Trying to get back on track

[Loraine518]

Hi I am new here and I have just come back from holiday and it was very difficult eating healthily whilst I was away, think I put on a few lbs.

I am trying to get back on track now but my body clock for eating is slightly messed up and I seem to be hungry at all the wrong times.

I try to eat healthily and usually manage it all day but sometimes struggle in the evenings and I also find it hard when eating out, which we tend to do fairly frequently with family. I find a lot of restaurants have already added oil or butter to food and whilst you can have a salad and ask for the dressing to be on the side, this time of year I often want hot food. It seems very difficult to get jacket potatoes, which I often go for minus the butter, when they are available, I am not sure why this is.

Drink is sometimes a problem for me as I don't like fizzy drinks or squash and if I am out socialising I find water, tea or coffee a bit boring after a while. If anyone has any alternative ideas for what to drink when out that would be great.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello and welcome back, Loraine 518 I see you were here a couple of years ago.

I'm going to suggest that you spend some time exploring the forum and seeing what plans others follow to successfully and happily lose weight.

From what you've written, I would suggest you're finding it difficult in the evenings because you're a) not eating enough and b) not having enough healthy fats in your diet. For myself, I'd take the oil and butter any day but I'd pass on the jacket potato.

You may find this interesting

youtu.be/eKQWFJmCWZE(Not working as expected?)

This is also a useful read healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

You'll find all you need to make use of the forum in Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... I hope you'll do some exploring round the site and I recommend joining a weekly weigh in and using the Daily Diary, where you'll see what meals other members are planning.

All the best

[Nomash in reply to BridgeGirl]

That was a very interesting clip.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Nomash]

It is, isn't it? I think most people wanting to lose weight know to steer clear of sugar but we need to be aware of how different foods convert to sugar in the bloodstream. They're the ones to be wary of, not healthy fats

[Nomash in reply to BridgeGirl]

Trying to explain this to my husband! 🙄 He has now lost weight with lchf. But.... can't get his head round it when I'm not 'feeding' him. Apparently everyone is entitled to treats! Half a packet of biscuits! And surely toast and marmalade are OK I've always eaten toast and marmalade (and several portions of cereal) cheese and crackers are OK, I need something before I go to bed! And so it goes on! Then I get "I feel really light headed, I need some chocolate" But.... and this made me smile! "all this fat you're feeding me, my cholesterol will be high, ill get it checked" he did, the doctor congratulated him on it being so low! 😅😅

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Nomash]

Oh dear!

Teach him a bit of physiology, that fat doesn't make you fat, it's those carbs breaking down into sugar and being saved by the body for a rainy day. You could show him that clip, for a start

[Nomash in reply to BridgeGirl]

I've tried it all, but give up now, he knows what I'm going to say!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Nomash]

No matter, you're treating him right

[Tiggerr in reply to Nomash]

That's very funny and brilliant at the same time. Sounds like he should be very grateful.

[Green26 in reply to BridgeGirl]

Wow thanks for posting that clip, it was a very powerful message .

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Green26]

It's short and simple but it gets the point over

[Tiggerr in reply to BridgeGirl]

Almost word for word what I'd intended to write... spooky!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Tiggerr]

It can be very disconcerting seeing someone write just what you were thinking

[Loraine518 2 stone in reply to BridgeGirl]

I have been following slimming world for the last year and although I have lost 2 1/2 stone, I am finding it harder and harder to lose weight lately.

All fat is only allowed in very small amounts, but you can have unlimited potato, pasta, rice and lean meats including bacon.

I think this may be why I am struggling as watching the video about sugar hiding in food, was a bit of a shock. I always thought things like jacket potatoes were a healthy option.

I rarely add sugar in any form to my food and assumed my diet was mainly very healthy, think I need to completely rethink things.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Loraine518]

Most of us came here with the same impression as that's what we've been told for decades. We're all careful about obvious sugars but, until we understand which foods convert to high levels of sugar in the bloodstream, we're working blind.

I've just sent a friend the link to this blog from a GP. You might find it interesting. It includes her food diary for a week fatismyfriend.co.uk/

[Loraine518 2 stone in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you BridgeGirl,

I think I am starting to gain an understanding about sugars and fat and the effect they have on us.

I have printed off some information from the various links you gave me and a also the NHS food and activity chart.

I will be starting again from tomorrow as I am going out for afternoon tea later ( a christmas present).

I have planned all my meals for the week, based on lower carb and higher fat.

So hopefully I will start to feel better and kick start my weight loss again.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Loraine518]

Good for you We're all learning, around here, and passing tips on

You might like to add your menus to the Daily Diary this week; you can pick up some great ideas there and chat about your choices.

Enjoy your afternoon tea

[Green26]

Welcome Lorraine, lots of great advice, hints and tips here and you will have plenty of support. All the best with your plans for healthy eating again.

[Loraine518 2 stone in reply to Green26]

Thank you

[Hidden]

Maybe sparkling water? Or carry a bottle of Oasis around with you? I believe it's actually marketed as a drink for those who don't like water. But really the bottom line is that nothing beats water when it comes to weight loss unfortunately, so maybe try variations? Ice water, lemon water, sparkling, mineral- I find that they all taste different enough to keep me on my toes

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Hidden]

I honestly feel that when you're hungry it's best to eat, and to look back at what you've had during the day so you have more filling meals the next day.

[Loraine518 2 stone in reply to Hidden]

I like water and drink lemon water and iced water throughout the day. I was just looking for alternatives for if I go out socialising in the evening.

[Climb007]

Hi loraine518, I was in the same situation regarding holidays and adjusting to normal eating. I choose to fast for a 25 hour period ( stop eating at 2pm & start the following at 2) this got me to appreciate the boring but practical food in my kitchen. Good luck

[Loraine518 2 stone in reply to Climb007]

Hi Climb007, thanks for replying, I will try that and see if it helps. I did brave the cold and take my dogs for a long walk yesterday and I am trying to get back into my routine, think it is working slowly.

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg]

I like a lime and soda , lots of ice and a slice of lemon . Sometimes only get charged about 50p for the whole drink . Try Vegan restaurants as these seem to have more balanced food . In fact some - you wouldn't even miss the meat and many have decent wholegrains like lentils , quinoa and I love chickpeas / kidney beans etc which really make you full .

Omelettes seem to be on a lot of menus or if there is a hearty soup I have that for lunch as a main course I just ask for it to be brought out as such when we got out for lunch in a crowd . Salmon or any fish is usually not cooked in grease and I ask for extra veg instead of potatoes ..not refused yet .

[Loraine518 2 stone in reply to focused1]

Thank you there are lots of really helpful suggestions to try.

I used to drink lime and soda and really enjoyed it, not sure why I stopped.

I never thought of asking for extra veggies instead of potatoes, will try this too.

Although we eat meat we eat at least 3 or 4 vegetarian/vegan meals a week and don't miss the meat at all, luckily I love grains, chickpeas, lentils and most beans.

I also love omelettes and will have them for lunch if they are on the menu and I love fish.

[Loraine518 2 stone in reply to Loraine518]

Went out for dinner tonight and had a vegan vegetable tagine, which was amazing. It had a small amount of brown rice with toasted nuts, I really enjoyed it.

[palfreyman]

My type of food, thanks for sharing this imfo……...

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to palfreyman]

Hello and welcome to the forum, palfreyman

I'm not sure who you were replying to, there. You'll find a lot of chat about food on our Daily Diary, where members share their meal plans for the day. I also recommend joining a weekly weigh in on the day of your choice. You'll find them and all our other activities in Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

I hope you'll become and active member and we'll see you joining in around the forum