Healthy Eating Sucks!

[lettingoffsteam]

Well I've kept to eating healthily this Christmas, with the odd chocolate thrown in, and it has been increasingly difficult to watch other family members stuffing their faces with everything going and drinking whatever they please too.I know I want to keep the weight off and to give my heart it's best chance but when they are commenting how lovely everything tastes it's pretty hard. Come on guys, do you have to rub my nose in it? Sorry rant over now and off to bed.

[Sunnie2day]

It takes time to work out how to cook-roast-BBQ-bake in a way that is heart healthy but eventually it does happen - suddenly food tastes right again and preparing and getting it from the kitchen to the table becomes instinctive.

I promise.

I'm so used to it now I feed it to company and so far no complaints. Plenty of 'Can I get the recipe for that?' and 'No way that's gluten-free!' (my husband has coeliac disease, we're quite the pair with my heart and his coeliac ).

The secret is finding quality substitute ingredients, and knowing you will be in the kitchen a bit longer than before - 'from-scratch' cooking with those substitute ingredients makes all the difference. Work at it and pretty soon everyone at the Christmas Lunch table is eating the same healthy food and loving every bite (well, perhaps not the sprouts, not everyone loves sprouts). TIP: unsalted butter in moderation. Trust me.

It takes time - you'll get there sooner than you think if you're willing to work at it.

I promise.

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thanks for those encouraging words Sunnie2day.It is early days I agree and I hope it improves as you say.

[Sunnie2day in reply to lettingoffsteam]

It really does.

Something else that helps is a new rule at your house - 'Eat what I make, or eat before you arrive!' (you'll want to put it more diplomatically, of course, at least at first, lol!).

[Janma123]

Feeling that you are being deprived of something always feels bad!

On these occasions you could either go with “a little of what you fancy does you no lasting harm” with the emphasis being on LITTLE or fall off the wagon completely and suffer the difficulty of having to climb back on!

It does get easier and on the drinks front there are many really good non-alcoholic versions now that can be substituted., so there’s no need to feel left out!

On the plus side - no feelings of being overstuffed and no hangover to get rid of!!

Enjoy!

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Janma123]

Well luckily I don't drink but I did really enjoy the Christmas food. I decided to give up meat and only eat a little fish and low fat dairy.Otherwise it's fruit and veg all the way.Normally that's great and my family have jumped on board a bit as well but at Christmas they are on normal Christmas fare.

Off to my son's house today to celebrate his birthday so again food everywhere whilst I chew on a lettuce leaf!I know it has helped me with my weight loss and health.

Yesterday we went to the Tower of London and whereas before the stairs were painful for my overburdened joints I was climbing up and down all day. I shall reflect on that some more instead of having a pity party.

[Prada47]

Not a lot to say except I agree 100% with Healthy Eating Sucks

Regards

[Ianc2]

Hi Letting off steam.

A friend of my wife's has been told she is diabetic and that she has to follow a very

strict diet in order to lose weight and beat the sugar levels back down. She has a very sick grandchild who needs all the help he can get and that is her motivation.

Every day she has to walk past a Gregg's shop, full of cakes, pasties and sausage rolls. When asked how difficult she finds it she simply says "I see a shop full of hypodermic needles".

[lettingoffsteam]

Hi Ianc2, I take her point.I try to do the same sort of thing but it doesn't always work so well.

[Yasyass in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Wishing u the best but everything is difficult at first but u will get used to it and every now and then have a small treat someone told me once it’s not what u eat it’s how much you eat that way you will find a way to balance

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Yasyass]

That's true.I do allow my self small treats but Christmas is a bit more than that isn't it!,Ah well, lean times in January.😀

[lettingoffsteam]

That's interesting, how do I find the GL? I have restricted my carbs and changed to brown everything when I do have them in small amounts.Have lost 5 stone thus far.😀

[Speakeazi]

Wow Lettingoffsteam. You have done amazingly. What tips can you pass on to us ?

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Speakeazi]

Well I cut out meat and now eat some oily fish like tuna and salmon and otherwise vegetarian/vegan.I only eat low fat dairy and only a bit of that.Loads of veggies and a small amount of brown carbs.Works a treat...hopefully helps my heart and bp too.

[lettingoffsteam]

Ah OK thanks StillConcerned.👍