Gluten Free, CRPS, thyroid mom struggling to get started

ashlygraves
ashlygraves Posts: 33
in Motivation and Support
Im fresh in my 30s with 4 kids, thyroid problems, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (mild in my right leg...along with 40% nerve damage..after a simple foot surgery to remove a plantar fibroma) and gluten free by choice due to digestive issues that no doc figured out yet. I am constantly struggling with fatigue due to low vitamin levels. I have trouble eating during the days...simply not hungry. When I am hungry I tend to crave crappy food.

I would really like to loose my weight so I can be healthy enough to keep up with my kids. I homeschool and want to be able to take them places and do things without feeling like crawling into bed at the end of the day.

Open to suggestions!

Replies

  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Baby steps. I would suggest you start by just logging everything you eat as accurately as possible. There is also a place for notes. Try noting when you feel best and worst. After about a week look back and see what you ate when you felt your best and what you ate when you felt your worst. This may provide you and your doctor with some insight of where to tweak your diet.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Have a talk with your doctor, get your blood work done and get a ref to a nutritionist who can work with you on adequate vitamin levels.

    I am not a big daytime eater, but have found that yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit gives me a good energy boost, and is easy to prep.

    If you are home schooling, have lunch with the children.

    Cheers, h.
  • Ness725
    Ness725 Posts: 13 Member
    Im gluten free by necessity (30 years now) and I have to say, stay away from "packaged" gluten free food. It all tastes like poison.

    Eat lots of "real" foods (meats, fruits, veggies, cheese, etc). If you dont lkke to "eat" during the day, maybe try boost or ensure (meal replacements). They should help with the vitamin deficiency (and take a multivitamin of course).
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited March 2015
    ashlygraves wrote: »
    I am constantly struggling with fatigue due to low vitamin levels. I have trouble eating during the days...simply not hungry. When I am hungry I tend to crave crappy food.

    A vicious circle there, been there, done that. Food tasted like crap, while crap was all I wanted.

    What helped me was to force myself to at least eat a set breakfast and lunch, no matter how boring I thought it was, and have dinner at least four days a week. After just a few days, I started to want food, more food, different foods, and food started to taste good. No I rarely crave sweets, and I love to cook and eat food. I am amazed.
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    edited March 2015
    You need to fix your diet first, both for proper nutrition and to control your calorie intake.

    Maybe spend some time learning to cook things ways you haven't tried before. My husband was a very picky eater (his parents could hardly boil water) but has slowly, over the last 20+ years, branched out and learned to enjoy foods he never would eat, cooked his parent's way. Take for example brussel sprouts... he wouldn't touch them, NO WAY!! But roasted until starting to caramelize, with a generous amount of sea salt? YUM! Same with our kids. Asparagus... sauté it in a pan with a bit of oil & butter, sea salt, and a generous amount of fresh minced garlic.
  • ashlygraves
    ashlygraves Posts: 33
    My goal this month is to increase my water intake while decreasing my soda intake. Plus exercise 3x a week for 30 minutes. Hopefully using this app will remind me that I need to do better eating. I'll at least have a clearer view of my eating habits.
  • ashlygraves
    ashlygraves Posts: 33
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    ashlygraves wrote: »
    I am constantly struggling with fatigue due to low vitamin levels. I have trouble eating during the days...simply not hungry. When I am hungry I tend to crave crappy food.

    A vicious circle there, been there, done that. Food tasted like crap, while crap was all I wanted.

    What helped me was to force myself to at least eat a set breakfast and lunch, no matter how boring I thought it was, and have dinner at least four days a week. After just a few days, I started to want food, more food, different foods, and food started to taste good. No I rarely crave sweets, and I love to cook and eat food. I am amazed.

    I think I'll start with breakfast. Hopefully I'll have a similar experience as you did.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Ashly, that is one if the reasons I log, to make sure I have some breakfast and lunch. I have a granola bar or protein bar with coffee for breakfast, yogurt fruit etc for lunch- something not too filling but nutritious.
    Try switching to club soda instead of soda, it worked for me.

    I agree it can be a viscous cycle when you let yourself get so under nourished that you can't be bothered to nourish your body well.

    Baby steps. start exercising once you have your food sorted, otherwise you will wear yourself out even more.

    Cheers, h.

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