Good v Bad

Sometimes it seems that no matter what you eat/drink there is always someone telling you that it is very bad for you and will have dire health consequences. There are so many studies going on that contradict each other, many headlining with how dramatically you are damaging parts of your body whilst the next study tells you that actually, xyz is good for you because.... One of the most recent, and controversial, is that fat ( all fat, including saturated) actually does NOT do anything detrimental healthways. MY POINT is, whatever study is going on/has been done, scaremongering others by saying OMG this is so bad for you because xyz study said so, is just so negative and, quite frankly, horrible.

Whatever we choose to eat, however we choose to try and get to /be a healthy weight, is right for that individual. We are all human and as such different. What works for one doesn't for another. What one body can tolerate another may have an allergy or adverse reaction too. Lifestyles play a huge role too. For myself, I only get 1 weekend in 3 at home and tend to indulge whilst trying to maintain a daily healthy guideline.

With my son not being able to have additives or presevatives because of his disability and bone formation. ( i could scare you witless about some 'healthy' foods and healthy alternatives to some foods and their effect on bones, I won't because it would be very wrong of me to do so). I learned over 20 years ago about health and nutrition, qualifying and using it in my job. I make everything from scratch so I know exactly what is in it, that includes sausages, burgers, biscuits, cake, etc........No natural food is banned in my house, just balanced out over the day. I do not use sugar free or fat free alternatives, again just balancing out over the day. I make my own fruit youghurt too, but usually have natural greek yoghurt for myself.

I am fat because I eat too much and have not put into practice what I do for others. To be fair, some of my weight gain has been to do with certain health issues beyond control, but the majority because I stuffed too much food down my throat over many years. End of.

For the last 6 weeks I have been practicing what I preach, and it is working. I just have to keep telling my disloyal mind what my stomach knows, that it is full. 😍😉☺️

[sueper]

I never post on here what I eat now because as soon as you do someone will criticise or tell you how bad it is for you.

I think what is most important is to find a healthy diet that you will be able to sustain for life, whatever that might be.

I like to look at what slim people eat - when I am out walking, if I stop for a break and see slim people eating a picnic I look at what they eat. And OMG - you will see them eating fruit etc. I also look at them when I am in a café - I see that often a slim couple will still have an indulgence (I avoid the word treat on here as that upsets some), such as a slice of cake but they will share it.

So many of us have lost our way with portion control especially with indulgences treating them as part of our normal diet instead of an occasional pleasure.

Wouldn't it be great if fat people could spend a few weeks living with thin people to see just what they do to stay that way - providing it is healthy of course

[Hidden in reply to sueper]

I agree with everything you say Sueper. I am chuckling because I do live within a household of slim people and know exactly what they eat because I prepare it!! I bake every week too and portion control it, the family eats a bit of cake or cookie, etc.. most days. All made and eaten within a daily balance of fat, sugar, etc.. They don't have a problem at all, and the said son above does not do any exercise at all really as he is mostly wheelchair bound.

Thankyou, thankyou for your common sense and positivity. 😊

[Hidden in reply to sueper]

I have my very slim boyfriend as a model, and you should see him go for the biggest slice of cake when we're out. He loves a cream tea and always has biscuits with his tea before bed. But he doesn't finish his plate. He might put 3 biscuits on a plate but stop at 2. Or when we're out I used to feel he was wasting half his cake, and would feel I should finish it as we'd paid for it. Now I don't of course! Eventually I hope to be able to leave things, and judge when I've had enough, without feeling like I've missed out! By the way I love the picture I've got in my head of you eyeing up other people's picnics

[sueper in reply to Hidden]

We have learned not to waste food and it is hard to leave it on the plate. I have started doing that now - I had a fresh cream muffin a few weeks ago and cut off about 1/3 or the cakey part. Probably saved about 100 cals doing that and still enjoyed the muffin. I am learning

[Hidden in reply to sueper]

I've worked out how to enter things as fractions on my myfitnesspal too. Which is another good way of motivating me to stop at half or quarter of something (e.g. quarter pint of cider entered as portion size 0.25 or half tablespoon of mayonnaise as 0.5, etc). This helps me have a little of what I want, while also learning what that 'little' represents.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I am absolutely useless with gadgets, even my IPad can frustrate me, much to the disgust of my computer technician son. You seem to have thehang of it though Ruth 😊

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I have a windows phone which isn't as advanced as ipads/iphones, but I find it user friendly. I prefer logging calories on the myfitnesspal app, because no one knows what I'm doing. If it was on a piece of paper or in a notepad I feel it would be less discreet. But everyone finds what works for them!

[Hidden in reply to sueper]

It is very hard to leave things half eaten. Guilt can be a huge obstacle to overcome. Glad you are managing to 'have your cake and eat it' lol 😊

[linggirl]

Love your attitude. I know that whilst my diet was fairly healthy I had rubbish portion control, and if I wanted something to eat I just ate it. The 12 week planhashelped me to become more sensible and I feel more in control. Having health issues can make Weight loss more tricky. I have diabetes and kidney disease and they actually require diets that are diametrically opposed to each other, but after a lot of practise I know the value of compromise . No matter what well meant advice others give I know that I am the person who has ultimate control of my eating habits.

Keep up your good work.

[Hidden in reply to linggirl]

Thankyou linggirl, I agree compromise and balance is the key to an enjoyable food intake sustainable lifelong. And total self honesty, no point in kidding yourself. 😄😄

[Hidden]

It would depend how informed that decision is and where/ how the information was gathered. There are so many factors that should be taken into account, and blanket banning a food or condemning a food is very blinkered in view. BUT THIS IS MY OPINION AND I AM NOT GOING TO TELL ANYONE ELSE WHAT THEY SHOULD/SHOULDN'T EAT. I do not wish to cause offence, but do take umbridge when things I am trained to know are skewed to suit sometimes. I DO keep saying, take the day as a whole not as an individual component.

I really don't want to get into an argument or discussion about this, I am sorry if anyones feathers have been ruffled, but I will stick to my training and decades of learned and accredited knowledge.

Happy, healthy eating to you and everyone on here trying to do their best to get to a good place in their life in body and mind. 😊

[sueper]

I think it is important to remember that this is primarily a weight loss forum. If people feel they can't share their tips for lowering calories for fear of being criticised that defeats the object of the forum.

Weight loss is a very complex matter and many of us have a whole array of issues which is the reason we are overweight. If we are made to feel bad for trying to share our tips it is counteractive.

A number of posters have disappeared because they have been criticised for one reason or another and the last thing they need is to lose what little support they feel they may have.

It's great that people here are able to offer nutritional facts about food and there are certainly people here who welcome it. I think however that sometimes those giving the advice may want to think about how the advice will benefit others. If it is simply pointing out the negatives in what they are doing it might worth approaching things in a different way.

[Hidden]

Really good post Shellie. I will try to keep thinking about the whole day too. No wonder you're so up on this if you're cooking a whole family's different requirements everyday. Good luck for navigating your way through your weight loss journey