*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 ate scrambled tofu for brunch. And grapes.

Now just finished eating 1 140g bag of malteseers and almost a whole packet of Tim tams. Feeling not so physically good now and disappointed in myself.

I know I was feeling sad and overwhelmed with some issues a couple of hours ago. Why did I go back to old habits? 😢

[Guest_2496]

Hi Shelley

You went six days of healthy eating though right and that is amazing. I can’t even seem to do one. So don’t beat yourself up, just start again from here 🙂

[Guest_1055]

Just read this:

• As you gradually, but steadily improve your diet, your body chemistry will begin to improve. The result will be that your desire for toxic foods will decrease.

Once you add more fruit and vegetables, natural foods, and essential fats to your diet, your cravings for other foods will be less. Make up your mind that with each month that passes, your diet will be a little better than the previous month. Small improvements lead to more complete health.

[Guest_1055]

Awe thankyou Annie. I just get real scared when I eat junk because I want to be well. Not sick

[Guest_2496]

I can understand that Shelley, though I don't know what the sickness was that eating brought you to.

However I love your mention of adding more fruit and veg - over time our body chemistry changes but even in the short term we'll be fuller and less interested in junk. If I do this every day I'll be happy - small step towards wellness.

[Paw Prints]

Hi Shelley Anne,

I'm sorry you have been feeling sad & overwhelmed. You answered your own question when you wrote "Why did I go back to old habits" . They are old habits, your go to response when you're down, at this time you're still learning new responses. You are doing so well changing your daily eating habits. It was just a few months back where you were struggling to eat well for 3 days & here you have made six. I'm sure that as your healthy day to day eating becomes more your default mode it will be easier for you not to eat junk when you are down.

Paw Prints

[Guest_1055]

I wish I could help you do just one day Annie. I wonder if only concentrating on one meal at a time rather then the whole day may help you.

About the “fuller”feeling. Think we can get that mainly from all the fibre in the vegetables and fruit.

As for sickness, I am hesitant to say too much. Reason being I know you have said that you struggle with health anxiety. And I am unsure if this will cause an issue for you. But I will say for me eating whole plant foods, no processed junk will help heal my body. Eating crap perhaps not.

And yeah that above tip on the other post is quite good I thought. It is someone else’s quote, I cannot remember her name at the moment.

Thanks for your kindness Annie

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Thanks, Shelley. I'm on antibiotics and they've been pretty effective, so no trouble eating - or at least no more than I was already having with the holes from having the wisdoms removed (that's a nuisance, but not painful).

Yes, the Tofurkey products are in the same section as tofu, in the dairy fridge. I've had the lentil burgers too (also drawing a blank on the brand at the moment), and they're quite nice. Good with tomato and beetroot in the burger with them.

I wasn't familiar with the Happy Cow app. Had a look, seems like a handy tool. I don't have much of a budget for going out (getting the teeth out cost me over $2000 - i.e. about 2 months' wages), but I'll keep it in mind for when I recover from that rather hefty hit to the wallet.

I'd like to second what Annie said - six days of healthy eating is great. I'm seeing a trend, and it's that you have your hiccups, but you do better every time. Getting into new habits is a process, it won't happen instantly, and you are training your body to want the right foods more and for longer periods. The hiccups do not in any way negate your successes, and they are getting less frequent. I'd count that as a positive.

Blue.

[Guest_1055]

How you going Paw Prints? Thankyou for your encouragement and kindness. That is what I felt when I read your post. Appreciate it.

[Guest_1055]

Tonight for dinner I made a nice, comforting and warm roast pumpkin soup.

First time making this one too. Ingredients were: pumpkin, onion, water, cumin, dijion mustard, vegan chicken stock powder and soy milk.