What I Ate and Didn't Eat - September

[Lynlee]

Indiana`I`have`had`times`when`I`forget`/or`have`felt`too`sick`to`eat.
Then`I`try`to`eat`one`each`of`the`main`meals...`no`matter`the`hour.
So`try`for`a`breakfast.(that`might`be`at`midday)
Lunch`might`be`at`3pm`before`I`do`pet`duty
Dinner`might`be`a`real`meal`...Or``grazing`thru`some`raw`veg...`eaten`without`a`plate...
Aiming`for`some`protien`somewhere.
Don't`worry`to`much`about`one`day.
Just`aim`to`eat`well`most`days.
Another`thing`might`be`to`try`to`eat`a`greater`variety`of`foods`each`day.
I`heard`"an`expert"`suggest`that`greater`variety`would`reduce
`intollerances`and`allergy`developing.
His`suggested`target`was`31different`food`sources.

Not`eating`reputedly`damages`the`intestines...According`to`some`who`have`had
lingering`effects`from`eating`disorders.`I've`heard`that`from`different`sources.
One`a`nurse`who`suggested`mine`was`an`effect`from`problems`with`guardia..
but`there`have`been`other`times`of`maybe`a`few`weeks`each`where`I've`not`
eaten`much`and`lost`a`heap`of`weight`quickly.
`Eating`after`those`times`was`difficult.
`I`had`to`find`some`food`that`just`about`digested`themselves`ready`for`absorbsion.

I've`been`forgetting`to`log`in`food`diary...`have`been`eating`from`a`fair`selection.
Trying`to`mix`it`up,`vary`food`day`to`day.(different`grain/veges/fruit)
Amount`of`each`may`be`relatively`small`though.

Some`easy`prepare`food`is`essential`for`the`can't`be`bothered`days.

The`pull`for`choc`biscuits`has`lessened`since`I`avoided`eating`those.
I`do`have`a`tsp`of`cocoa`in`milk`most`days`as`my`choc/caffine`fix.
I`feel`ill`with`tea`or`coffee.

[Harriet]

Indiana, this is something similar to what I did when my dmom had what was supposed to be a 5-to-7 day hospital stay turn into 13 days, with such intense procedures/recovery problems that required a family member there nearly 24-7. I started on 2 things I had almost never ingested - sugar-free drinks and coffee, and the only snack available was graham crackers (acid producing, all). The people would remember to bring me about one of the visitor meals I was due per day. It was a cocktail for digestive trouble, but I was calculating my calories and thinking it was not so bad for me to have these low days, that the next day I would get more. Not so. After my mom got back home, I was still having a strange gain-loss pattern of cause and effect.

But from that past experience I can tell you that time changes things back to ordinary. I got back to a more normal-for-me cause-and-effect gain-loss pattern. Your own metabolism does re-establish.

A couple things I can tell you from recently gleaned knowledge:

Many "plans" correctly suggest that there are foods that can just be "unlimited" no-brainers, such as the high-water-content vegetables. Right now, HRH is taking great advantage of this with his NS-generated list of them. Everyone is different, but he would not be without broccoli, and bean sprouts, for instance, because he loves stir-fry type eating. He doesn't add much onion, because it is not unlimited (sugars). He loads his salads with cucumbers, another favorite. My point is that with these types of foods you can forget the entire weight concept - they're not going to affect it appreciably - and eat for nutrition alone, and get numbers in your other columns.

Actually, several of us here might want to know what his "unlimited" list is:
Asparagus
Bok Choy, Chinese Chard
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber
Eggplant
Escarole
Fennel
Greens
Lettuce
Mixed Greens
Mushrooms
Okra
green onions
Pea Pods
Peppers (Any)
Radishes
Sauerkraut, Canned, low sodium
Snow Pea Pods
Sprouts (Alfalfa, Bean, Soybean) raw
Tomatillos
Tomato (fresh)
Tomato, low sodium (canned)
Tomatoes, Cherry (not grape)
Watercress
Zucchini

Also, I just read this, from Josh Rubin: "You have to get healthy to lose weight, not lose weight to get health." You already know this, just an interesting way of saying it.

[Nancy]

Some times I can tell progress by what we do not have in the house to eat like white bread
for grand's ppj sans. they will eat w.wheat but were out of that.
Reg. juice only had low sugar stuff.
Not much for junk food here so I guess I need to revisit the veggies for after school snacks!
Now there's an idea!

[Lynlee]

Interesting`list`Harriet.
I`like`the`quote`about`getting`healthy.

I`woke`in`the`night`with`a`hollow`nawing`feeling`around`my`stomach.
Prev`I`d`found`it`linked`to`cow`/dairy`products.`(finished`a`cow`yoghurt`on`Tuesday
-thought`I'd`been`ok.`though`maybe`its`also`the`sheep`one`just`started.)

I've`managed`to`stop`taking`the`1/4`tsp`epsom`salts`ok.
I'm`thinking`though`my`salicylate`levels`are`still`too`high.

[OKay]

Indiana - I'm wondering what was on your menu plan on Tuesday that you didn't eat and why you didn't eat it.

Eating is influenced by so many factors. Social, weather, mood, TV commercials!, seasons, etc etc etc

The best laid plans are sometimes failed before they start (speaking of myself). I once again switched my focus away from healthy eating and it is certainly showing in the way I feel and the scales. I don't like it one bit but it's a decision I made (switch my focus) - it was short term and for a worthwhile reason. However I'm not experienced enough in eating right to take my focus off it without consequences (complete failure). I once again acknowledge (without beating myself up) that I have failed and start again.

I remember quitting smoking about one gazillion times before I finally did it (on Dec 27 1997). With that thought in my head (try again until you succeed) I'm tracking my food today.....especially the starches

[OKay]

Hat's off to Taco Bell!! I went to their website to plan my evening meal (that's where DGS13 and DGS15 want to eat tonight) and am THRILLED with their nutrition calculator. http://www.tacobell.com/nutrition/calculator One of the best I've seen from fast food type places.

Edited to add - I'm not thrilled with the amount of sodium (etc) in their food - just with the ease of finding the nutrition counts of their menu selections.

[OKay]

What I plan to eat today -

Starch count, food, time
0.0 Coffee, Black (2 cup) 6am
0.0 Tea, mixture Green/black unsweetened (2 quarts) 9am-5pm
0.0 Gum (1 stick) AM
0.0 Gum (1 stick) PM
1.0 Grilled Chicken Burrito (Taco Bell) 5pm
0.6 Beans, pinto (fresco style Taco Bell) 5pm
0.0 Tomato, fresh noon
0.0 Lettuce, Leaf (3 cups) noon
0.0 Milk (1 cup) Noon
0.0 Banana 3pm
0.0 Pear 9am
1.6 Fiber Bar 6am
0.6 Fat free Ranch Dressing (2 T) noon

Nutrition count (goal) actual
Calories (1500) 929.0
Fat (55g) 29.5
Sodium (2000mg) 1847.0
Carbs (125g) 146.3
Fiber (25) 31.7
Sugars (60) 67.8
Protein (55) 35.5
Free Foods (3) 0.5
Meat (6) 2.7
Fat (4) 0.0
Veg (4) 2.2
Milk (3) 1.6
Fruit (3) 3.5
Starches (6) 3.8

I've got some adjusting to do to this plan. Will work on it during my lunch time

[Indiana]

Thank you for your food for thought. I am thinking about this and have some ideas. I want to think a little more. I have a list of some things to try.

OKay I will answer your post probably tomorrow.

[Nancy]

Did not have fruit for dinner hubby
reminded me so I did an addtl. dose of insulin
I'm grateful for the fast acting kind I still have here;
we have finished off the watermelon now.
Salad was dinner.

[Indiana]

Ah it may be my meds for eating and it may be my meds for the insomnia. I'm saying may because I saw them listed as side effects and want to go over them again.

I haven't been over the side effects of my meds for a while and lo and behold several things came to light.

Once I figure out what meds are doing what maybe I can come up with a plan.