Just starting, would love some advice on overcoming some bad

kittyneutron

Hello everyone! I am new here, and read through quite a bit but hoped that maybe some MFP's could take the time to help me out with some challenges I'm meeting after making the commitment to changing my lifestyle.

Basically, my eating habits have been, like many people, heavily influenced by my moods and bouts of depression. I am in therapy with a great psychologist but he can't really give me concrete, specific advice about what to do.

Even though I am overweight, I have never been a binge eater. My eating habits have been horrific in the past-veering from one day where I might eat one pizza, and nothing else, not even water, to another day where I might have a Coke and a box of cookies. Essentially I ate very little, but what I ate was loaded with fat, calories and sugar.

I really see this creating an issue as I've begun making changes in my diet is that I'm seeing I have trouble meeting my daily requirements. I know some other threads on this issue have said things like, "Hey, you clearly had no problem getting overweight so clearly you know how to eat" but for me I've not been "grazing" all day, I've just been eating, say, one box of 8 cookies and a Coke and then nothing else that day. The reason for eating this way is due to having chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, I just went for the quick fixes-fast carb boosts. (As a side note, these were both a diagnosis given to me by a specialist after a year of intensive testing at the hospital). I was often too tired or sick to even prepare food, so I would just grab some prepackaged goodie or bakery item, and then not be hungry for the rest of the day. I would say I've eaten like that for about the last five years.

My focus now is fresh, fresh, fresh. Lots of real foods. I don't want to touch artificial sweeteners or prepackaged meals. I'm not afraid of the good fats, and am including things like olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, cheese and low fat milk in my diet. I am watching my carbs. Mostly I'm "relearning" food, what feels good and trying to listen to my body. I'm trying to find ways to fill up my daily intake of calories a bit, healthily. I was thinking walnuts might be a good source of healthy calories as well, but I'm not sure.

Obviously, I haven't been here for long, but I hope someone might want to take a look at my diary and give me some feedback. Thanks a bunch! And please, if you are looking for a friend I would love to have a friend to stay in touch with as I am currently at home during the day

ArroganceInStep

You seem to have a pretty good idea of what foods are good for you based on your last few days. Keep it up!


For me, greek yogurt saved the day. It's easy, and plain it's pretty good for you too.


I'm not very knowledgeable about your diagnosis, I however rarely have ANY free time at all during the week. I end up making all of my lunches for the week Sunday afternoon. Is that something you could do? Precook meals when you have the energy and then heat it up in the microwave or something later when you might not?

kittyneutron

Great, thanks! I think we have greek yoghurt here in Norway. I will find out. Do you just eat it plain? Or maybe with celery, carrots, something dippable?

I have just recently discovered cooking chicken filets in oven bags, which is wonderful. Then I have chicken filets to use in sandwiches and salads and wraps for a good three days.

It is not the greatest thing in the world, but I often use meal bars as a snack, just because they do have vitamins, but I think I might look at peanut butter or walnuts as a better alternative to filling foods, I really hate to eat prepackaged foods of any kind-that is one thing I am trying to break, because I think it makes my pain (a symptom of my illness) worse.

DonnaRe2012

Kitty-You are right walnuts are a great snacks as are raw almonds. I always keep a small bag of them where ever I am just in case the munchies hit. I peeked at your food diary and you look like your making good choices. I would suggest that you add sugar as an item on your tracker. I have had great results by keeping my sugar intake really low. (7lbs in two weeks) You will be surprised at how much "hidden sugar" is in your foods. Good luck !

ArroganceInStep

I eat mine with splenda mixed in. I know the issues with artificial sweeteners but I have an insane sweet tooth and think it makes it taste delicious. If you have more calories, what I used to do was mix in a can of pineapple chunks in pineapple juice. I would suggest against getting the flavored greek yogurt and instead mix in your own fruit or whatever, it turns out tasting better and is usually better for you.

Make hummus and peanut butter (or any nut butter really) your friend for snacks. celery dipped in pb or carrots in hummus, in my opinion, is way more filling than a snack bar and real easy. Other things that you can dip veggies or what have you in: sour cream, guacamole, salsa (homemade preferably, but they have healthy ones out there too).

Not sure if the sugar is an issue, but fruits are a great snack as well. High in sugar, but if you're watching it in other meals shouldn't be a problem.