Healthy Eats-Along 2012

[MareMare]

Hey peeps! How is everyone doing? I'm so sorry I've been neglecting this thread, but I've been sick (going on seven weeks now) and then I went on vacation (not that fun when you're sick). I've been doing Eat to Live since Saturday and I am feeling so much better and am down 8 pounds. Yeah, I'm fully aware that cutting out salt could be a lot of that, but it's still very motivating to see on the scale

For anyone that is curious, I highly recommend reading Eat to Live. It's basically a low salt, low fat, vegan diet that stresses eating a lot of veggies (1 lb of cooked and 1 lb of raw is your goal each day) plus fruits (4+) and legumes (1 cup+) and a few nuts and seeds. I'm actually having trouble eating all the quantities of food I'm supposed to, but feel so good already from getting off the salt, dairy, and processed foods, although I do miss cheese.

[MareMare]

I know we're almost halfway through the week, but let's all list one goal that we're working on or commit to working on the rest of the week!

I commit to getting in at least my 1 lb of raw veggies everyday!

[Naantje]

Joining in, I can't believe how much of this thread I've read! I'm 23, currently at 183lbs, down from 206lbs 10 months ago. I've lost 23lbs, and I'm aiming to drop another 40lbs to reach a healthy BMI. I've had some issues keeping things up lately though: I forgot to get my flu vaccine this year, and was unlucky enough to be exposed and actually got the flu. It was a really bad one, I had a fever for 2 solid weeks, I ate nothing at all for 5 days because the only thing I could keep down was fluids and the only thing I was capable of doing was lying down on the couch and sleeping. Because of this prolonged immobility, the pill, family history and weight, I got a deep vein thrombosis in a vein in the back of my right knee, which I noticed due to not being able to walk or even stand up. The DVT diagnosis was made on the 27th of March, when treatment with anticoagulants and compression of my leg started. My leg is back to normal now, in that I have no more problems with standing or walking, and it doesn't hurt any more. I have gotten under quite a bit of stress, as I've had issues with the compression stocking I need to wear: the wrong type was ordered, and it cut off my blood flow in my leg, really hurting me, so I had to go back to bandaging the leg while waiting for the new one. The insurance company however, was first refusing to pay for the replacement, since they only insure 2 per year, and there has to be a 3 month period between getting the first one and the second one (don't ask me why!). Total nonsense of course, since the bad fit of the first stocking is a huge medical risk! It took a bunch of phonecalls to sort that out, I had to make sure that the new prescription of the doctor would clearly state the medical necessity to change stockings and do lots of paperwork just to get the care I need. The diagnosis was 5 weeks ago, but I'm still being bandaged because of all this hassle. I should be getting the right stocking next week, hopefully.

It does mean that in the last 5 weeks, I've had to be bandaged three times a week, which a nurse comes and does in my home. The company that does this has lots of nurses though, and there's only one nurse I've seen several times, but most of the time, they're new strangers I have to invite into my home and for whom I'm standing in my panties so they can do their job. All the nurses were very professional and nice, but I just wish it would be one or maybe two nurses that would come and do it, instead of a new face every time, that would be a lot less uncomfortable. It's also quite confining, because you have to be home within the time range the reserved for you (I'm usually between 12.30 and 13.30), but they can't always make that. I've had to wait as late as 14.15 for a nurse to arrive and do the leg. It takes away your freedom, you're pretty much house bound until they've been. Add in the fact that I have to go to the hospital twice or even thrice per week, remembering the pills twice a day (it's harder than you'd think!) and the side effects of medication and it just accumulates to a whole lot of stress and frustration.

I noticed that I felt hungry a lot more often than I used to, and that I wouldn't feel full even if I ate more than I used to. At a certain point, I noticed my stomach hurt from eating too much, and I STILL felt hungry! That's when I discovered I was emo eating, so now I'm consciously trying to avoid doing so. I gained 2 pounds over the last 5 weeks, and I really don't want to see the number on the scale going up, it needs to go down! My weight was a contributing factor to the DVT, I want to get to a healthy weight and reduce my risk of it happening again!

For the rest of the weak, I commit to meticulously log my food again. I did this before I got the flu, and it helped me so much to get the weight off, I hope it will help me again right now.

[MareMare]

Hi Naantje! Wow, that sounds really trying, at least you're hanging in there! Food logging is a great tool!

[loukr]

Naantje, wishing you all the best - my mum had a DVT in her leg and I remember how stressful it was for her at the time

My goal this week is to get my exercise sorted! My sister took me shopping and bought me running shoes (seriously, they are awesome dark grey with pink laces, kids shoes as I have small feet (saves some money too!)) a decent sports bra/running leggings and top, we bought exercise balls and everything! Trying to tone up as so far I've only lost weight by sorting out my diet, but I think with exercise too I'll really notice the changes in my body!

We went for a jog around the block the other day and found a free OUTDOOR GYM, literally 2 minutes walk from our house, what are the chances of that! We're waiting to see what sort of people use it before frequenting it often as it's slap-bang in the middle of a dodgey looking housing estate but wow, what a find! So far the two times we've been for a look it's been empty (first time it was raining and we had a go! Second time was yesterday, about 8pm on a lovely evening!) I'm definitely not a good runner at the moment though. I can only manage about maybe 80-100m before I get a stitch and can't breathe But I WILL work on it and improve! We went for a 3.4 mile power walk/jog/run yesterday which was rather nice, if a bit stressful!

[hawkeyes_girl]

I know we're almost halfway through the week, but let's all list one goal that we're working on or commit to working on the rest of the week!

I commit to getting in at least my 1 lb of raw veggies everyday!

Getting at least my 5 fruit/veg servings. I have concentrated far too much on protein intake alone....my "waste" changed in texture-not enough fiber....

Sorry if that was gross, just sharing. 

I had 5 today...Woo!

[Aislynn]

I've been really enjoying the steel cut oatmeal.  I added two mashed bananas, a healthy dash (probably 1/4 tsp.) of apple pie seasoning, because I couldn't find my cinnamon, about a tsp. of vanilla, and a tablespoon of brown sugar to one cup of oats and four cups of liquid (I added all that stuff after cooking).  I top each serving with a tiny handful of dried cranberries before re-warming, and it's SO good!  And less sugar than my regular cereal.

My goal for the entire month is no fast food.  We've been doing that a lot the last few weeks, and need to break the habit again.  I'm also thinking about trying green smoothies.

[MareMare]

Sounds good Ais!

[suereal]

With moving and nesting I have been eating rather terribly.  But in the last 4 days I have managed to make a green drink 3 mornings.  The fourth day I did eat breakfast, but it was cheese eggs and kale.  I KNOW I have more energy when I eat breakfast, but I'm having some mental block about it.  I think I'm rebelling against being a type 1 diabetic.  It takes so much energy to try and stay on top of it that trying to change habits makes a part of me feel like I'm being forced to do something I don't want to....even if I want to with the rest of my head.  That's why I don't do food journals.  It makes me want to cheat ALL the time.

And it only takes the one green drink in the morning to ensure no more trouble with constipation....for me at least

[alwaysinmyroom]

I was seriously thinking over the past few days of how much time, energy and money I have spent in my life trying to lose weight/get healthy...I sort of feel resentful that not everyone has this struggle, but as my friend says, then it would be something else!  So, I guess this is my wheel to carry around the rest of my life; I might as well accept it and get on with it!  I made a small list of things I would like to do that I don't do because of how I feel about myself as I am...yeah, everyone says just do them, but I won't...

Mare--I like the simplicity of your plan...I am going to check to see if that book is available for my Nook...I actually love all the foods you mentioned...

naantje--welcome...I hope we can all help you in some way to reach your goals...you are young and starting young will help you now and in the future...I wish I had a support group like this when I was younger...but, we can all improve our health with some changes

I commit to drinking more water!  I can't believe how many diet sodas that I have been drinking...I never used to drink them but just got in a bad habit of it over the last few months!  I told my hubs to get bubbly water instead...so I will drink that, my herbal teas, and my one cup of coffee...