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15/6/10 Healthy Eating/Living MFC
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Monday, 14th June 2010
Welcome to the new thread for discussion on healthy eating. This is the place to meet and discuss all ideas concerning healthy eating and including methods of losing weight.
Some of us are now old hands and have been around for quite a while, others are new to our merry gang. As we do not see each other on a MB, we do not know anyone's actual size or shape. This leads to our one and only convention, we never mention our actual weight or clothes size. This is out of consideration for each other. Everyone is welcome whether you have a few pounds to lose or a few stone.
We do share each other's triumphs, especially when a target is reached. We also share each other's woes, I have had more than my share of them and the support and encouragement I have received here has helped to keep me off chocolate for months!
By request, this thread restarts each week, usually on a Monday afternoon or evening, but with Tuesday's date, we have a rota where we sign up for the task of writing the first post. That can be found here:
There are two other sister threads, Katy's cookbook, full of ideas and helpful suggestions, that can be found here:
Our third thread is GEm's cyber Gym. This should help with your attempts to get moving and shaking, that one can be found here:
If you have any queries on Healthy eating you will be very welcome here? What have you got to lose except your flab? (Some have lost that already, I'm en route but not there yet!)
Keep on Keeping On, one of our mottoes usually abbreviated to KOKO
My Mum's mantra was "From the lust of finishing Good Lord deliver me" I must remember this!
F-P -
Message 2
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Monday, 14th June 2010
*takes notes* hava horrible feeling I put myself down to open up next week, gulp
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Message 3
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Monday, 14th June 2010
GuzziNut - you can do it! We don't bite and each of us is an individual, not need to write as much as me. If you can post, and you can, you can open the door for us!
F-P -
Message 4
Posted by archingmad (U8292055) on Monday, 14th June 2010
We don't biteÌý
Hmmm, that depends, F-P, if there is something irresistable close by .... only those with the strongest willpower. -
Message 5
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Welcome to the new week. Was thwarted yesterday by the lack of a bus, so didn't get swimming and really missed it... Hope things improve today!
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Message 6
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
OK archi - I get your point, I should have said we don't bite each other!
F-P -
Message 7
Posted by puzzler76 (U3733897) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Morning all, three quarters of a pound down for me. Slow and steady wins the race!
KOKO everyone,
Puzzler -
Message 8
Posted by welshteddy (U3680635) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
just bookmarking
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Message 9
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Checking in. Thanks for keeping this going and joining in, even if you are lurking, one day you may feel comfortable enough to try a posting and see how your experience is received.
I find when others share their experience of eating problems and solutions, it invariably helps me, by at the very least reassuring me that others struggle too, and that I am therefore NOT alone, although I frequently tell myself no one can possibly understand me, I am SO odd!!!
Unique, special maybe but not the only one who has trouble with food, weight, eating exercise etc.. We at least have some commonalities. -
Message 10
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
.... only those with the strongest willpowerÌý
Maybe for some, but for me my abstinence from compulsive eating and compulsive eating behaviours depends on surrender and accepting I am powerless over food. -
Message 11
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:33 GMT, in reply to Tolkny in message 9
I find when others share their experience of eating problems and solutions, it invariably helps meÌý
And, despite my initially feeling rather unsettled by your background being so very different from mine, I've now started to find a lot of very useful things in your posts, so thanks Tolkny - the more people who post, the better-off we all are!
I'm still on a maintain, which is realistic.
I've got the activity levels up again, and the sweetstuff is reducing slowly (but with a special drive this week and next from me). I think the huge problem - as it was last year, sigh - is portion size. Last night I virtuously did not have any sweets or chocolate in the evening. No, I had lovely healthy nutritious sultanas, lots of vitamins and fibre, how healthy is that?! Well, they're very healthy IF you have a small amount. I ate the 500g packet...
So I'm upping the protein levels more, as research shows, and my experience tells me, that protein is an appetite-suppressant. So more protein for me, and lots more VEG dammit not fruit, must eat VEG!!! Radishes, cucumber, celery - i love all of these, as parts of a meal raw, or nibbled and crunched as snacks. Apples, too, I love apples. More apples!
Dad found a piece on food in the paper last week with a Dutch saying translated - the country with lots of herring has few doctors... thought that might amuse the fish-fanciers! Wish I liked the stuff, but no...
Right. Salads, apples, and SMALLER PORTIONS for me. KOKO everyone with whatever you find works for you!
(Food-diary may have to be posted from me this week, feel free to scroll by, it's just a way of making myself pay attention to myself!)
laura -
Message 12
Posted by FlufflesB (U14188870) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Morning all
After a very silly last week - too many things happening - this week is no better, so a quick visit to bookmark.
The non-diet is going well, trousers fitting ok which is the benchmark, trust they will be looser soon.
Laura - portion size, or more to the point, control of portion size has been the most important aspect of my changed outlook on food. I am finally in control of it and trust it will continue.
FB -
Message 13
Posted by Sister Primrose of the Red Tinsel Flag (U5405579) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Morning all. An 8 oz gain I'm afraid, but the knowledge that the day long grazing I've been indulging in is responsible is a helpful starting point to turn it round.
Well done you losers and maintainers and a big hug for the gainers.
PP -
Message 14
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
they're very healthy IF you have a small amount. I ate the 500g packet..Ìý That sort of thing was my experience for around 50 years, but not today, now I admit I am powerless over the cravings to eat, so nowadays I take daily actions to keep me safe just for today!
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Message 15
Posted by myria (U4022847) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
I don't weigh or measure myself in any way (that way lies obsession for me . . ), so no facts and figures to offer, but I have managed to eat pretty sensibly all week despite having the week from hell. Even being sent on an errand to buy my very ill friend chocolate didn't throw me. I think because she needed me to feel stable to look after her I made a sensible choice, but so often in the past the self destruct choice would have won, so I should feel proud of that.
I have found Nakd and Trek bars to be godsend for snacks, does anyone else like these? Just raw fruit and dates, Trek are protein bars and Nakd just a general fruity snack bar. They've got a reasonable amount of calories in but the key for me is that they have zero sugar, so I can have a tasty filling snack without kicking off a binge.
Well done to everyone and KOKO! -
Message 16
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
I don't weigh or measure myself in any way (that way lies obsession for me . . ), so no facts and figures to offer, but I have managed to eat pretty sensibly all week despite having the week from hell.Ìý
That is an achievement worth celebrating and one that in the sharing gives me encouragement. If I can stick with my food plan when life is tougher than normal I am doing fine and need to not allow a sense of failure/despair/etc. in other parts of my life affect my eating because eating addictively does not make life's other stresses any easier to manage - the opposite, in fact. -
Message 17
Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Bookmarking to read later.
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Message 18
Posted by archingmad (U8292055) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Laura, I did the very same thing last week. Maybe not the whole 500g pack of sultanas, but enough to make me feel sick. Worst of all, they were the "basic" sultanas, probably coated in industrial grade mineral oil, and I broke the golden MFC rule in that I /didn't/ enjoy them. Just obsessively crammed them in my mouth. This was because I had scoffed my week's supply of chocolate (one bar) in three days.
my abstinence from compulsive eating and compulsive eating behaviours depends on surrender and accepting I am powerless over food.Ìý
So, Tolkny, I recognise my weakness, my powerlessness over food. Please explain how surrendering helps me to abstain. As I understand *surrendering*, in my case this translates to *soddit, I'm out of control here, I'll just give in and eat till I feel sick*. I'm not being facetious, Tolkny. I have a lot of respect for your organisation. My late father tried it for a while, but like most of the diets he tried, it was short-lived ... as was he. He ate himself to a stroke at the age of 57 and a fatal heart attack at just short of 62. This is a constant reminder of the self-destruct button in me, but this knowledge does not seem to be all that effective.
For example, today. I worked very hard - my charity committee put on a lunch for 132. It was a fairly healthy meal of smoked salmon, mixed green salad, cous-cous salad and coleslaw. I ate the whole, rather large, plateful plus a slice of bread and butter. Dessert was strawberries and blueberries with dairy-free ice-cream and we served coffee with fancy biscuits abd chocolates. Because I was on the committee table, we didn't get a plate of biscuits/chocs or the choccy wafers in the ice-cream (running a bit short) but when the plates came back off the tables, all the left-over biscuits and chocolates were put together and, feeling hard-done by, I (not on my own, I hasten to add) just piled in. I wasn't hungry, just greedy. I was exhausted when I got home and, because the committee weren't served coffee either, I made a coffee at home and managed not to eat anything with it. Quite an achievement for me, but truthfully, it would have been unforgiveable in the circumstances. I will now try to get through the evening just eating some fruit to balance it a bit, but the damage is done. No doubt the rest of the week will be the same as there are lots of lunches, dinners and treats on the horizon to celebrate *big* birthday.
Sorry for such a long ramble this early in the evening - I usually do this in the middle of the night - but I am hating myself right now and that is a dangerous moment for me. I usually hit the biscuit barrel when I am in this mood. -
Message 19
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:14 GMT, in reply to archingmad in message 18
arching, I was really struck by one phrase in your post in particular:
Because I was on the committee table, we didn't get a plate of biscuits/chocs or the choccy wafers in the ice-cream (running a bit short) but when the plates came back off the tables, all the left-over biscuits and chocolates were put together and, feeling hard-done by, I (not on my own, I hasten to add) just piled in. I wasn't hungry, just greedy.Ìý
"feeling hard-done by"
It leapt out at me, because having had alcohol-dependency in my life rather a lot (a younger me and now someone else) I notice a lot of how people talk about alcohol.
Quite often if someone planned to go out with friends to the pub, or walk to a restaurant for a meal and wine, whatever, and plans change and suddenly they have to drive - for some reason they may not drink alcohol.... the number of people who get home and have quite a lot to drink quite quickly as though playing some bizarre form of catch-up on their own is alarmingly large to me.
They say things like "oh my head hurts - I had to drive last night so when I got home I felt I'd bluddy well EARNT a few bevvies" or "it was awful, she was so dull and I felt so cross we'd changed restaurant so she could come and bore us, so when I got in I did some catching-up".
They (generally) aren't people who drink to excess, but they still think of no-alcohol-when-others-drink as being somehow deprived.
I'm always intrigued by the crossovers between liking a thing, desiring a thing, wanting a thing, needing a thing and being addicted to the thing. Blurry boundaries, maybe not definable ever.
Maybe you could try to work out WHY you felt hard-done-by and deprived. Was it because others got the treats? Or because you and the committee did the hard work and got no extras?
Or... and I'm guessing here.... could it also have been a cultural thing, that naughty little girl giggling as she and her pals raid the biscuit-jar? Were you getting through the tiring meeting and lunch by muttering back and forth with a couple of others, mock-grimly, about "when this is over, if there are any of those left, I'm head-first into the plate!" and the others trying to stifle their smiles and coming back with a similarly mock-grim reply? So when the hall cleared, you were already kind of trapped into being the gleeful little girls raiding the biscuit-jar?
I can just think of that happening awfully easily.
Don't hate yourself*... you clearly know yourself pretty well already. Maybe try to work out why - feel free to discard my suggestions above - knowing it wasn't those reasons gets you closer to understanding what the reasons were.
*this platitude was brought to you by the School of Easier Said Than Done I Know
At my end of things, I absent-mindedly forgot breakfast again so a sluggish slow start and two Dread Energy Drinks, stupid me. Lunch was the last of the sliced salami, 3 ryvita multigrain with butter and 50g of cheddar and 11 cherry tomatoes.
Supper has been a gigantic green salad with some homemade French Dressing, and six very thin, very good chipolatas. I reckon, by appearance and by weight of packets and numbers, that 6 of these is two ordinary, so a sensible portion. I have some melon for pudding. I plan to take the melon upstairs to nibble while I read, in lieu of the chocolate/ sweets/ sultanas. (I didn't binge the sultana, just ate them and enjoyed them. Only I enjoyed all of them...)
I have radishes and lots of cherry-toms in the fridge. Tomorrow's breakfast will be two cold chipolatas and some radishes and a bit of cheddar. I know, but I'm happy on it!
KOKO all of us in our different ways - we'll get there!
laura -
Message 20
Posted by archingmad (U8292055) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Laura, I think all of those explanations that you put forward work for me. I am sure that Tolkny, with his knowledge of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 steps upon which the Overeaters Anonymous is based, with also recognise those triggers. I'm still looking forward to his explanation of how "surrendering to his powerlessness" can result in abstinence, not a binge - as in my case.
The *naughty girl* thing is very apposite, too. I remember when I was assessed for counselling for my sleeping problem that the supervisor said that even at my advanced age (feeling a bit sensitive about that this week!) there is a good child/naughty child in us all. This certainly applies to my sleep habits, untidyness and reckless eating. Maybe I should get some more counselling? -
Message 21
Posted by GEm (U4356909) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
arching - you can't change what has happened but you can choose how you respond to it. As Laura says - try and understand the feeling hard done by and where it comes from but perhaps not today while you are feeling vulnerable. One for tomorrow evening over a long soak in the bath.
Ok - so you scoffed some biscuits. So, cut down a little for the rest of the week and make yourself healthy, "calorie light" meals to pay back. Or simply go back to your regime - I am sure your body won't respond to just one indulgence.
Or go for a long walk or swim or run or something tomorrow to pay back the calories and start again from now. Don't do the well I've ruined today so I might as well carry on - it's harder to come back from it then.
Life's too short to hate yourself over a biscuit!
G -
Message 22
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:38 GMT, in reply to archingmad in message 20
arching,
If I understand it right, the OA's "powerlessness" is similar to AA's one. The concept is to admit that you have no power when it comes to food/ alcohol/ gambling/ whatever, and that the only way you can manage is by admitting that you can't control your addiction and following the 12 step programme and surrendering your will to a Higher Power which does not have to be relgiious.
Doesn't call to me, but then I'm not looking for that level of help.
I think GEm's got the best idea.... relax, unwind, take time to look after yourself, and have an early night... How often do you really spend time on YOU, out of interest? Lots of the people who struggle hardest with the emotional side seem to spend a lot of time on other people, and not spend much time on themselves, doing things they love, letting themselves be a bit selfish re time and solitude and spending money to make themselves feel good like new undies or having your hair done or nice stuff for the bath, whatever... think of some nice things you coud do for yourself, by yourself, really lovely times, and maybe then the self-sabotage will be less tempting?
laura -
Message 23
Posted by countrypug (U9227943) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Bookmarking - thanks for opening F-P, and I love your Mum's mantra. I'm still behaving like a twit and eating too much, but keeping up the walking at least. It is another busy week at work, so coming in at 7pm and cooking tea is not helping as I have been nibbling as I cook. Ho hum, kick on the bum for me I think.
Well done to all losers.
Archi, don't be too hard on yourself - as others say, it is another day tomorrow!
Pug x -
Message 24
Posted by puzzler76 (U3733897) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Life's too short to hate yourself over a biscuit!
Ìý
This has to be the quote of the year!
Puzzler -
Message 25
Posted by boo decker (U10848648) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Good evening all.
I have just ( well almost) returned from WW where I found I had lost 2.5lbs which takes me to 8 in total from my start weight.
I am a bit pleased as I have been to a BBQ and we've had a chinese this week. The key difference is that I have enjoyed my food but have stopped when full rather than being determined to eat everything on my plate.
At the BBQ there were some lovely deserts so I had a weeny sliver of the 3 I wanted and that was that. They were lovely and I really enjoyed them.
KOKO everyone! -
Message 26
Posted by myria (U4022847) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
To use a sleeping analogy Arching, when I *try* to get to sleep I remain resolutely awake, but when I *surrender* and stop trying I fall asleep, that's the best way I can think of to describe surrendering in OA. *trying* not to compulsively overeat requires lots of effort and energy which eventually runs out, whereas giving in and accepting your compulsion and kind of 'asking the universe' for help can ease that strain. I struggled with the Higher Power thing as I've said but I do 'get' the surrender concept, I think of it, in the same way as sleep, as surrendering to my body as it knows what it wants as long as I am able to listen to it. E.g. I know sugary food sends me spiralling into a binge within seconds, so I don't eat sugar, I manage to keep this up if I feel I am just surrendering to what my body wants, if it becomes a strain and I am using 'willpower' again, I usually lapse. I hope that makes some sense and doesn't sound too psychobabbly!
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Message 27
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Great news Boo. That's the way to go, tasting and enjoying each of the desserts, and not finishing all the Chinese food.
Arching, commiserations but try not to dwell on it, but to quote Laura, this platitude was brought to you by the School of Easier Said Than Done I KnowÌý
I'm another who has difficulty understanding the surrendering rather than will power concept. I don't think I'm an addict, when I want to stop eating chocolate, I can. Prior to MFC I didn't really want to do it, I knew it wasn't doing me any good but I didn't really think about it.
One thing that seems to be working for me now is trying to visualise the temptations in advance and working our how I'll cope with them.
I think I must up my vegetable intake and lower the fruit intake, I eat a lot of fruit.
KOKO one and all
F-P -
Message 28
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
I'm not really answering myself Myria, I've just been googling Nakd and Trek bars. I see they are made here in North Wales - I wonder if that is at the Halo factory in Towyn? If we are thee we can get all sorts of unlabelled mis-shapes. I must look for them, I eat a muesli bar most days with my lunch at work. I look for lower calorie ones, but these are lower. Do you get them at health Food shops?
F-P -
Message 29
Posted by Tolkny (U710741) on Tuesday, 15th June 2010
Please explain how surrendering helps me to abstainÌý I can't explain how it helps "you" or anyone, even me, but I just now know, as well as I know anything else, it is crucial to me because I no longer try to exert will to stop me but instead take the steps recommended and use the tools recommended.
The AA programme began when two Alcoholics met together, one already sober, the other believing sobriety was impossible for him. My impression is that as Bill W told how he had drunk and got sober, his craving to drink again diminished and he did not break his sobriety. Simultaneously, Dr Bob had some sort of identification with Bill W and realised that if Bill W could get and stay sober, there was no reason he could not have the same experience. Within a few weeks both men were definitely sober and telling others of their experiences and supporting those others, some of whom got and stayed sober.
When there numbers increased they wrote down what had actually happened to them and the book Alcoholics Anonymous was born and later the organisation took it's name from the book.
Subsequently others who were also addicted to other things like gambling adapted the AA programme and then in 1960 some overeaters adapted it as well and now there are over 5,000 groups in OA around the world. I heard something at my early OA meetings but I did not get "it" for 12 years, hence these last 4 years, I hang on to "it" steadfastly for my life depends on it.
Previously I did not treat it seriously enough or give it the high priority, I now do - the most important feature of my life - for without it I would not have a life and might have died of obesity related illness by now.
This evening I have visited an OA friend I have known since 1995 who is now terminally ill as a consequence of physical damage to his heart before he got "it", I realise I could now be lying in bed unable to get out of it reliant on mechanical support to breathe, and urinate and so my visit to him tonight aids my recovery. I cannot do it alone and have to ask for help.
Tomorrow I am meeting a new OA sponsor to me, who I hope will help me tackle some of the underlying issues that continue despite my physical recovery.
I doubt that this answer anyone's question and right now I am emotional about my friend of 15 years dying in front of me in considerable discomfort, knowing I could still have a similar demise. -
Message 30
Posted by archingmad (U8292055) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Thanks for that, Tolkny. I hope your new sponsor turns out to be helpful to you. It must be very hard for you to see your friend "fail" in his attempt to fight his addiction.
I still feel heartbreak that my father, who died 20 years ago, could never come to terms with eating a healthy diet consistently. Although I am nowhere near the danger zone that he was in, it is a constant worry - as it is also to my sister - that there is an overeating gene that has passed on to us. I have inherited his high cholesterol, which fortunately has diminished with statins, and I trust that I will never allow myself to get into that cycle of obsessive dieting, followed by out of control bingeing. It certainly wrecked his short life.
Fortunately, both my children eat healthily and sensibly. -
Message 31
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Archingmad, for a long time I too struggled with this idea that I was genetically predisposed to being overweight, as all the women in my family have been overweight/obese. It took a long time to see that that was because of their faulty thinking in regards to food and their bad eating habits rather than any genetic code. (I'm not saying genetics don't play a part, but I was being rather fatalistic, assuming there was nothing /I/ could do about my problem since it was /all/ genetic.)
Maybe there is 'an overeating gene', but I gradually came to realise that there was an awful lot I could do about my own problem, and that included the oft-repeated mantra of healthy eating and exercise, which somehow I had previously shunned. It dawned on me that no one in my family had actually eaten healthily OR exercised regularly. Amazingly enough, my aunt has just had a health scare (gallstones) and faces an operation, before which she must lose 4 stones. When faced with this, she has changed her eating habits, started exercising and has already lost 2 stones. So I am realising that there is no point in sitting fatalistically munching myself to death. Whilst I may not be able to prevent certain things, I don't have to contribute to bad things by this fatalistic attitude of 'eat, drink, for tomorrow we die.'
I think surrender is about understanding the triggers that cause us to do bad things and yes, maybe counselling would help you more. I would just encourage you to understand that it /is/ possible for us to change bad habits and that we are free to live out good choices, honestly! If I can do it, you can!!
On another note, I went swimming last night and came out thinking, 'Ah, so this is how 'normal' people feel about food... They use it and enjoy it, but aren't obsessed about it. Maybe my attitude to exercise is a bit closer to normal than my attitude to food, then!' - because I see the need for it, get on with it, but don't obsess about it...!! -
Message 32
Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Archi popped in just after I had bookmarked. Her dilemma is the dilemma of so many of us. The replies to her are helpful.
OH was out all day a couple of days ago and I spent the day happily gardening ... I had homemade soup, 3 ryvittas and marmite for lunch and a bananana and then pilchard curry in the evening .... so far so good. Then for some reason I got out two bread rolls from the freezer and had loads of nutella on them! I then had 2 Wheetabix and a large bowl of muesli.
I have found that since I did that I have been helping myself to muesli and dried fruit etc in a way that is quite unnecessary and am thinking more about food than I would usually. I must go back to basics and do my "looking food in the eye" and waiting ten minutes before I let myself decide whether or not to eat something. In other words, dip into my copy of 'Eat Less say Goodbye to Overeating' by Gillian Riley.
I know that in the old days I could have nibbled my way round the kitchen and that that didn't happen this time, but it was out of control eating, pure and simple.
So Archi ... and everyone else, today is another day :0)
We are out today and I will remember this thread ... we aren't taking the camper and will have to rely on what we buy when we are out.
Have a good day everyone. -
Message 33
Posted by FlufflesB (U14188870) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
I don't think I can bring anything new to this discussion but this is my understanding of 'surrender'. It is that moment/period of life when you finally admit that you have a problem with it.
Not 'I put weight on easily, that's my problem' or ' 'snot fair, X can eat all day and never gain an ounce'.
It was when I openly said to my friends, 'I have a problem with food, I eat too much, I exercise too little. I am obsessed with it, I think about my next meal while I am eating the current one. It has got to change'.
This self revelation came after a period in my life when, despite being considerably overweight, I felt, for a couple of reasons, wonderful about ME! I dieted very successfully, losing a lot of weight and becoming, physically, another woman.
But those feelings didn't last and the weight began to creep on again as the eating habits of a lifetime began again.
That, coupled with a health scare became my Damascene moment. I admitted my eating problem - to myself and those closest to me. It was a start, I could begin to do something about it. That in itself took time but I look at it as a work in progress. The weight GAIN is halted, now for a permanent change to the amount I eat.
FB -
Message 34
Posted by FlufflesB (U14188870) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
p.s. Arching - I too will say it, yesterday is gone, today is now, eat nice, eat small.
FB -
Message 35
Posted by eriskay (U2846175) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Don't know if this is helpful but I remember reading that a chocolate craving can be dealt with up to a point by having a chocolate orange or bar frozen in sections and then when you feel you absolutely must have some, take out one frozen section and eat it very slowly. It might break your teeth of course but not if you are careful. It requires some planning and needs you to be at home, but it is said to help.
KOKO everybody -
Message 36
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
I love MFC for sharing ideas of all sorts. I am still struggling with will power and surrender, I am trying to understand, but feeling like a bear of little brain. From my reading here is it recognising the desire/need to eat and then saying "When I feel like this, these are the steps I must take to stop myself eating"* If it is, I see little difference with my idea of will power (or even won't power as I sometimes call it!)
Perhaps I should leave it, and just concentrate on myself for a change. I have had too much caring and work recently to spend any quality time on *me* but am hoping to get out to a craft show this afternoon - if I can beat these accounts into submission this morning!
KOKO enjoy the sunshine!
F-P
*(Obviously drinking, smoking or whatever addiction can replace the word eating) -
Message 37
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:51 GMT, in reply to FlufflesB in message 34
F-P, like you, I recognise certain aspects of my own methods in others' methods, both in the "surrender" and in your "won't-power", but to me, it's more "keeping self on an even keel" which is something that goes across all aspects of my life including food and drink, but also how much exercise, how much water, how much fresh air, whether i'm wearing my contact lenses, whether I've washed my hair recently enough, whether my room is clear or not... tons of things which I've monitored and used for years and years to prevent a descent into depression - and which I now understand to be linked strongly to my autism.
I think it's Lennon's "whatever gets you through the night, it's all right, it's all right", isn't it? What we call it is less important than whether we do it and stick to it. So that's my effort for today, to stick to what I know works.
eat nice, eat smallÌý
Fluffles, this is my motto for the day - it's brilliant!! Love it
Eat nice, eat small.... oh yes!
laura -
Message 38
Posted by Katy Tulip (U2239809) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:05 GMT
I had lovely healthy nutritious sultanas, lots of vitamins and fibre, how healthy is that?! Well, they're very healthy IF you have a small amount. I ate the 500g packet...Ìý
Laura lovey, I've just double-checked that, depending on the brand, that's approx. 1600 (16 hundred!) cals. :O
Been to my WW class, another half a kilo down. Not all that much seemingly, but, and this is a BIG but, assuming my former achieved target weight is X, I've been wibbling around between 10 & 15 kgs over that for around 3 years now - for the first time since then I've achieved X + 9,5 kgs. Finally.
Yippee!
Onwards & downwards,
Katy -
Message 39
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:14 GMT, in reply to Katy Tulip in message 38
Yes, Katy. That was a shock to me...
I've gone back to reading labels again, and it shows how complacent I'd got. As I may have mentioned, I love raw spring onions dipped in mayonnaise with crushed garlic stirred in.... I also love our family's "dip" which is soured-cream with onion soup-mix (don't ask!), but avoid "dip" too often as it's so high-fat.
I did some label-reading and found that the "dip" works out at 15% fat (half-fat soured cream plus packet of mix) compared to the mayonnaise's frankly scary EIGHTY per cent fat.
So... that has moved to an occasional treat, and it will be with "dip" and not with garlic-mayo.
Portion, portion, portion....
Last night worked well - previous sweeties had been replaced by dried fruit which as we see wasn't any improvement really - but last night I had a portion of melon wedges, green and orange, 280g, and I've forgotten the calories and sugar levels but it was tons less, iirc about 80 kcal and 10 or 12g sugars.
I can do this! I can...
Check labels... look at what I eat... look at PORTION SIZE.... look at how often I eat and how much...
eat nice, eat small...
laura -
Message 40
Posted by diasporatehousewife (U9694450) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:21 GMT, in reply to countrypug in message 23
For Countrypug
Hah! Here you all are! I was waiting until I had something interesting to say about Dukan diet and then you've switched freds.
Anyway, just over 2 weeks in and 4 kilos down. It is quite challenging eating nothing but protein and bran some days. But the oat bran works quite well. Dukan works with protein-only days for a very short time (mine was 3 days), and then alternating protein-only, and protein-veg days until you reach my target weight. I have a few more kgs to shift. Sometimes the protein gets boring and I really miss fruit. But on veg days I eat almost normally. And I feel a lot better physically.
If you want to check it out there is a Facebook group. And a homepage called . As well as Dukan's own on which you work out by some miraculous subroutine / macro / algorithm - your 'true weight'. -
Message 41
Posted by diasporatehousewife (U9694450) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:24 GMT, in reply to diasporatehousewife in message 40
that should be 'your target weight' or even 'until one reaches ONE's target weight' if one is royalty. If you are just anally retentive about grammar, eat more bran.
until you reach my target weightÌý -
Message 42
Posted by GEm (U4356909) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Not sure how much this helps but my mum used to say that people often confuse hunger and thirst (and there was spomething on R4 recently which said that too and that as you get older your thirst mechanism gets a bit faulty). She used to make us have a glass of water if we were wanting to "nibble" which usually filled you up and you didn't then want whatever you had been craving. If you want to nibble why not try drinking a large glass of water, wait 10 mins if you are still hungry then you need to eat - but chances are all you wanted was a drink
G -
Message 43
Posted by welshteddy (U3680635) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
I have just made myself a delicious milkshake -
6 or 7 fresh strawberries
skimmed milk - I used about 150 - 200mls
a fat free strawberry yoghurt
I whizzed it all up in a blender. Yum Yum! -
Message 44
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:15 GMT, in reply to welshteddy in message 43
Sounds good - I do wish I liked milkshakes...
So far so good... cold sausages, apple, tons of cherry tomatoes (very reduced in price yesterday, and 3g of sugar per 100g and some ridiculously low number of kcal like 12 per 100g!).
Supper is going to be an M&S ready-meal of the Feel Fuller Longer range which is lower-carb and high-protein - meatballs in tomato sauce basically.
Need to make sure I have something to replace the Evening Nibbles until such time as I have eliminated them, which I did last summer. I have both knitting and sewing projects at the mo', so I should try those more of an evening to keep my hands occupied!
laura -
Message 45
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Laura I saw some fantastic knitted lace today at the crafts show I went to. Yes, I beat those accounts into submission! There was a Polish lady sitting knitting - she had one piece on display that had well over 1000 stitches in the last round! It would keep your hands occupied!
I love my cherry toms - and baby plum ones too. I have some most days with my lunch. I keep on meaning to investigate recipes for tzatzikis (?spelling) to take into work as a dip for cucumber and carrot sticks.
GEm, I'm a great believer in your Mum's glass of water, it often does the trick. I almost always have a glass beside me.
diasporatehousewife we start a new fred each week. last summer there was discussion about it, some thought once a month would be sufficient, others thought too long freds put people off, so we stayed with weekly freds. I'm glad you are managing the dukan diet and it seems to suit you. Personally, I am looking for a healthy lifestyle not a short term diet that would come to an end when I reached a stated weight. Possibly it would do me good to have a blitz of a strict diet but I'm not sure.
This afternoon I enjoyed a lovely ice cream. OH came with me to the craft show, and then we walked in the sunshine and somehow came to an ice cream shop, where they make all their own. He had double bilberry in a chocolate waffle cone, I had single chocolate orange in a waffle cone. Mine was a bit of a disappointment in that I couldn't taste the orange, but as I love chocolate ice cream that didn't really mar my enjoyment. I do not feel guilty, I enjoyed it, it was one of the rare afternoons we were out together.
KOKO one and all
F-P -
Message 46
Posted by myria (U4022847) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Hi Fire-Pig,
I used to get them at Health Food shops but now big Tescos and S'bury;s have them too - although not always in the most obvious place . . ., both my locals have a good stock. Would definitely recommend them! -
Message 47
Posted by GEm (U4356909) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Fire-pig I think you have hit the nail on the head. You chose your ice-cream thoughtfully, you tasted it and you enjoyed it and didn't feel guilty.
Lost - that was a good summary of how food is in our family. It's fuel or it's a family event (Sitting round having supper together where there's more talking than eating sadly!) Speaking for myself I plan food for the day - supper to be sociable and fit in with the various times people will pitch up home and then the other meals as fuel for the activities. So for me I either have a big breakfast or lunch depending on when I am going to run and it's usually a carb rich one to fuel me up; I know I am going to have kids with an energy crash around 4pm who have to wait for supper till 1930 or even a bit later so they get "tea" some home-made bread and jam and cake to keep them going. I know that they will be out on their bikes, playing football or whatever before they eat again and will be ready to chew my leg off by 7pm. -
Message 48
Posted by gigglemahanaz2 (U14257954) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Hello,
I've lurked on and off on the other threads but never had the front to post so here goes:
I would like to lose weight, 4 stone if possible, with depression and having kids, i've ballooned and I don't like the way I look now, I was 8 and half stone which is about right for my height until about 10 years ago, slowly the weight has crept on, missing breakfast and eating carp and trying to keep up with OH hasn't helped, also eating loads at the main meal hasn't helped.
My OH gets home at 7pm which is when we have our main meal, I must also admit to eating the kids left overs, picking in other words, OH needs to lose weight as well but comfort eats, I no longer have loads of sweet stuff in the house my view being is if it's not here I can't eat it, I don't really have a sweet tooth but love bread and cheese and spuds.
I was wondering what advice anyone has about trying to lose the extra pounds, what's worked and what hasn't.
I should mention I am active as I'm out walking every day with little un and I do a lot of housework.
Oh and btw OH has a habit of using a well know bakers as he like the pasties and sasuage rolls despite the fact I give him a packed lunch and a bag of crisps!!o)))))
Thanks in advance!!O))
P.S have stated eating brakfast this week and have found it's helped me to cut down a little more than usal!! -
Message 49
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:21 GMT, in reply to gigglemahanaz2 in message 48
Welcome, gigglemahanz!
It sounds like you've already identified most of your 'culprits'! I'm another one who has only this week gone back to eating breakfast, so you have company there, and it very definitely helps me.
You can track back through a few of these threads if you have time, and see how varied our approaches are - some people follow a specific 'named diet', others find RL clubs like Slimmers' World or Weight Watchers are right up their street, and others like me use some cunning psychological talkings-to combined with watching out for our own personal Devils (mine is portion-size and also evening-treats far too often).
Good luck with it! I think it's far harder for posters who have whole households and often have their temptations in the house - if you live alone you can just not have crisps in the house, but if it's a whole house full of people who insist on the crisps, then it's much tougher, imo...
laura
p.s. at the risk of sounding sniffy, if you read the start of each thread it usually says that we try not to mention RL weights or sizes, because one person's "argh, I'm a fat blob!" may be what another person wishes depserately they could reach... like when an ex-boyfriend told me once in a bid to reassure me that I wasn't hideously fat, "I've been out with a girl who was a size 12 before!" - since I was waaay more than a 12 (and the average UK woman is a 16 anyway), the idea that this was his description of "fat" was laughable... can't /think/ why he's an ex-boyfriend...!
So generally we just post "I want to lose four stone" or "Yay, I lose two pounds!" or "I'm down an inch on my waist, yippee!" or whatever.
p.p.s. hope this "p.s." reads okay - we've had a few confusions of late with how best to introduce this idea to newcomers so as not to put them off - it's the only "guideline" we have, so hope it isn't a problem! -
Message 50
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Welcome gigglemahanaz, can we call you giggle for short? (with or without a capital G!)
Aa Laura has already said, it sounds as if you have identified part of your problem. Some people have found it a great help, particularly at the start, writing down absolutely everything they eat for a week in a diary. It is a good discipline as it makes you stop and think. If Westie is back from her day out, she might well say try to think about each and every mouthful. This can be difficult with family around. An early step might be binning those leftovers straight away. Our Council has provided us with a kitchen food caddy for recycling food and greenstuff etc. having that in the corner of the kitchen makes it far more likely that plates are scraped into it straight away. The food is being wasted if it does nothing but keep you larger than you want so it may as well be wasted in a bin.
I have said before (Yes, more than once - Ed.) I don't want to follow a diet with any particular food banned. I want to eat more healthily and as a result lose weight. This is what is working for me, I have found all the support I need here in ML. Others need more RL support.
Good Luck - we'll be with you every step of the way!
F-P
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