One Day at a Time, One Meal a Day (ODAT-OMAD)
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Still trying to go OMAD during my working days - that's four days a week, every time I decide to fast during the day I have food served for me at lunch and i am invited to eat lunch with my colleagues.
I must resolve to say no. I am reluctant to do this due to the importance of social bonding. It's hard for me to refuse this food but I will. Starting tomorrow! Sigh.
Would it be possible to change your OMAD time to a four hour window during lunch or when you guys eat out? That would perhaps solve it.
That would be my option too.
If it helps, here is a similar experience:
http://www.patdickson.com/blog/entry/3686912/my-one-meal-a-day-diet
Quote:
"In my case, I vary my 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm eating period for social occasions. Sometimes I'll join a friend for brunch or dinner, or a party or social event, and it is just a lot easier to make these times my once per day feasting period, rather than dealing with the peer pressure I'd otherwise likely be getting to eat a second meal. Plus, you don't have to pass up any chips, bread, appetizers, or desserts! There are no rules to what you can have during your daily feast!
The first time I realized the one meal a day diet allowed me to eat as much as I wanted one time a day was, of course, the first time I tried it. I was living close to a casino with a first class buffet, so I started going there every day for lunch and piling up my plate. Each day had a different variety of food to offer. I think Monday was random, Tuesday Chinese, Wednesday barbeque, Thursday Italian, and so on, so I never got bored. Plus, all the varieties of fruits and vegetables were always available. For $9.85 each day I feasted like a king! So my entire grocery bill was just $300 per month! This may sound expensive, but for what I was used to spending for food, is was a great savings. Plus I had available everything I needed for a perfectly balanced diet, and I never washed dishes. I loaded up on lean protein, like chicken and fish, and always made sure to eat a lot of green vegetables and fruit. When I desired, I even finished up with cake and ice cream.
My casino buffet once a day diet was a tremendous success in less than 90 days. My body weight went from 225 to 205 and my bench press, squats, and deadlifts went up by about 15%. I gained muscle while losing fat and bodyweight. Additionally, my pulse went from about 80 beats per minute to 65 beats per minute and my blood pressure dropped from 140/80 to 120/65. My sleep patterns improved - in fact I needed less sleep, I was more productive at work, and my emotional state became more serene, balanced and motivated at the same time. I kept my house cleaner, engaged in more self improvement activities, and my social life improved. I had more energy.
However, my confession is that I did fall off the wagon since this success, which is why I am now back on the one meal a day diet. I miss all the benefits. Below I will be chronicling my success this time around in My One Meal a Day Journal.
Eat Whatever You Want:
Just as with this diet's rule you can eat as much as you want, you can also eat whatever you want. Yes, there is a catch. My theory is that once you are a few weeks in, you will naturally start eating what is good for you. Maybe at first, you'll eat nothing but sweets, potato chips, and fried food, but in most cases I'll wager that after intermittently fasting for 23 hours several days straight, the last thing you will want when mealtime comes will be fried foods or sugar. I say this because my own experience with the one meal a day diet is that the longer I'm on it, the healthier I eat just because I'm hungrier and hungrier for good, natural, and raw foods. Sugar and fried foods, and starches just don't appeal to me. I still remember the first time in my life I craved nothing but fruit. It was about a week into my diet. I went into the grocery store and loaded my basket with berries, apples, bananas, and grapes. I craved nothing else! And when I had my fruit feast, I remember never having tasted such delicious sweetness. It was better than anything I'd ever experienced with a cookie, cake, or pie."
You can read more on his blog. Good luck!
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Thanks guys for your comments and encouragement. Actually, I am even more determined now to make this work. I have had enough good experiences to make me want to give this a real good go before I try something else. So, today was the first time for a while that I was able to execute my OMAD plan.
In fact, the other days when I did not execute my plan and ate lunch AND dinner I didn't mind too much because at least I had a plan, even if I didn't manage to execute it perfectly. So even on the days when I don't eat once, I was still limiting my eating window to about 4-5 hours and getting good benefits from IF.
Now I have finished my 4 day working week I have more options for the long weekend in terms of when I take my main meal. I have previously allowed myself complete freedom in this regard but am heartened to see that like others, I find that eating around 2.30 pm and finishing by 3.00 pm works perfectly. I just feel that this is the best time of day for me to eat.
Now, I am also going to cut myself some slack in terms of what I eat. So if I want to eat cakes and chocolate. I will allow myself this indulgence provided it is taken as part of my main meal.
I am determined to make this meal plan work - at least for a while so that I can see what it is like. Today I had a really simple main meal - just spanish chorizo sausages and sweet potato chips fried in coconut oil. Then I added some salt and pepper, creme fraiche and chilli flakes. I gotta tell you the taste was sensational. Unbelievably delicious. That is another benefit of this diet - I can eat whatever I want and just follow my instincts. I love my food so much. All my taste buds seem to be keener. I have cut out the manufactured tiramisu that I was becoming addicted to but am still letting myself have free rein in other ways.
By simplifying my eating I am cleaning out my fridge and only have one shelf of food in the pantry. If you could see my fridge you would see that there is so very little in it! This way of eating is so simple and efficient.
I should add that I am experiencing little or no hunger during the day and I am getting so productive at work. My mind is so clear; my emotions are fairly stable - sometimes I can get a little but short tempered but I never seem to get too sad or depressed for long when I eat OMAD.
I am becoming fastidious in so many other ways too and my house is so clean and shiny! Unbelievable! you would think that I had OCD. There seems to be a real spillover effect into other areas of my life. It is something to do with the discipline and SELF-RESPECT that this way of eating engenders. Yes, it is subtle and gradual but I am finding that order is being established in many other areas of my life. My relationships are all harmonious, even with people that I found a bit hard to get along with before. You know those people? Yes, even with them. I really think that there are many good side effects to OMAD!
I just seem to have so much time these days. I don't seem to be in a hurry any more. Also there seems to be more freedom and autonomy in my life now. I seem to have more time for cleaning, tidying, arranging, ordering and harmonising my environment. I don't do things that I don't want to. I just do what I want to more and more. I have entered a new realm of peace, freedom and have dominion over many areas of my life - not just what and when I eat.
Good luck to all of you with your endeavours. This is a very supportive group. I know that we are small but I feel very much at home here. Let's keep at it!2 -
Thanks guys for your comments and encouragement. Actually, I am even more determined now to make this work. I have had enough good experiences to make me want to give this a real good go before I try something else. So, today was the first time for a while that I was able to execute my OMAD plan.
In fact, the other days when I did not execute my plan and ate lunch AND dinner I didn't mind too much because at least I had a plan, even if I didn't manage to execute it perfectly. So even on the days when I don't eat once, I was still limiting my eating window to about 4-5 hours and getting good benefits from IF.
Now I have finished my 4 day working week I have more options for the long weekend in terms of when I take my main meal. I have previously allowed myself complete freedom in this regard but am heartened to see that like others, I find that eating around 2.30 pm and finishing by 3.00 pm works perfectly. I just feel that this is the best time of day for me to eat.
Now, I am also going to cut myself some slack in terms of what I eat. So if I want to eat cakes and chocolate. I will allow myself this indulgence provided it is taken as part of my main meal.
I am determined to make this meal plan work - at least for a while so that I can see what it is like. Today I had a really simple main meal - just spanish chorizo sausages and sweet potato chips fried in coconut oil. Then I added some salt and pepper, creme fraiche and chilli flakes. I gotta tell you the taste was sensational. Unbelievably delicious. That is another benefit of this diet - I can eat whatever I want and just follow my instincts. I love my food so much. All my taste buds seem to be keener. I have cut out the manufactured tiramisu that I was becoming addicted to but am still letting myself have free rein in other ways.
By simplifying my eating I am cleaning out my fridge and only have one shelf of food in the pantry. If you could see my fridge you would see that there is so very little in it! This way of eating is so simple and efficient.
I should add that I am experiencing little or no hunger during the day and I am getting so productive at work. My mind is so clear; my emotions are fairly stable - sometimes I can get a little but short tempered but I never seem to get too sad or depressed for long when I eat OMAD.
I am becoming fastidious in so many other ways too and my house is so clean and shiny! Unbelievable! you would think that I had OCD. There seems to be a real spillover effect into other areas of my life. It is something to do with the discipline and SELF-RESPECT that this way of eating engenders. Yes, it is subtle and gradual but I am finding that order is being established in many other areas of my life. My relationships are all harmonious, even with people that I found a bit hard to get along with before. You know those people? Yes, even with them. I really think that there are many good side effects to OMAD!
I just seem to have so much time these days. I don't seem to be in a hurry any more. Also there seems to be more freedom and autonomy in my life now. I seem to have more time for cleaning, tidying, arranging, ordering and harmonising my environment. I don't do things that I don't want to. I just do what I want to more and more. I have entered a new realm of peace, freedom and have dominion over many areas of my life - not just what and when I eat.
Good luck to all of you with your endeavours. This is a very supportive group. I know that we are small but I feel very much at home here. Let's keep at it!
Wow, I really appreciate this post so much!!! You're doing GREAT and I can so relate to everything what you wrote here! Lastly, that dish you had (what I highlighted) sounds sooooo delicious!0 -
Thanks guys for your comments and encouragement. Actually, I am even more determined now to make this work. I have had enough good experiences to make me want to give this a real good go before I try something else. So, today was the first time for a while that I was able to execute my OMAD plan.
In fact, the other days when I did not execute my plan and ate lunch AND dinner I didn't mind too much because at least I had a plan, even if I didn't manage to execute it perfectly. So even on the days when I don't eat once, I was still limiting my eating window to about 4-5 hours and getting good benefits from IF.
Now I have finished my 4 day working week I have more options for the long weekend in terms of when I take my main meal. I have previously allowed myself complete freedom in this regard but am heartened to see that like others, I find that eating around 2.30 pm and finishing by 3.00 pm works perfectly. I just feel that this is the best time of day for me to eat.
Now, I am also going to cut myself some slack in terms of what I eat. So if I want to eat cakes and chocolate. I will allow myself this indulgence provided it is taken as part of my main meal.
I am determined to make this meal plan work - at least for a while so that I can see what it is like. Today I had a really simple main meal - just spanish chorizo sausages and sweet potato chips fried in coconut oil. Then I added some salt and pepper, creme fraiche and chilli flakes. I gotta tell you the taste was sensational. Unbelievably delicious. That is another benefit of this diet - I can eat whatever I want and just follow my instincts. I love my food so much. All my taste buds seem to be keener. I have cut out the manufactured tiramisu that I was becoming addicted to but am still letting myself have free rein in other ways.
By simplifying my eating I am cleaning out my fridge and only have one shelf of food in the pantry. If you could see my fridge you would see that there is so very little in it! This way of eating is so simple and efficient.
I should add that I am experiencing little or no hunger during the day and I am getting so productive at work. My mind is so clear; my emotions are fairly stable - sometimes I can get a little but short tempered but I never seem to get too sad or depressed for long when I eat OMAD.
I am becoming fastidious in so many other ways too and my house is so clean and shiny! Unbelievable! you would think that I had OCD. There seems to be a real spillover effect into other areas of my life. It is something to do with the discipline and SELF-RESPECT that this way of eating engenders. Yes, it is subtle and gradual but I am finding that order is being established in many other areas of my life. My relationships are all harmonious, even with people that I found a bit hard to get along with before. You know those people? Yes, even with them. I really think that there are many good side effects to OMAD!
I just seem to have so much time these days. I don't seem to be in a hurry any more. Also there seems to be more freedom and autonomy in my life now. I seem to have more time for cleaning, tidying, arranging, ordering and harmonising my environment. I don't do things that I don't want to. I just do what I want to more and more. I have entered a new realm of peace, freedom and have dominion over many areas of my life - not just what and when I eat.
Good luck to all of you with your endeavours. This is a very supportive group. I know that we are small but I feel very much at home here. Let's keep at it!
I concur with the spill-over. I have felt like I'm more motivated and have more energy well into the evenings now!0 -
Thanks OMADing1. I gotta tell you those sweet potato chips fried in coconut oil with creme fraiche and chilli flakes were the bomb! If I had a food truck they would sell like hot cakes.0
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That's great to hear Bob! Having more energy is so important for us "senior" guys. I am still able to play good tennis against guys in their twenties.0
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I've seen you reporting 120 min or doubles tennis! That's really good.0
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Teaching Numeracy to Refugee Women
Students are assigned various foods with sugar cubes representing sugar content. They have to name the food, count the sugar cubes and then stick them on the board, ranking them from highest sugar content to lowest. Do they make the link between sugar and food? Unlikely, but one does one's best to educate. I reckon that at least half my class have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
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This week I have two OMAD days and five days with 2 meals a day. It was enough to keep everything under control. On the second OMAD day I felt no hunger, even after fasting for about 28 hours. Just very "high" i.e. elated and in great spirits. When I ate, I ate about 1,800 - 2,00 calories. It's a lot to eat in one meal but it's great to eat like a king once a day.1
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Teaching Numeracy to Refugee Women
Students are assigned various foods with sugar cubes representing sugar content. They have to name the food, count the sugar cubes and then stick them on the board, ranking them from highest sugar content to lowest. Do they make the link between sugar and food? Unlikely, but one does one's best to educate. I reckon that at least half my class have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
This is tremendous info, thanks for sharing!0 -
This week I have two OMAD days and five days with 2 meals a day. It was enough to keep everything under control. On the second OMAD day I felt no hunger, even after fasting for about 28 hours. Just very "high" i.e. elated and in great spirits. When I ate, I ate about 1,800 - 2,00 calories. It's a lot to eat in one meal but it's great to eat like a king once a day.
You're doing great, keep up the GOOD job!1 -
The big meal is nice!1
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The last four days I have gone OMAD for three days! Wow that is the most I have gone OMAD since I started this project. No hunger. My mind was so sharp and calm at work. I had a couple of incidents occur which would normally invoke an anger reaction in me - the usual petty "gremlins" of work culture and administration but I just took it in my stride.
Now the gains are more in terms of my mental focus and emotional stability. I was diagnosed with ADD some years ago (as an adult) but I seem to be able to focus on the task at hand without being put off by duckheads and mind-numbing petty details a lot better than I ever used to be able to (without meds).
Getting close to 60 years old probably helps too.0 -
The last four days I have gone OMAD for three days! Wow that is the most I have gone OMAD since I started this project. No hunger. My mind was so sharp and calm at work. I had a couple of incidents occur which would normally invoke an anger reaction in me - the usual petty "gremlins" of work culture and administration but I just took it in my stride.
Now the gains are more in terms of my mental focus and emotional stability. I was diagnosed with ADD some years ago (as an adult) but I seem to be able to focus on the task at hand without being put off by duckheads and mind-numbing petty details a lot better than I ever used to be able to (without meds).
Getting close to 60 years old probably helps too.
Absolutely tremendous, period.0 -
OK, so I got food "ambushed" again at work again yesterday. The usual scenario - someone's birthday or someone leaving or some other reason. The feast food is prepared, brought in and laid out on a table for everyone to share. It is delicious and spectacular. I am invited - or just TOLD to participate and once again I comply, at first dutifully, then enthusiastically until I have over-indulged. We do this at morning tea then again for lunch. Others bring in food for me to take home. I give some away and throw the rest in the bin after the students have gone home.
Then I go home and decide to eat my own food all over again because I like my own food and don't feel right without it. So I put on just over 1 kg in a day and feel "blaaagh" the next day. It will take me a few days to get back to feeling "normal" again. Meanwhile I am feeling out of sorts.
I am going to put a stop to this. I am not going to eat this food that looks delicious and appears healthy but it is a trojan horse for all kinds of other unhealthy foods and unnecessary indulgences. I had three large cooked meals yesterday and still had a little snack before I went to bed.
No more!
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OK, so I got food "ambushed" again at work again yesterday. The usual scenario - someone's birthday or someone leaving or some other reason. The feast food is prepared, brought in and laid out on a table for everyone to share. It is delicious and spectacular. I am invited - or just TOLD to participate and once again I comply, at first dutifully, then enthusiastically until I have over-indulged. We do this at morning tea then again for lunch. Others bring in food for me to take home. I give some away and throw the rest in the bin after the students have gone home.
Then I go home and decide to eat my own food all over again because I like my own food and don't feel right without it. So I put on just over 1 kg in a day and feel "blaaagh" the next day. It will take me a few days to get back to feeling "normal" again. Meanwhile I am feeling out of sorts.
I am going to put a stop to this. I am not going to eat this food that looks delicious and appears healthy but it is a trojan horse for all kinds of other unhealthy foods and unnecessary indulgences. I had three large cooked meals yesterday and still had a little snack before I went to bed.
No more!
Your honesty and determination is admirable.
Let me tell you, you ARE NOT alone in this struggle AT ALL--far from it. Today is a "fast" day for me, meaning, I'm only eating 500-600 cals today (kinda like my own version of 5:2, except it's more of a 6:1 now though (meaning 6 days 1200-1400 or so cals for six days per week and one day per week of 5:2 diet/500-600 cals, cause I'm so NOT ready to DRY or water fast for a whole 24 day straight YET). I just started this a couple of weeks ago and it's NOT for the faint of heart. I started out doing this 2 days per week, but now I'm down to just one day per week. Anywho, today I am so HUNGRY and here's why...the kids made sausage spinach cheesy omlets, bacon and hash browns for breakfast (the smell was overwhelmingly delicious) had McDonald's fries for lunch (again...the smell has intoxicating (BEFORE starting OMAD, I am/WAS former french frie-aholic), my oldest brought in a surprise "gift" of a ton of packages of my favorite gourmet Jordan Almonds, everyone's cheering and opening bags of them and saying how yummy they are. Hubby had a great day at the office and called to say he's taking me out to our favorite restaurant--long story short...HOW I desperately wanted to have some of that breakfast this morning--how I URGENTLY wanted some of those fries, how I utterly wanted at least one of those yummy candy Jordan almonds (BEFORE starting OMAD, I am/WAS a former MEGA sweet-tooth, all-day snacking on sweets and goodies junky too), how I TRULY AND FRANTICALLY wanted to go out to dinner, instead of having my oatmeal surprise dinner. I thanked my husband, but asked him to just take the kids and enjoy and have some for me. Now, here I am preparing to eat soon. My meal time ISN'T here yet, my tummy isn't just growling...it's ROARING AND just to give my mind and body an extra kick, instead of eating as soon as my hour gets here, I'm going to wait an extra hour and I'vee just been downing lots of water and herbal tea, just on general purposes...and all the goodies and yummies is a HUGE temptation and distraction and UGH-YUCK-HELP ME but no, my home is loaded with TONS of yummy stuff that helped get me and keep me obese, depressed and pre-diabetic or worse disease related to obesity just waiting to happen--SO, EVERYDAY 24X7X365--I'm surrounded by the BEST junky and healthy yummies constantly, so again, you're NOT alone at all--I so literally feel your pain!!!!
BUT...
I'm on a mission, to get slimmer and healthier and to exercise self-control and master this body of mine. I'm on a mission to live this OMAD lifestyle no matter what temptations are coming my way. So, I said no to the delicious breakfast, NO to the french fries, no to the candy and NO to the dinner invite.
WHY?
Because I can have some or perhaps even all or those things tomorrow (if I want them), but not now mind and body--NO! I'm going to enjoy my kinda large bowl (about 2-3 cups or so)pumpkin seed, cinnamon buckwheat, hemp, chia oatmeal mixed with creamy coconut oatmeal with a tablespoon of warrior blend, maca cacao nibs, some butter, 1/2 cup of blackberries, and 10 almonds and I'm going to eat it s-l-o-w-l-y and enjoy every single bite! Knowing that tomorrow, if I so choose, I can plan to include those things I missed out on or not.
PLEASE KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THE AREA OF TEMPTATION--I'M SO THERE WITH YOU!!!!!!!
Your attitude is terrific and it takes time to get into a mind-set and to not look back, I totally relate to your struggles. For me, I'm just tired of my mind and body being the "boss of me"--because the temptations are constantly rearing their worrisome and yummy heads around me ALL THE TIME, EVERY DAY too.
I'm rooting for you, you're doing well and it will get better as time goes on, period. If you get a chance, look at some of the motivational pics I've posted...they help me alot!!!!
You rock, rather you're successful today or not.
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I feel your pain. Once a month at work we celebrate the monthly birthdays so there is a pizza and ice cream cake for lunch. I usually get a piece of pizza and cake and go to my office where I throw it away. After a phone call or two I join the party with a glass of ice water. I hate wasting food but it works like a charm.2
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Hey thanks for that @OMADing1 and @SavedByGrace. I took the food I was offered today and took it back to my office, then put it in a plastic bag and threw it out. At the end of the day I threw out a whole heap more food from the fridge. It felt very bad and "wrong" to throw out food that was given to me but I kept to my resolution and ate OMAD today. Yay!2
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Hey thanks for that @OMADing1 and @SavedByGrace. I took the food I was offered today and took it back to my office, then put it in a plastic bag and threw it out. At the end of the day I threw out a whole heap more food from the fridge. It felt very bad and "wrong" to throw out food that was given to me but I kept to my resolution and ate OMAD today. Yay!
YAY indeed!1 -
Now that's what I call progress. You did the right thing for yourself and your body. Way to go!!!0
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There are two aspects to the work lunch it seems, one is the temptation that it is and the other is are we being rude. I've found that if I can get over the temptation, that if I say I'm good and skip it, they are all ok since they know what I'm doing. Could be different in different places. For me the temptation is the hardest part.0
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Temptation is hard for me too but being disappointed in myself is far worse.0
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SavedByGrace26356 wrote: »Temptation is hard for me too but being disappointed in myself is far worse.
Yep, totally. I now am looking at "temptation" as an enemy, a challenge and OMAD is helping me develop a warrior attitude about just bowing down to temptation anymore. I now can SEE that temptation, like pain is helping to make me STRONGER, instead of how I used to dread it, fear it, serve it and again bow down to it. Temptation is helping me to see the truth about myself and situations and I now say, "bring it" I'll knock you out by NOT giving in to you, period. I'm the "decider" here now in my life and what and when I eat, NOT temptation. Temptation is NOT the boss of me anymore--again, I see it for who/what it truly is and how self-destruction (and all it's yucky companions) is the name of it's game. I understand that temptation aint going nowhere, it will always be with me and I'll always have a CHOICE to serve/obey/bow down to it or kick it's butt with self control, humility, joy and POWER OVER IT! 1 -
That's a very powerful statement. Last night I watched a video Joe recently posted on his channel and he was just talking about this. Have you watched it yet?0
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So this week has been ...interesting! I have been struggling with the food given to me once again. It is all part of my journey. Other people have to walk past their favourite cake shops or favourite pizza outlet every day; I have people bring home cooked food every day at work.
I did take some home some delicious Afghani Rice (at least it was better than eating it at work). Then I was faced with the dilemma of eating it or throwing it out. I ate some and will throw the rest out. I figure this is a compromise. I have resolved not to eat at work!!! I have made a decision to say "than you" for other food before throwing it out quietly. I hate to do this but it's the best thing I can do right now. Later, I will just tell people not to bring me food.
For the past two days I have eaten OMAD. I feel so much better when I do this. I am fully committed to eating OMAD for at least 3-4 days during the working week.0 -
You are being strong. Keep saying Thank you.... but No Thank you. I know it must be hard but you're making good decisions.0
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Good going!1
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@newmeadow. Thanks for naming these people as Foodpushers. I have always found that giving a problem a name helps me to deal with it. I have always kind of blamed myself both for accepting and for rejecting food given to me by others. Somehow I always felt like I should be grateful for something that I didn't ask for and don't want. So either way I felt that I was doing the wrong thing. So yeah, "Foodpushers" it's a good name and it helps to remind me that it's not about me but about them.1
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Today I had my one meal early at midday. I made a couple of changes in my diet and had some German style whole meal rye bread from Aldi. It really filled me up and I didn't feel the need to eat again.
I felt really good all day. I have been reading about the human gut biome and have felt inspired to increase my intake of fibrous veggies and to allow myself some fruit too. I can't remember ever feeling physically better than I do right now.1 -
Sounds good and healthy.1
This discussion has been closed.