*Trigger warning* Eating for Health and Wellness

[Guest_1055]

I have been struggling eating and eating healthy foods over the last couple of weeks. I really do not want to go back further to how I use to eat, that is eating junk food, takeaways, copious amounts of chocolate, processed junk and comfort eating.

Finding it challenging to stay motivated to actually prepare what I know helps me feel better mentally, emotionally and physically. Plus I have been feeling overwhelmed with other stuff happening in my life, which somehow makes it more challenging. The old unhealthy comfort eating thing is coming back. And I think I am getting concerned and scared about that. I so much do not want to go back to how I use to be. I was so sick. Plus I now have some physical things not right in my body , so I need to be more careful and mindful of what I eat. ( Pre cancer cells , high blood pressure )

I was eating really well since Febuary of this year, it’s just the last couple of weeks I haven’t.

So I would like to use this thread to help me be accountable to Beyond Blue people. So like a diary where I can post and report what I eat. And also any healthy eating tips, motivating strategies to help eat better or anything related to healthy eating for our bodies including our mental health.

[Guest_1055]

I really like what you said here Ms Purple.

"Even if tempted, I was like no you want to meet this half marathon goal, you will ruin it if you give in, and you have worked so hard for this......"

I do not have run marathons as my goal, but we can slot in our own goal there instead.

And for over a year I have been working with a lot of effort to achieve my goal. True I have fallen of that wagon many times as well. But we just need to keep looking at our own particular goal, choose to get up and keep going towards it.

I also like how you say no to yourself. It's like a healthy discipline thing. It's great Ms Purple. I want to do this more in my own life.

Here is what I will say to myself when the desire to eat junk food enters my thoughts. (temptation)

"No Shelley, you want to meet your goal of being healthy, you want to help your body to heal, you want to live a quality life where you have the energy to do things. You will ruin it if you give in. And you have worked so hard for this already".

I have tears in my eyes now, because I really want to be well. And no longer have this issue within my body that the doctors say I have or maybe had.

Anyway Thankyou Ms Purple for what you shared about how you help yourself keep on track for your goal. It truly was good.

I too exercise regularly and understand that when we eat proper, well its easier to exercise. Our bodies have more energy and just move better or something.

And it's great you can run marathons. Pretty impressive.

[Guest_2496]

Shelley thanks so much for saying you wished you could help me with the health anxiety. It’s so nice that you care x. I’m working hard with a psychologist and I’m proud of myself for that.

So...we need to get to four or five days of good eating. I just love chocolate!! groan.

I haven’t tried slippery elm, I’ll look into that thanks. I do take a couple of gut related meds though.

Tonight I resisted the (strong) urge to get food delivered and had chicken stock soup with asparagus, cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, garlic and thinly sliced pork.

[Guest_2496]

Irene

Thanks for the cabbage meal recipe - Y U M

[Guest_1055]

I love chocolate too Annie. It is my biggest weakness. I have come to the conclusion though chocolate is not my friend. Perhaps not yours either. It really does not love us back.

I do have a recipe for chocolate chia pudding if you are interested in trying it. You need a blender for it. It did help me last year to have some pre made. Then when the chocolate or sugar cravings came, well I would chow into that. I have not made any for a while. Not sure why.

I made soup today too. Two sorts. A cauliflower one, which was a bit strong. I put too much nutmeg in it. And a vegetable one with noodles. (potato, carrot, celery, garlic, onion powder, veggie stock, fresh thyme and broken up bits of chickpea spaghetti for noodles)

[Guest_1055]

I forgot to say well done Annie for resisting that strong urge. Just give it a good kick on out, I say, we don't need these urges. 🙂

[MsPurple]

Thanks Shelley anne and annie for the kind words

I find small achievable goals are easier for me to deal with it. So my goal for my run was not slip up for at least a week before (ok if I had chocolate, but in moderation, can't every give up chocolate). I was successful. Two days before the race I made a goal to increase my carbs over two days but not to feel uncomfortable (I have had too much in one sitting, so had to plan, didn't have to increase by a huge amount but still). I find small goals easier. I also don't want to make weight goals. I find that just ruins my self esteem and I want to be healthy not just 'thin'.

Omg I want chocolate now. I am going to have a hot chocolate I think 🙂 Get some calcium

[Guest_1055]

🙂 oh no not the chocolate! Hahaha.

Yeah seriously I make hot and iced chocolates too. I use bonsoy soy milk, raw cacao powder, vanilla and coconut sugar. My body appears okay with this sweetener. At times I will turn it into a smoothie. Might add frozen raspberries or frozen cherries plus a handful of baby spinach. I cannot taste the spinach at all. Anyway it is pretty yum. How do you make yours Ms Purple?

And yes one can be thin,be in within their BMI even but not be healthy hey.

I agree with setting the smaller goals too. I have been finding that when I did set larger ones, it felt overwhelming. And often I will want to give up because of how enormous it looks.

And what sort of carbs to you eat before a race?Just interested is all. Like oats or other whole grains, and vegetables? No pressure to answer though, you are free.

[blondguy]

Hey Shelleybelly and everyone 🙂

Everyone is talking about Chocolate!!! I love it 🙂

hmmmm... The Easter Bunny is around....Yummmy!

Paul

[Guest_1055]

How you going Paul, hi Annie, Ms Purple, and Irene.

So far today I have eaten this:

Breakfast-none

Lunch- yummy! Scrambled tofu with vegetables,grilled cherry tomatoes and leafy green salad.

[MsPurple]

Hi guys

Paul - I love chocolate. I have a bit of a sweet tooth. I have just purchased Aldi's mini chocolate hot cross buns. Not too big, but enough to satisfy. I do like traditional ones also

Shelley - I am pretty boring when I make hot chocolate. I either make it with my milk frother and either with milo/ovaltine or a nespresso pod that has only hot chocolate in it. (But I get that pod from Kogan so not too often.) I sometimes make it like an instant coffee, with mostly boiling water, bit of milk and milo. I make it close to bed so can't be bothered being too fancy. I had a hot chocolate with peanut butter once from san churro. So good.

Before a run with higher carb days I try stick to things I know my body can digest and not cause issues for the next day. I usually have bread, muesli/oats, yogurt, milk, pasta, rice, english muffin and if I want something sweet like a banana bread. Try not go crazy on fibre as it can cause people to need a loo stop mid run. I normally need to go mid morning, which is when I am running in event runs, so reducing fibre a little bit (or not increasing it I mean) can make it possible to wait till after (I can't go on demand, I try before an event, but if it isn't happening it isn't happening). I went to a bakery with a friend before. So many nice cakes, but I didn't want to upset my stomach, so had banana bread. So I lets say my total calories comes from 50% carbs, 20-25% protein and 25-30% fat on a day before an event the carb percentage may increase and other two decrease. But nothing crazy. Just enough to have good glycogen stores 🙂 Bit of trial and error for your own body and tolerance. (If you want to investigate more for yourself check out www.eatforhealth.org.au or see a registered dietitian) For event days I try make sure I am adequately fuelled to meet my goal

I'm about to cook some chicken pasta for dinner. Just need the chicken to defrost a little more and for me to get motivated to cook.