*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]

Cannot remember the exact day I stopped eating chocolate. But it was within the last 2 weeks. And also the last refined sugar binge thing was Tim tams and chocolate soymilk sweetened with cane sugar. I feel tired still, but my head is so much more clearer and less heavy, I am not craving it, emotions appear calmer. Though I felt stressed by excessive noise yesterday... a loud lawn mower outside my bedroom window and the noise coming from a semi trailer behind me, as I was driving along. Maybe a little less sad, bit of a challenge to really tell that one.

Today 11am.... I made a smoothie that had banana, soymilk, cacao powder, tahini and about 1 teaspoon of maple syrup. And I ate about 5 mandarines. I ate nothing before 11am.

Yesterday I had this salad around 1pm (first meal of the day) it was from our local organic cafe. It had lightly steamed broccoli, pumpkin, green beans, cashews, kale with a sesame lemon dressing on it. I had trouble eating the broccoli stems as they were far too crunchy for me to bite down on. So I had to saw those bits of with a blunt knife and only eat the softer part. Rambling on again I guess....

[monkey_magic]

Hi Shell, and all,

It's just a dang cold...U know, congestion, coughing, temperature. I'm through the worst of it and it was a blessing in disguise because I did so much research in that time and am starting to feel like some what of a food expert now, lol.

And I am loving what I'm reading about fasting- a regeneration of the cells and I will definitely be doing a 72 hr fast for healing and positive changes.

Going to make a bone broth for the first time as well.

You started the path before me and I understand now that I'm keeping updated with research.

Ive listened to the guy from the true north centre not long before I read your post actually and I've also joined some fasting groups on Facebook to read other people's experiences and to connect. I prefer to listen to people's real life experiences to get a truthful story...the science behind it helps a lot too.

So, yeh, I've recently become a convert. Will probably do my first ever 72hr fast at the end of June to help my mum with the weight loss challenge. She's fallen behind and the last day of our weigh out is 1/7/21. I'm ahead and will probably weigh out 2 weeks early. I'll do some intermittent fasting before then.

Oh the app is great and money is a great motivator for me. It puts a bit of pressure on which has been helpful plus I've gotten to connect with many people mainly from America and we lift each other along.

I'm more of a coffee than a tea person but I would actually prefer to drink more teas. Esp herbal.

I'm also converting to full fat products because from my research I believe they're more natural, fill U up for longer and more satisfying and better for fat loss. Counter- intuitive but from my understanding been proven. And also counter- intuitive but better than a high carb/ sugar diet and healthier for you.

Thats some of my latest findings.

Going for a walk today for the first time in weeks bcas of my knee and being sick and here's to a healthier me!

Your also doing great Shell! Only chocolate I've been eating is dark and might have some once a week. Since cutting out lots of unhealthy stuff I'm not getting the usual craving. I mainly crave my home made fruit/ veg juice now!

[Guest_1055]

I am sorry if I sound like a "know it all" MM. I don't know it all. Even my writing sounds detached with no feeling...or something. Like a factual lecture. Hard to describe.

Hope you enjoy your walk and your knee is ok.

I am scared... Maybe not scared but aware I may go back to eating the junk. As soon as something comes along in life, that I cannot handle emotionally. Then the old habit pops out again somehow. Habit of comfort eating. Anyways

It is good you are craving something healthier then before. Don't like dark chocolate at all.

Fascinating learning about fasting. I was thinking of doing one very soon as well.

[monkey_magic]

Hi Shell,

You don't sound like a know it all. I find your posts inspiring and educational. Geez, I think I came across that way with all that info I just posted.

Truth is we're all just trying to find what works for us.

When I fall off the wagon these days I'm able to pick myself back up and get back on track with my healthier eating. I've got too much to lose if I don't.

Hmmm.... about comfort eating when emotions come up!

Does self talk help at all? I literally have a conversation to myself about it.

Lately I say to myself I'm going to sacrifice that "unhealthy meal" and give it to the Gods, lol...

It's a power bigger than me and I think they will give me other blessings in return!

Sometimes I slap my hand if I want to go through a drive through for example and yell out no. Ha,ha and have a good laugh about it.

Hope you can come up with something. Or maybe just have 1 big bad thing instead of a binge???

Can your sister or someone be your accountability person and you ring her instead?

I honestly need to eat a big meal here and there to feel full and satisfied. That seems to help me a bit.

💖

[Guest_1055]

Oh so you know what I mean about the "know it all feeling".

Yes that's the truth, we are just trying to work out what is best for us.. Whatever it is that helps how unique selves to be healthier and fit and whatever else, so we can hopeful enjoy a better quality of life

Yeah I came up with something.. It is baking in the oven. This may sound unusual to some. But it is blackbean chocolate brownies. With crushed pecans and cacao nibs on top. Sweetened with date syrup.

Just thanks MM

[monkey_magic]

Oh yum!

I've had brownies with sweet potato in them before and they were unreal!

That's an excellent idea cooking something filling and yum!

🥳🌟

[Guest_1055]

They do sound interesting those brownies MM with the sweet potato. I am open to try to bake something like that.

And good on your mum for taking care of her health like that.

[Guest_1055]

First meal of the day

Lunch... I made a smoothie that had frozen mango, frozen strawberries, pineapple, coconut milk. It was such a beautiful colour. Light pink. Was very yummy.

And made a tofu scramble which had tofu, onion, mushroom, spinach. Then some spices of cumin, turmeric, sea salt, pepper added to it. Served it on a white oval plate. This plate I bought from a chinese restaurant once who was selling surplus new dinnerware and stuff. Good bargain. On this plate also was grilled tomato and 1/4 of an avocado.

Dinner... Mashed potato, green beans, carrot and corn. Smothered in mushroom gravy.

Tried a little berry kombucha tonight. First time drinking that. Liked it

[golden82]

Hi All. Hi Shelly, sorry I missed your post to me. Yes, I live near the beach. How about you? Can't remember the last time I saw the beach though. & too unfit now to walk - all this laying around in bed, I get puffed out just standing up - it is terrible. The raspberry tea sounds nice. I think I remember you drinking that a while ago also. I have licorice tea, mint tea, fruit teas of all types, chamomile tea, other sleep teas. But I never use these. I always just drink coffee. When I am doing 'better' at life I used to have a bit from time to time. But in this deep hole of darkness I just don't think - just make a coffee and go back to bed.

The black bean brownies sound yum. I added some black beans to my minestrone soup tonight. They were okay I guess, but good for you with lots of protein and fiber. MM your sweet potato brownies sound yum too. Probably quite moist and filling too. So many ways you can sneak healthy food into 'junk' food hey. Dark choc is meant to be really good for you too. I wish I allowed myself to eat anything that I consider on the 'junk'/sweet side - I would then let myself have some dark choc. But I don't - the mind is a strong thing. Ppl talk of will power and needing to be strong - but for me it is the reverse ie I need to have the will power to break lifetime of stupid food rules and let myself have a bit here and there. I will look at recipes, look in the catalogues in the mail, even sometimes in the shop - but never relax into it and buy anything that the ED mind doesn't agree with. I did buy a papple last week when I went out Sleepy. I didn't like it much though. It was a bit like a pear? I like apples.. I eat a lot of apples, a few pears, also I like honeydew melon, kiwifruit and berries at the moment. I miss mangoes - I think I could live off mangoes and I would be happy lol. ps Shell your dinner last night sounds perfect - I wish I was there with you to have some too. I will have to remember to make something similar soon. Night all xoxoxo

[Guest_1055]

Hello Golden

Do you feel like a slave to the ED then, like it has control over you? Just interested I guess. This is what I meant about you being free. I mentioned it to you somewhere. Can you imagined it at all? Imagine yourself walking on that beach near you. Imagine being full of energy as you walk. Hope that is OK to ask all that. I don't want to make things harder or anything.

Gee that is a lot of teas isn't it. Do they have beautiful scents?

I think by favourite bean etc in a soup with be those tiny brown coloured lentils and split red lentils. Good on you for making your soup.