*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 am experiencing extreme emotional distress. If distress is the right word. It is so much more challenging to eat nourishing foods when I am like this. It does not matter if I know what foods are nourishing or not. Just knowing that isn't enough.

I got to learn how to deal with these emotions.. not go to junk food to make me feel better. It is such a lie. It never makes me better. The junk foods I chose to eat just add another problem to my life. On top of everything else.

There has to be answer... I just don't know what it is.

I feel like no one understands this aspect of my life. Not one single person gets me.

[Paw Prints]

Hello Shell,

Oh lass you do sound like you're in the wars... I don't know what you are trying to deal with (please know I'm not asking you to explain)... if it's alright I will give you a big comforting hug... & we can just sit quietly together on comfy rock & watch the sea...

Lass you are not alone in finding yourself repeatedly doing things that aren't really beneficial... just a few days from my thread

I'm tired of fighting my thoughts all the time... I'm a grown adult... I should be able to say "I will do xyz" & then actually do it... I should be able to do the basics without even having to think about it...I'm the one responsible for my actions (or inactions) no one else can make my mind behave... why is it so hard???.

Grandy replied she had recently asked her Dr basically the same question...

I do believe we can break these unhelpful habits... eventually

Paws

[Guest_1055]

Hi dear Paws, oh comfy rock that is such a beautiful peaceful place to sit and watch the ocean below.

Ah thankyou for the hug. And also I like the way you call people lass.. I have always liked it.

And very true there is a lot going on in my life and has been for the last couple of years. And another thing has been added just over the last month. Overwhelming. Emotionally overwhelming. I feel so much.

And yeah you too. I really don't know why it's so hard. I wish I knew the answer to help you and Grandy as well.

Sometimes I wonder if it's my emotions that I get led by and make decisions by. So not my mind. As for the emotional eating... yeah I am just being led by them. They are so huge, they cloud out any logic thought.

And then it's the unhelpful habits. Just like you said. And all my life I have used junk food as a comfort, as a thing to run to when highly emotional, sad etc. Then there is the fact the junk food I run to is physically addictive. It does things physically to our brains.

No pressure to respond to me Paws. I appreciate you poping in here.. this thread.. You helped me feel not so alone

[Guest_1055]

Okey dokey... 2 days of eating junk food =feel like so not well. So very tired because of it, heavy head because of it, headache because if it, nauseated because of it.

Disappointed in me because of my choices. Mindlessly ate. Just didn't seem to care. Been quite an emotional week.

[Guest_1055]

Last couple of days or so, I have eaten junkfood. My body felt like crap and still does because of it. I have also been learning about a "highly sensitive person". And what that means. I experience a lot of those traits. One trait was they may be affected or over stimulating by certain foods. Some foods include caffeine and refined sugar. And I think the modern "wheat".

Wheat apparently is not like it used to be.

All the reading as left me pondering all this... when my head is clear that is.

Caffeine affects me like this. And I know there is small amounts of caffeine in chocolate as well.

If I have an ice coffee in the morning. Just one and its instant coffee. The physical energy boost I get from that is intense. Just one coffee. It keeps me awake all day and all that same night. Towards the end of that same day and into the next, I get physically jittery, more anxious, irritable, easily startled, angry. But the beginning of that first day I can almost run.

This ice coffee that I make doesn't have refined sugar. And is made using soy milk.

It could take 3 days after that one coffee to feel physically calm. This will depend on what other foods I may be eating. May feel real tired after the "running up the walls" affect wears off.

I will only have an occasional ice coffee because of the way I react to it. Maybe 1 a month. I really like the scent of coffee. Family members drink it a lot at our place. So I smell it often in the air.

Just eating porridge as I was writing this post. Attempting to only eat nourishing meals today to help with the desire for junkfood.

[golden82]

Hi Shell, i experience the same and switched to decaf a few months ago.. i think it helps. I'm a hsp too which is interesting how you read about caffeine effects. Hope it is a good day for you today x

[Guest_1643]

Hi Shelll,

I am interested in the hsp stuff u are reading and hope it is helpful...I watch some videos online about toxic families, and I learnt a lot about my triggers from it.

Interesting anout the food connection.

Has caffeine been so,ething that has affected u for a long time?

I am one to use it before bed, and still can sleep....

[Guest_1055]

Hi Sleepy and Golden

It's a challenge to know what to say. I do get like that. I am unsure whether it is because I don't do small talk well or whether I have a good rapport (not sure if that is the right word) with people.

I have drunk decafe coffee Golden before. Have you noticed a real difference within yourself after you switched over. Less sensitive to things maybe?

I use to drink lots of coffee years ago Sleepy. Like I was saying I rarely drink it now, because of how it affects me.

I was just intrigued when I was reading about food and highly sensitive people. I will be picking up a book from the library soon on it.

Been eating a few plant based salads lately. And I made a huge amount of green smoothie today. So I have been drinking that.

Recipe

A few handfuls of organic spinach.

Water

Flax seeds

Frozen pineapple

Frozen mango

2 bananas

Water

[Guest_1055]

I have been sipping a green smoothie.

Recipe

Handfuls of kale leaves

1/2 cup flaxseeds

1 cup organic grapes

1 cup organic mango

Water

Makes around 2 litres

[Guest_1055]

For some reason overeaters anonymous popped into my thoughts this morning. Not sure why... I really haven't had anything to do with that.

Anyways decided to join a zoom meeting that was happening. I listening with the video off, so no one could see me.

I could very much relate to the man that was sharing.

I will write more later. Need to get ready. We are going ten bin bowling.