I need someone to give me a 'talkin to'!

iluvsparkles · September 2010

Hey everyone. I just need to vent for a minute about food.

Ever since I had my twins in January, I have had little to no appetite. I really miss enjoying my food.

Recently my husband and I decided to start a paleo eating plan (no dairy or grains, mostly lean meat, veggies and fruit/nuts/seeds) and it is going ok, but I have a little problem. I was anorexic in high school/early college, and this restrictive eating is bringing back lots of tendencies that I used to have. No appetite on top of that is a recipe for disaster.

I honestly want to do it the right way. I think that cutting my carbs and fats will help me get a jump start on losing this extra baby weight (I have about 25 lbs to my goal weight) BUT since I have no appetite I find that I am falling back into old bad habits without realizing it (very small breakfast, eating lunch way late, and getting the bulk of my calories at dinner) and I am still coming in way under calories each day since this eating plan went into effect three days ago. That is why I am here, trying to nip it in the bud and get a handle on it before it gets out of control like it did in high school.

Before, snacks would be cereal, breads, cheeses and processed foods like cookies and crackers. I REALLY want to cut the processed foods out of my diet, but I have found over this last week that without those things I am not eating enough calories at all. I have been trying to have high calorie items like nuts and avocados etc. but for some reason I keep sabotaging myself without meaning to. I don't feel hungry, I don't have an appetite and so I am having trouble force feeding myself to get enough calories with the foods that are unprocessed and healthy.

I realize I am just jabbering now, but I needed to confess this to myself so that I can be reminded that starving is not ok!! I KNOW It is not ok, yet I still tend to do it.

Anyone have good snack ideas that pump in a lot of calories without having to eat a lot of bulk? High calorie smoothies or recipes that I can drink instead? I am not super dedicated to the paleo eating style, and I do not plan to cut out dairy and grains for good, I am just trying to cut way back on them so that the bulk of my diet is veggies and lean meat.

clioandboy · September 2010

would love to share high calorie drinks etc...... but they aint the answer are they now. you need to stabilise your diet, absolutely avoiding processed foods etc but develop your taste for healthy foods and a diet that is going to sustain you and role model healthy eating to your kids.

eating disorders are an illness if you feel yourself getting sucked back there get help, professional help coz you and your family deserve to be illness free!
good luck thinking of you enjoy your kids and aim for normal whatever that might possibly be lol!

lutzsher · September 2010

I work with a lady who is the same and has started using MFP and asked her family to "keep an eye on her" to ensure she is eating her meals each day.
A few decent options to get some of those calories in would be to keep getting those nuts in each day, natural peanut butter, and my favorite, avacados. I put them in wraps for lunch with LOTS of veggies and some sliced chicken breasts, or chop up pieces into a salad. Try to have some whole wheat pasta weekly for dinner too but make sure to add protein into the meal with it.
Be very honest by logging in everything and just take it one day at a time, it does get easier and you have already completed the hardest step . . . identifying and acknowledging your issue.
Good luck!

ArchyJill · September 2010

Paleo diet eh? Like the idea...and kudos to you for getting on top of an issue before it becomes a problem.

I too have cut out most processed foods (ok, damn near all) and I noticed that it was almost impossible to meet my carb allowance and thus my running has suffered. So now, I snack on the following:

1. homemade sweet potato chips (slice thin, cook for 10 minutes, put in dehrydrator over night, no added oil or salt unless you choose)..can also use any sort of root vegetable

2. Kashi Go-Lean Original...yeah it's processed but it has lots of fiber and protein and good calorie punch and if I just nibble on it I don't feel like I'm shoving tons of food down my throat

3. I do protein drinks, processed, but you can certainly make your own and still stick to your paleo rules...and again it's something you can just sip on throughout the day

4. Obviously grains...and I would argue that grains would still be part of a paleolithic diet (we've been hunters AND gatherers for some time now...you can trust me, I'm an archaeologist!), quinoa is especially good for packing a calorie punch and a good amount of protein too but light enough that you don't feel like it's a Big Mac or something

5. soy beans are another great high protein-high cal treat that comes in a small package

Geeze...I guess I could go on and on (sorry!). I wouldn't think of a paleo diet (again, I am speaking in anthropological/archaeologcial terms here, I don't know what "the diet" advocates) as so much lean meat, veggies, and fruit as I would think of it as lack of processed food.

Hope that helps! Sorry to ramble :blushing:

janab4 · September 2010

I know about an AMAZING "protein" shake. I put the parenthesis in because it offers so much more that that. It is all natural, high in protein, no gluten, no soy, only 140 calories. Message me directly for the details. It has completely changed my energy level, my weight loss and corrected MUCH of my digestive distress. I am a BELIEVER and would love to share it with you.

deke76 · September 2010

Fruit smoothies with protein powder maybe helpful. If you are eating a lot of fruit, vegetables and lean meat you are going to be low in calories, you might try using healthy oils in your cooking to up the calories a little bit. Focus on getting the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals through eating (rather than supplementation) and your "diet" should take care of itself.

skinnyack · September 2010

I know what you mean. I could easily decide to only eat 700 calories a day (or less) and I have ate that same pattern (tiny breakfast, late lunch, calorie conscious dinner) without an appetite - but that's how I got here- crappy or inconsistent eating habits. For the three months before I was on MFP I was working out with a trainer and only eating 1200 calories a day- I didn't lose anything. MFP told me to eat 1390 calories and of course gives me a bigger calorie allowance if I go work out (not that I always use all of it- but it gives me the option if I'm hungry)... and I've lost 3 pounds in 2.5 weeks. KEEP EATING!

My new favorite thing is Trader Joe's Handmade dried fruit bars- 60 calories and they're delicious!

I need someone to give me a 'talkin to'!

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