My forever eating plan

 I sometimes think I'm coming across to folk as a bit dim...especially on topics I just flounder on like Geography, for example.

On certain topics I feel stupid for not already knowing something that I feel I should.

But it is when I have to learn what I thought I already knew that I feel both really daft - and super grateful - that I now understand: and the recent eating plan change is just that.

I have prided myself throughout adulthood that I've eaten a mostly healthy diet. I said time after time that I didn't know why it was so hard to shed a few pounds.. and my weight, over the last 20 years, slowly but surely increased.

I didn't realise just how un-healthy my healthy eating was.

So what is different?  This isn't a diet. This is how to eat. It is hard at first, but the health benefits, how I feel and how I look are totally worth it. 

1. Stop eating processed foods. No bread, pasta, snacks, etc.

  The only processed food I still eat is quorn.

2. Eat whole foods. All fruit and vegetables. 

3. Eat healthy proteins.

This one is more personal for me, as I don't eat dairy due to an allergy, I also don't eat meat. I do eat fish, eggs and all vegetable proteins.

4. Eat healthy fats. 

I've limited myself to olive and vegetable oils, and use these sparingly.

5. Cut out sugar.

This is pretty easy when you stop eating processed foods, but I've also stopped drinking alcohol and soft drinks completely.

6. Cut out salt.

Same as above. Much processed food is full of salt. If I want seasoning I use just black pepper.

7. Make a note of everything you consume. 

I did this for 12 weeks using a free app. I kept under the recommended daily calories for women my age and height - I did not, at any time, go into starvation mode. I'm still shedding pounds, and it is a long term plan for me to get to a really healthy weight and stay there.

8. Exercise.

I would like it noted here and now that I am not, and never have been, an exerciser.

However, I began this programme by using a rowing machine 15 minutes a day, and now I swim four times a week. Swimming is good for me as it fits into my daily routine and does not ache my joints.

OK so here is what I eat in a normal day;

Breakfast - porridge oats and oat milk. (I weighed out 40g once, and use the same amount each day.)

Lunch - (we eat our main daily meal at lunchtime) could be:-

    Veg chilli (no rice)

    All day breakfast (scrambled eggs with no added fat, veggie sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes, potato wedges)

    Jacket potato with baked beans (I forgot to add these to the processed list)

    Roast meal (potatoes and parsnips cooked in a small amount of oil, all other veg steamed, a vegetable protein such as Quorn)

    Curry (no rice) -  vegetables cooked with spices and stock or tomatoes added 

    Fish - oven-baked or pan-fried fillet of fish with steamed veg or veg and potato wedges

There are many more meal ideas that we eat, and if anyone would like a longer list, just message.

Supper - I usually have a bowl of fruit, I might have a jacket potato or leftovers from lunch or I might make a veg soup or stew in the slow cooker.

It took about three days to adjust my brain to the new regime, and the mindset  I am using is 'It's not worth it'.  When I am offered chips, or whatever, that I really don't want to eat...'It's not worth it'.  It's not worth the hassle of feeling crap, it's not worth the feeling of failure, it's not worth feeling sick and beating myself up mentally.

If, however, it is worth it - for example, I had a piece of cake for my granddaughter's birthday.  That was well worth it.  I can tell you that I have chosen rice with my main meal four times since January.  

At the ripe old age of 52 I seem to be making grown-up choices about eating...

Please, ask me any questions,

Take care,

FMxx