*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.

[MsPurple]

I also love raisen toast and hot cross buns.

I have been getting into vaalia yoghurt of late. Something different. Don't get me wrong, love greek yoghurt, needed something different. I find small changes can help make some of the usual foods a bit more exciting again.

Today I had a psychiatrist appointment. Decided to use active transport and ride my bike there. No gym today, decided the ride would suffice. Need to not over do it before my big run on Sunday 🙂 I will admit. Prefer group rides, guess I like the company

[Guest_1055]

Friday- 😢binge eating

Friendly wave to you ms Purple. Awesome you doing running too.

[Guest_1055]

After I dropped someone off at the station. This is what happened.

I pulled out the stuff from the glove box and found loose coins in there. I also looked through all my bag and found more. Then on the floor and in that compartment on the dash. I drove to McDonalds and bought a bacon and egg McMuffin meal. The drink being a bottle of water. I then drove to the carpark outside the pool. I pulled off the bacon. I just cannot stand the thought of eating that.

As I ate the hashbrown ( which I have not eaten one for a while) . It tasted nice, but it felt so greasy.

As I was eating I looked at the egg muffin. It hardly had any beautiful colours. No greens etc. It just looked so plain and tasted plain. I had the thought that I did like the taste of the scrambled tofu so much more. As I write this now, I am thinking maybe I was being mindful of what I was eating. But I was not even trying to be, it just sort of happened.

After I happened to see a $5 note within a little notebook in my bag and still had some money that I found before. I went straight to woolies and bought a packet of tofu, Oreos and a chocolate easter bunny. Later I scoffed the whole of the chocolate things down while watching a documentary on healthy eating. 😢

I am not sure how I feel at the moment. Maybe just sick of this cycle and thinking about food a lot. I mean my brain tells me there is more to life then just food.

Anyway from the course I did last year, we were taught when we fall off the wagon or drop the ball. Do not give up, pick the ball back up.

So I decided then to make a large green smoothie. I have drank a jar already, as I was writing the beginning of this post.

It has grapes, about a 1 cup of fresh pineapple and 2 large handfuls of spinach. The liquid was coconut water.

[Guest_2496]

Your smoothie sounds nice. Sadly I can relate to the rest of your day though.

However let's both not give up. One day at a time. I like when you had a 3 day goal but I'm thinking I should go for a one day goal and then move forward from that.

Two more days of houseguest for me. The food in the house has been strictly monitored which makes me revert to old habits of eating in my room! I actually crave some junk once the house is mine again...and then ONE day at a time.

[Guest_1055]

I like your 1 day goal Annie. Perhaps I will join you in that.

I understand about the eating in secret, if I understood you right there.

[Guest_2496]

Yep you understood me, Shell.

[Guest_1055]

Breakfast- the same smoothie as the other day. It’s really yummy and helps me eat the green leafy veggies.

Lunch- mm not so good. Hot takeaway chips, packet of Oreos, small picnic chocolate. Oh big flop.

snack - toast with hummus

Dinner-

first time making this and was yummy. Lentil and vegetable bolognese. Mmm so good and will make this one again. ( tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, garlic, carrot, celery, mushroom, lentils, dried basil, fresh oregano and fresh thyme, black pepper. Served on lentils/ chickpea spaghetti and some cashew sour cream.

Did not make it a whole day without junk. But glad I ate some wholesome foods.

[IreneM]

Hi Shelley and Anne

Just back after a stressful time doing paperwork to go overseas soon. I can relate to your binge eating.

I see no need to overly beat yourself up over a bit of junk food every now and again. When I started to change to a healthy eating plan. I tried to make healthy foods an everyday thing like you. I save things like coffee or muffins for when I am out and about. No more than once or twice a week to start off with.

The best way to assist with ensuring that your healthy eating is your life so-to-speak is to ensure that you plan ahead to take healthy snacks with you if you have days out; e.g. medical appointments. This is what I'm working on at the moment. Use weekends to do a bit of cooking and you can refrigerate or freeze things for later.

After a while (up to a year) you will start to become more habitual with your healthy eating, so a splurge every so often will not hurt. No need to beat yourself up; a bit of bad food is good for you as it can help your body to fight the bad.

Irene.

[Guest_2496]

Hi Irene

How long til your trip? I went to Rome years ago and loved it...just in my dreams now, I doubt I'll get back. Hope you have a wonderful time.

Yes I think as long as we don't beat ourselves up, and start again (and again ha ha)... I recognise when it's stress or comfort eating and there are times when I'm ok with that!

[Guest_1055]

Hi Annie, Irene and ms Purple anyone else reading.

Hope you are feeling a little less stress now Irene.

And Irene your suggestion to prepare and plan ahead is a useful one. I have done this and it does help. I just need to keep doing it. And also have a bit more variety, to make it more interesting. At the moment I cook up ( some days a challenge to as motivation goes)

- quinoa, I like this as in cold salads. Lasts for about 4 days in the fridge.

- potatoes and pumpkin including sweet potatoes. Cold sweet potatoes quite yummy in a salad of some sort too. Par boiled white ones are quick and easy to finish off roasting.

- brown basmati rice

- Dressings for salads. I want to find more that I could make and that are free from oil and refined sweetners

- cashew sour cream. I use this to top salads, top veggies including baked potatoes. And make it into cashew cheese by adding nutritional yeast. Which is super yum on homemade pizza. Also scoop it into a tiny jar, and if I go out somewhere to eat, I take it with me to have on salads, veggies etc.

- smoothies, I freeze different fruits and veggies into clip lock bags. Found this helped me in the mornings. Just need to find and like a few more recipes.

- and just recently I found out that the scrambled tofu and veg tastes quite good the next day.

Ok

Breakfast - none

Lunch- salad in a bowl from subway. ( spinach, iceberg lettuce, grated carrot, tomato, beetroot, falafels and cashew sour cream)

Snack - grapes and sad to say it chocolate.