolleys and will confess to a degree of sniffy disapproval as I look at the contents and the driver/driver's children. Funny how I did not view my own trolley with such cold analysis when it contained very bad choices for me. My main bugbear is the total lack of vegetables and fruit except for chips.
As for eating healthily just too much, well, at the risk of banging on again about portion control and recognising true hunger, I really cannot believe how much less I am eating at the moment.
Food and stress. We have replaced dealing with the problems of 'life' with the endorphin release of readily available, palatable food. Breaking the habit is really hard but I/We can do it. Interesting article, will have a better look later with a cup of tea (one sugar)
Am off for lunch with a good friend to a small local eatery. I will enjoy the company and just eat less of the food I like. This is working for me.
FB -
Message 36
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
Thanks for that article archi. Much of the stress in my life over the last few years has come from the Piglets. There are times when I try to say to myself that the life that Younger Piglet is living is his own choice and as he is full grown it is not my concern. (This time last year he was out of work, not looking for anything and frittering away in front of computer games - now he is working at a fairly menial job, far below his capabilities with apparently no thought for the future) Elder Piglet is going through his own traumatic marital breakdown so hardly his own choice - but again there is nothing I can do at the moment to help so eating chocolate is not going to help me help him. Last year someone here pointed out that a healthier Mum might actually help him, so I should try to stay off the choccy for him as well as for me!
As we move into summer and warmer weather (!!!) perhaps I should try to make a promise to myself to go out for a brisk walk before indulging in any stressful eating.
Lost - trying to compartmentalise as helped me, can you try it? It was not your mistake, it was your colleague's. You rectified her error so you should still be fine.
Fluffles your planning ahead seems to be working for you, it also helps me. I hope you enjoy your lunch with your friend.
F-P -
Message 37
Posted by eriskay (U2846175) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
When I was working I could go all day long with just coffee and maybe some fruit or a small sandwich. I knew this was not healthy but the pressure was such that lunch hour was more like 5 minutes.Then when I got home I was so stressed and starving that I could have eaten the table. So I did put on weight and felt permanently tired. Now that I do not have that pressure I am eating more healthily and staying away from bad things much more successfully than I thought possible. I am also not hungry. So I do think that stress can make you fat and that people should not let themsleves be overwhelmed at work. HO HO. I knew that then but I could not stop myself.
I am going to Paris soon for a wee while and will be interested to see how well I keep up the healthy eating in the land of croissants and 365 cheeses... I hope I can KOKO.
Best wishes to you all for lots of determination to be strong. -
Message 38
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
I envy you (!) your trip to Paris, eriskay, and will be really interested to hear how you cope abroad. I find the combination of holiday (fun! relaxation! indulgence!) and being out of a routine can prove quite difficult for me. This year we are holidaying in the UK, but I am already wondering how to substitute walking etc. (which we do plenty of on holiday) for swimming/ gym (since they're not as easy to schedule in when you're away) and how to eat sensibly while away.
Mm... compartmentalisation is something I'm not good at, Fire-Pig. What I /did/ find interesting was how I rose to the occasion at work (this all happened 'live' in front of other people during an oral exam!), helped the pupil out of the hole that was not of her making, sorted all the paperwork, consoled my colleague who was mortified when he discovered his mistake etc. etc. without batting an eyelid. It was only when I was at home that I ran to the fridge for refuge... I suppose you could call /that/ compartmentalisation, but I could see the effect this was having on me.
Anyway, that was yesterday, and today is another day. Just had poached eggs for lunch: absolutely delicious! And I've done the swimming lark /and/ gym session, in order to be able to catch up on paperwork before my London trip on Friday. -
Message 39
Posted by ForeverAmbridge (U14194783) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
Promise to stop looking at alarmist articles about microwaves since microwave re-heating is essential to our diet. I make large quantities of eg bolognese casserole curries etc also rice & pasta then weigh everything put & put into little bags. So no second helpings allowed & no temptation to eat everything except larger quantities of salad and or veg - which I don't microwave since read that it reduced nutrients (there I go again!)
Downside it that usually find ourselves overfaced at restuarants with larger portion and overordering eg starter which don't need. -
Message 40
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
ForeverAmbridge (what do we call you for short?) I have never gone as far as weighing portions out. The first time the big pot is put on the table then the rest is frozen and I know just how much to put in the boxes. Today there is a large pot of chilli con carne on the stove as I write. I am not sure just how many portions it will make - depends whether I add three or four tins of chilli beans to it in a minute!
This is the first batch cooking I have done since returning with my fractured trotter from Italy. It is also the first day I have not worn the splint all day. Things are looking up in the Fire-Pig-Sty!
F-P -
Message 41
Posted by ForeverAmbridge (U14194783) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
To F_P from FA
Yes it does sound obsessional but weighing portions has become as much a habit as weighing myself! & also cos I put stuff in little bags. tomato sauce has stained many of my freezer boxes - another fault (mine I hasten to add) of reheating in the microwave. -
Message 42
Posted by anagramladysin (U14258840) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
dear Fire-Pig
I am so glad you are out of splints and feeling cheerful.
Restaurant portions....... (not in reply to yours but I hope it all makes sense)
I used to take out a much older friend of mine, every half term and start and end of holiday, to somewhere nice. She was 25+ years older than me and her daughter didn't approve of me as I used to bring her back a little flushed and laughing.
Personally I think if you are over eighty the laughter is better for you than the schooner of sherry bad (if you see what I mean).
We used to have two starters instead of the usual progression. The restaurants *never* seemed to mind -- and the starters are usually more interesting and inventive than the mains. And since I am permanently trying to lose weight, it suited me too. -
Message 43
Posted by Mabel Bagshawe (U2222589) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
Wed, 12 May 2010 20:22 GMT, in reply to anagramladysin in message 42
First weight in for a few weeks, due to leisure centre closure for refurb. Up around 1lb. -
Message 44
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
foreveramb, if the weighing out of food works for you then fine, the stained containers can be sorted out using the bleach sold for sterilising baby bottles, should you wanna turn them non - orange once more and if its supposed to be safe for babies then I figure its OK for adults.
I'm known to have two starters for supper, rather than starter and a main, generally works well and most places accept this as OK.
the shopping trolley thing
yes, you never know whats lies behind the things in the trolley, and whilst I too look ascance at others choices, I also try and bear in mind that my shopping trolley contents can look downright wierd and / or unhealthy
I shop at random around the country, perks of work so no loyalty to one place, but I get to see some sights :-0 I will go into a supermarket for one thing I like, eg Wait-rose pinenuts, I will divert to a farmshop I enjoy (they are in my GPS, yup, I'm that sad...) or places like the Wing Yip, if near by.
I buy most of our fruit and veg oh and cheese, we have loads of mocrodairies in east sussex, locally or grow it myself in the spring / summer / autumn, I make the bread, well the machine does that and buy pulses in bulk from indian cash and carry shops, pasta in France...
sooooooooooo get behind me and you may conclude I live on bananas, grapes and wine and tinned tomatoes, hardly balanced or ideal
and yes, archingmad, you do have a choice in how you react to stress, realising that is a step to controlling the reaction you have to the stress -
Message 45
Posted by anagramladysin (U14258840) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
Supermarket trolleys ..........
yes, Guzzinut, mine looks unbalanced too, to an ill-informed eye
(I have private sources of real vegetables and fruit)
but once, I was going to a party and I had in my basket only a bottle of champagne and a pannettone, and a somewhat gorgeous man behind me (with a trolley-full of vegetables and fruit and yoghurt and tofu) said "Well I suppose you have all the major food groups there."
I asked him to the party -- but he didn't come. -
Message 46
Posted by archingmad (U8292055) on Wednesday, 12th May 2010
I'm feeling a bit of a fraud. I had a main meal at the Day Centre today. Vegetable strudel and potato wedgies (I left one and a half wedgies on the plate), intending to go to Pilates for the first time this evening, only having a snack for supper.
I discovered that the Pilates wasn't on the corner of my road as I had thought, it was much farther away and, after a tiring day, I couldn't face it and didn't go. I did a bit of door to door collecting for my campaign instead so did factor in some pavement pounding. The bad thing is that, instead of the snack, I had a large jacket potato and (lower fat) cheese. Lots of potato today.
The good news is that they had chocolate biccies at coffee this morning and sponge cake with chocolate chips this afternoon and I had ... not a nibble. Grapes for evening snack tonight. Feel full. -
Message 47
Posted by PinaGrigio (U11141735) on Thursday, 13th May 2010
hello all
late in this week, I know, but just RL doing its usual. have managed to maintain at just under the stone mark so am pleased with that.
I *love* other people's supermarket trollies and am sure ours varies from trip to trip depending on the time of year and the level of veg & fruit in the garden. I suppose the thing I notice most are the level of ready meals in people's baskets. I don't mean pies, cakes etc, but TV dinners (as we used to call them). I do find myself coming over a bit Jamie at that point as making yourself something quick & healthy is so easy and probably actually takes less time than wanging one of those salt-rich things in the oven.
I think there's a real gap in knowledge for some about how to put together a simple meal which is good for you *and* tasty, and I feel really sorry for anyone who wasn't taught the basics of how to cook and so thinks they can't do it. And before anyone thinks that's any point about gender roles, I would point out it was my dad who taught me to cook, honest!
I've been mulling over FP's point about seeing food as a treat. I think that good food is definitely a treat (channelling Laura's comparison of good food as being like good sox, a treat for the senses) - what we tend to do though is to just view the carp stuff as a treat. i think for me the great thing about the retraining of the taste buds is that rubbish food now tastes rubbish, and a treat is something flavoursome (a steak, or Jersey new potatoes, or strawberries picked from the garden etc etc).
But I think as long as you look to the 80:20 rule, no food is 'bad' per se....some of it just isn't as good as other stuff, thassorl!
So I shall enjoy a pasty on the steam train on Sat with a clear conscience, knowing how good we've been all week -
Message 48
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Thursday, 13th May 2010
I agree that 'convenience' foods aren't really that much more convenient; you can prepare a simple meal from scratch in 20 minutes, which isn't that long at all.
As the parent of a teenage son who is grappling with cooking for himself now he's at university and who breathes a sigh of relief whenever he's home and someone else is around to cook (despite all our efforts to teach him cooking for years), I think the problem can be that it's not just about the cooking: it's the planning ahead, the thinking of what to eat, the shopping, the preparation and the washing-up. For me, as a food addict, all those things are almost as pleasurable as the eating. For those who eat simply to keep going, those things seem like an unnecessary intrusion into real life. My son doesn't really mind cooking, but doesn't think about it until he's hungry, by which time a microwave meal seems attractive because it's there in the shop and can be consumed very quickly. I look at it and think I could make the same dish almost as quickly and I would know exactly what had gone into mine and it would be exactly how I liked it, so where's the attraction?
Off on my great trip to the capital city tomorrow, so I'll be sans ordinateur till Sunday. Hope you all have a good weekend! -
Message 49
Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Thursday, 13th May 2010
Bookmarking ... I quite forgot the day of the week!
It looks a really interesting thread. -
Message 50
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Thursday, 13th May 2010
Glad to see you Westie - I was beginning to wonder whether you had flown the nest again, this time without telling us!
PG - food and treats where to go, what to think? I now think it is wrong to bring up children seeing rubbish foods a treats, or perhaps worse, rewards for being good. It is also wrong to insist on their eating everything on their plate and to remember the starving millions in China/India/Biafra/Ethiopia or wherever. If I go out for dinner with OH or friends, is the treat the food itself or the shared time together away from computer and phone? The good food should enhance the occasion but should it be the be all and end all of the occasion? I don't know.
Today I had an unplanned lunch, it is Ascension Day and last Sunday I had told our new priest that when I was at school we had a whole holiday with House picnics. She rang me just before lunch to say we were going for a picnic in my lunch break! I couldn't say no, the treat there was the time in her company, the chat we had enhanced by a brie, bacon and cranberry sandwich with lettuce. No it wasn't planned, but yes it was enjoyed!
Lost I'm sure you will have a good trip to the capital city, I hope you can relax and enjoy it. I know just what you mean about being able to cook a good meal in a short time. Tonight we had some Welsh lamb chops with new potatoes and carrots followed by fresh mango, very tasty and also quick and easy to prepare and cook.
KOKO one and all
F-P
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