View Full Version : Confused about my reaction to "healthy" eating....
Generally speaking, I have a very poor diet. From time to time I get to the point where I am convinced that I simply MUST start eating better so I commit myself to doing just that.
I have expectations that I will begin feeling better (more energy, etc.), but in reality, that never happens. Instead, I really, genuinely feel bad, awful in fact. Notwithstanding the fact that I really do NOT enjoy eating vegetables or fruit, I sincerely put forth an effort to consume them. I do not begrudge it. I am not negative about it. I do so with enthusiasm but ultimately I feel so bad, so awful (we're talking weeks here...not just a few days), that I abandon the idea and start eating the way I am used to, and begin to feel better IMMEDIATELY.
At first I believed that this was psychological but the last time I tried it I was very committed and really wanted to succeed more than anything, but I just can't handle feeling bad all the time. A person I work with told me that when you change your diet, there is an adjustment period where your body is throwing off toxins, but she told me that should pass in a week at the most. I never start feeling better. Finally, it's just not worth it, so I give up.
I visited with a lady once who told me that I should read the "Blood Type Diet" and it would show me that because my blood type is 0+ I need more meat than someone who has a different blood type. I am a strongly Yang person and truly I feel better when I eat a diet of yang type foods. I can eat a bushel of apples, oranges, salad, etc., and my hunger is never satisfied.
Does anyone else deal with this? I have not talked to anyone that I know who does not do well on a "healthy" diet, in fact everybody looks at me like I have two heads when I tell them I hate vegetables and fruit. I guess everybody else in the universe loves the stuff.
Any input is appreciated.
ApatheticNoMore
12-2-13, 8:38pm
A healthy diet is in my opinion just real foods. Not stuff with chemical names you can't pronounce. Not the junk in the vending machines and not piles of sweets. Stuff made from food you can imagine growing or living in it's natural state. I'm not saying I never eat that junky stuff, but it definitely isn't healthy.
Beyond that what you think is a "healthy diet" is possibly food you are allergic or sensitive to.
Common allergies are:
wheat (and btw if you have issues with wheat or other grains the "whole" form will almost certainly cause more problems than the more refined form. This is true even with brown rice although rice is a pretty unallergic grain).
dairy - common to have some sensitivities too, should be obvious
eggs - some people
now fruits and veggies don't generally cause many allergies but there is the possibility of:
- fructose intollerance (not super common but it does seem to afflict some people but if so the apples would be a problem I think)
- possible sensitivity to nightshades (not very well studied but some people claim they cause them aches and pains).
- Some veggies can also cause some digestive issues (onions, crucifers, beans obviously haha) so that needs some adaptation or you might decide not to eat those things.
- high fiber food could be a problem I think for diverticulousis and the like (don't quote me I don't play a doctor on t.v.)
- possible problems handling the sugar load of high glycemic things if you have blood sugar problems
For allergies the ways to know are to go on elimination diets and find out what you can eat.
A person I work with told me that when you change your diet, there is an adjustment period where your body is throwing off toxins, but she told me that should pass in a week at the most.
dont' really believe this, however there is what your body is used to digesting which affects what microorganisms (gut flora etc.) you have in your body which will change based on your diet. So a big change in diet might require some adjustment there.
I wonder if it's possible to get actually physically addicted to the chemicals in junk food .... I don't know.
iris lilies
12-2-13, 8:54pm
"Healthy" eating often is not althought you are right, fruits and veg are important. What are typical foods in your "unhealthy" diet?
What are typical foods in your "unhealthy" diet?
And what foods are in your "healthy" diet? You talk about fruits and veggies, but when you eat healthy are you getting enough healthy fats, proteins and carbs? Lots of people still think low fat = healthy, which I think is nonsense. There are also definitely differences between people. Eating tons of fruit or vegetables alone won't make the average person full, because you're missing out on a lot of other essential nutrients. Most healthy people don't just eat tons of fruits and veggies. To feel that bad, you aren't getting what your body requires.
The Inuits, Dr. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, and a fellow named Bear all thrived on a diet of meat and fat. http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2009/09/two-brave-men-who-ate-nothing-but-meat.html , http://diagnosisdiet.com/all-meat-diets/
Their diet is a little extreme (but no more so than veganism, for example), and you would probably want to supplement and eat organ meats on a regular basis.
The reason you're feel like you're starving to death when you eat nothing but fruits and vegetables is that they're carbohydrates that cause you to secrete more and more insulin--the hunger hormone--and causes your blood sugar to go up and down like a roller coaster. Also, you will eat until you get enough protein (like the Mormon crickets)--which in the case of someone eating nothing but carbohydrates, could be quite a task. I think there is something to be said for genotype-specific diets, but I don't agree with D'adamo's simplistic approach. If I were you, I'd eat whole foods, make sure you get enough protein and natural fats, and experiment. Some people thrive on more vegetables, some have food sensitivities--you get the drift.
"Healthy" eating often is not althought you are right, fruits and veg are important. What are typical foods in your "unhealthy" diet?
oh dear. It's so bad I am a little embarrassed to say.
Well, generally, I don't eat breakfast (never have) so usually I will have cup of coffee. *maybe* I might eat a slice of whole wheat toast, but that is rare and highly unlikely.
Because of my schedule 90 percent of my meals are eaten in my car, so that limits my selection somewhat. Usually, I will either eat something fast food (if I have the money), or if I don't I will have some chips and a Red Bull or sometimes a soda. Usually a cookie too.
I will usually eat a snack at around 6 pm because I am hungry. I will sometimes get a sandwich at Jimmy Johns or Which wich, or if I am don't have the money to spare, I'll eat a Lunchable(r) to tide me over until dinner.
Dinner can be anything. Most of the time it is a sandwich or sometimes fast food (taco bell). Once every couple of weeks I might have the opportunity to cook something, so I will cook a minute steak, some potatoes, maybe sometimes even a roast or baked chicken. I might have some canned peas or some canned corn with it. Once every week or so I will have a salad from Ruby Tuesday, but my salad is mostly macaroni salad and cheese and bacon bits with a little bit of lettuce.
There. Read it and weep.
SteveinMN
12-2-13, 11:05pm
There is a "nutritional center" in town that sometimes participates with food co-ops, city continuing education, etc., in holding "healthy eating" classes. They seem pretty insistent that the high-carb, high-sodium, high-fat Standard American Diet is addictive, and their first order of business seems to be selling treatments to address the damage these "toxins" cause to the human body.
I agree with the addictive part; certainly humans have long been "wired" to eat fat, and high levels of flavoring (salt, hot peppers, whatever) seems to create a tolerance in individuals. And the makers of processed food, whether it's Burger King or Pepsi or Kraft, have created flavor profiles that exploit those preferences. But I'm not so sure everyone in America eats a poor diet because they're under the spell of candida. Or that limiting protein and fat and bulking up on fruits and vegetables is the way to go for everyone.
I did low-fat high-carb for a while and was active enough that I actually lost weight. But I felt like eating all the time. Now I'm on more of a low-carb, high-vegetable, low-fruit diet, and though I have some weight to lose, it hasn't fluctuated a lot and my BG/cholesterol readings are normal. I also remember how long it took for the current diet to feel normal and for the craving for sweets to go away. So I do think it takes time for new habits and your body knows it's getting different fuel. But I have a hard time buying that it's some sort of allergic reaction or massed toxins causing the problems.
I am not a doctor and I don't play one on TV. I only know what works for my body.
iris lilies
12-3-13, 12:11am
ok, you win. Chips and Red Bull, I have to say that is an unhealthy ticket as a regular thing. Jimmy John's ( or my choice, Subway) isn't too bad if you choose the right thing. Taco Bell as a regular thing probably has way too many fats and carbs. Lunchables are just horrible, sodium and fat.
Really, you can't make a crock pot of beans and rice and toss in green pepper? Crockpot meals of stews with meat and lots of veg? Try to start by cooking a crockpot of something 1X weekly and get 3 or 4 meals form it. Expand from there.
I myself have trouble with fruits. There are a dozen home grown pears sitting downstairs on our kitchen counter, sweet, perfectly ripe. If my mommy would cut them up for me I'd love them. But that won't be happening, so I guess I'll cut one up myself tomorrow.
ok, you win. Chips and Red Bull, I have to say that is an unhealthy ticket as a regular thing. Jimmy John's ( or my choice, Subway) isn't too bad if you choose the right thing. Taco Bell as a regular thing probably has way too many fats and carbs. Lunchables are just horrible, sodium and fat.
Really, you can't make a crock pot of beans and rice and toss in green pepper? Crockpot meals of stews with meat and lots of veg? Try to start by cooking a crockpot of something 1X weekly and get 3 or 4 meals form it. Expand from there.
I myself have trouble with fruits. There are a dozen home grown pears sitting downstairs on our kitchen counter, sweet, perfectly ripe. If my mommy would cut them up for me I'd love them. But that won't be happening, so I guess I'll cut one up myself tomorrow.
Part of the problem is that I have to be able to have it in the car and eat it while I am working. Beans and rice just won't work, unfortunately. It's got to be a sandwich or finger food of some kind. I can't stop working to eat. That is part of the problem. If I could stop and eat, I could have a salad every day or something a little better than chips and Red Bull. LOL
20yrsinBranson
Tussiemussies
12-3-13, 1:16am
Hi Enota, when anyone who has been eating unhealthfully for a long time they have a lot of toxins in their body. When they first start eating healthy they usually go into what I think is termed a "health crisis". Where they get sick from the toxins being released. The first time I drank carrot juice I thought I was going to throw up I was so nauseous but then after awhile I was fine. You might want to eat a Healthy diet and after the first week or so do a detoxification program. This might help you feel ill for a shorter period of time. You probably have many toxins stored up. At the same time you should exercise until you sweat, this releases toxins through the skin and helps to circulate the new nutrients through the body. Good luck to you! chris
Hi Enota,
Are you much overweight? Do you ever get any kind of exercise? How is your sleep? Do you snore? Many times people with sleep apnea are very hungry for the types of stuff you eat.
May I ask what kind of work you do? Are you depressed?
Can you possibly pack your own lunch that you can eat in the car? When's the last time you had your blood sugar level checked? Do you take any vitamins/supplements?
How about making a vegetable/fruit smoothie for a drink during the day? You can put a fair amount of spinach in a smoothie and not even taste it.
Carbs DO beget carbs. What I mean is, a diet high in carbs makes you crave them even more.
It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Just try to slowly work in some veggies and fruit. How about hummus? You could eat a thin crust pizza with veggies in your car.
You could even pack several days lunches at a time and just keep them in the fridge. Can you be home for dinner? Even if you can't/don't want to cook, there are some healthier frozen options you could keep in your freezer and just heat up when you get home.
How many hours a week do you work? Do you live alone?
Sorry for all the questions.....but they are important in getting a better understanding of your problem.
Thanks for taking the chance with us, and being so open. :)
shadowmoss
12-3-13, 9:31am
Maybe you can just add healthy food in as you go, and it will start to replace some of the unhealthy stuff. Just start making a healthier choice when you have one available. Wendy's has baked potato and chilli, which is my go to when I want something 'healthier' and I'm in a hurry. When I was in Honduras and eating at the dining facility I tried to go healthy. I cut out meat and sweets and carbs. That pretty much only left the salad bar. I felt horrible after awhile. Started eating meat again and felt a lot better. Mostly I think I just wasn't eating much. I also was gaining weight from the really good fresh fruit smoothies from a place on post where I would go in the afternoons. They put 1/2 cup of sugar in them. I watched. I asked for less sugar after awhile, and got maybe 1/4 cup instead. They were awesome, though! In short, I seem to do better when I just try to make small changes, one choice at a time.
Thanks for clarifying your situation. Maybe you should start slowly: have a can of V8 with meals...Is there a reason you have to eat in your car? Does it have to be moving?
Miss Cellane
12-3-13, 10:04am
My diet isn't what a lot of people today would consider "healthy." I eat potatoes. White potatoes. And white rice, sometimes. And I haven't tried to even reduce the gluten in my food. I eat bread. And muffins. And cookies. And red meat.
In your case, enota, what I'd try to do is slowly, and I do mean slowly, change the way you eat and what you eat.
For example, you could pack a lunch and some snacks to take with you. This might mean investing in a lunch carrier and some blue ice packs to keep things cold. And some plastic or metal containers to hold the food.
My typical lunch consists of a sandwich (tuna, turkey, ham, peanut butter, lettuce and tomato and cheese), a piece of fruit, string cheese, raw vegetables (carrot sticks, celery, red or green pepper strips, broccoli, snow peas, little tiny tomatoes) with something to dip them in, and a cookie or two if I've baked some recently. There's also usually some crackers or pretzels in case I get hungry/need to work late. All of this could be eaten in a car, I think, as long as you pick fruit you don't have to peel.
The vegetables all get washed and cut up on Sunday; the fruit gets washed as well. So nightly, I have to put a sandwich together (I usually eat the same sandwich all week), then throw some vegetables into a container, put some cookies in a baggie, and toss the string cheese and fruit into my lunch bag. I put the blue ice thing in the freezer and the lunch bag in the fridge, ready for the morning. Yes, it's pretty much exactly the same lunch day in and day out. But I like everything that's in my lunch, it has a reasonable amount of vegetables, some protein, and cookies to provide a sweet treat in the middle of a long day.
You could try just packing healthy snacks for the road at first--think of them as your own personal, healthy Lunchable, then work on adding a single serving of either fruit or vegetables. Then work on including a sandwich. This could take a month or two--that's what I mean by going slowly. You need to change your shopping habits to include this food, your evening routine to prep and pack the food, your morning routine to remember to take the food with you. It's more than most people realize--you are changing several habits at once and that's hard to do.
When I first started packing lunch for work, it seemed to take forever. Now it's about 15 minutes on Sunday and 5-10 minutes every night, and a minute in the morning to grab the blue ice and put it in the lunch bag and go. Most of the time, I make the lunch while I'm waiting for dinner to cook/heat up.
And packing your lunch will end up saving you time during the day because you are not waiting in line for the fast food.
As for dinner--what works for me is cooking more food than I need that night. As you are doing with the roast chicken. Cook two minute steaks and two baked potatoes. Eat one of each with some canned or frozen vegetables one night, then heat up the "leftovers" for dinner the following night.
Once a week or so I'll make a big batch of something that I can freeze--chili, tomato sauce, meatballs, a couple of casseroles that I don't mind freezing. Then I freeze it all in single-serving size containers. If you have a microwave, dinner's ready pretty quickly, or in the time it takes to boil pasta.
But for starters, you could buy jarred pasta sauce, pasta and a bag of salad greens. Or grill a couple of chicken breasts over the weekend, freeze/refrigerate, then heat up and add canned/frozen vegetables and a baked potato for dinner. Not everything has to be made from scratch all the time.
Generally speaking, I have a very poor diet. From time to time I get to the point where I am convinced that I simply MUST start eating better so I commit myself to doing just that.
I have expectations that I will begin feeling better (more energy, etc.), but in reality, that never happens. Instead, I really, genuinely feel bad, awful in fact. Notwithstanding the fact that I really do NOT enjoy eating vegetables or fruit, I sincerely put forth an effort to consume them. I do not begrudge it. I am not negative about it. I do so with enthusiasm but ultimately I feel so bad, so awful (we're talking weeks here...not just a few days), that I abandon the idea and start eating the way I am used to, and begin to feel better IMMEDIATELY.
At first I believed that this was psychological but the last time I tried it I was very committed and really wanted to succeed more than anything, but I just can't handle feeling bad all the time. A person I work with told me that when you change your diet, there is an adjustment period where your body is throwing off toxins, but she told me that should pass in a week at the most. I never start feeling better. Finally, it's just not worth it, so I give up.
I visited with a lady once who told me that I should read the "Blood Type Diet" and it would show me that because my blood type is 0+ I need more meat than someone who has a different blood type. I am a strongly Yang person and truly I feel better when I eat a diet of yang type foods. I can eat a bushel of apples, oranges, salad, etc., and my hunger is never satisfied.
Does anyone else deal with this? I have not talked to anyone that I know who does not do well on a "healthy" diet, in fact everybody looks at me like I have two heads when I tell them I hate vegetables and fruit. I guess everybody else in the universe loves the stuff.
Any input is appreciated.
The blood type diet book was very, very helpful to me. Regardless of current popular trends defining "healthy", my body in practical fact thrives on beef. When finances prevent, I notice a physical decline and juggle money until I can afford some beef. My body could never, ever be vegan. Maybe vegetarian for short periods if there was plenty of cheese involved. That said, I do eat vegetables moderately every day. Carrots seem to go down well, and so do green beans. I'm not so much on fruit and since fruit and veg are in the same food group I mostly rely on the vegetables and a multivitamin for the micronutrients.
- fructose intollerance (not super common but it does seem to afflict some people but if so the apples would be a problem I think)
***
I had that for a while. Fructose metabolism is a function of the liver, and mine was so full of gallstones (unbenownst to me) that it couldn't do the job. Eating an apple made me feel physically drained and ill. Since I've cleaned out my liver I can eat an apple or two in a week without problems.
Part of the problem is that I have to be able to have it in the car and eat it while I am working. Beans and rice just won't work, unfortunately. It's got to be a sandwich or finger food of some kind. I can't stop working to eat. That is part of the problem. If I could stop and eat, I could have a salad every day or something a little better than chips and Red Bull. LOL
20yrsinBranson
Hmm, car eating. I remember doing that, and I did it badly because it didn't occur to me to plan ahead or to use a cooler. Well, sandwiches come to mind if your body tolerates bread. Or if it doesn't a wrap with lettuce as the wrap. Sliced or chopped meat or poultry, canned tuna, maybe a separate container with tomatoes, onions, pickles, whatever you like on sandwiches. Baby cut carrots or carrot sticks. Boiled eggs. Or devilled if it wouldn't be too messy. A cup of yogurt and a spoon.
Hmm, finger-food salad - I wonder could you roll salad things in small amounts up in small lettuce leaves and eat it like an eggroll?
Reader's suggestion of yogurt along with the previous smoothie recommendation would be my go-to car food... a yogurt based fresh fruit / veggie smoothie. One handed, and with the right cup it can be totally mess free.
Is there a way you could change one habit a month? So instead of skipping breakfast, grab a banana (or a fruit you like if you don't like bananas--I happen to love them).
After you're entrenched in that routine, you could plan a workaround for one of your fast food stops, or improve your choice (like Subway instead of Taco Bell). Chipotle is supposed to be quite healthy. Then maybe substitute raw carrots or nuts for the chips. This all can take place over the span of months.
The point being, it's hard to make wholesale change. Some people are "cold turkey" people--as for me, I'm a "lean in" person, who does best by making small changes over time, and I think a lot of others may be similar.
Gardenarian
12-3-13, 6:51pm
I used to eat really poorly (diet coke and cheetos were some of my staples :-) and when I started eating more healthy foods I found I got upset stomachs and just generally felt crummy. It took a long time for me to adjust to eating lots of fruit and vegetables.
I'd avoid anything gassy for a while (raw stuff, brassicas, beans) and concentrate on trying to eat more protein and fewer carbohydrates.
Hey Enota, can you try some good quality peanut butter or sesame butter with salty pretzels? And a piece of fresh fruit? There is an organic protein drink that tastes good (to me) and doesn't need refrigeration, it comes in individual meal-size bottles--you can order it online : Orgain. No more expensive than a fast food sandwich and a lot healthier--at least maybe try one? It is really hard to eat on the go, I feel for you. At least just try to fit in some fresh fruit every day.
shadowmoss
12-3-13, 9:46pm
Now that I think of it, I used to drink a slim fast for breakfast or as a snack. Kind of expensive if you drink a lot of them, but if you buy them at *Mart maybe not much more than a fountain drink. If you drink them because you are thirsty, though, they do seem way too small.
How about a green smoothie? Throw a handful of spinach or romaine in the blender with some fruit, an apple or banana, mango, strawberries, whatever. After blending put it in a water bottle and drink that instead of lunch. It's what got me started on the road to healthy eating, well that and the Alternate Day diet. The smoothie will stay cool for a few hours, longer if you add some ice to it.
Meat and cheese rollups? A variety of nuts? Hard-boiled eggs?
iris lilies
12-4-13, 10:38am
I honestly do not understand how eating Taco bell and Jimmy Johns in the car being easier than other foods.
Whenever I'm on a road trip and have a Subway sandwich, I wrap a towel around the front of my body because it's is freakin' messy. Glops of taco stuff fall out, too.
And if it comes to that, make your own burritos. They are EASY! Cook some meat, onions, mashed beans. Freeze in packets. Take one pack out, roll in burrito, and warm it in microwave with cheese (nor let it melt in the car, will be ready for lunch.)
Just trying to guesstimate for your description, I would say that eating more veggies and fruits might not be at the top of you priorities. I think the first thing I'd be wanting to do is a shift away from highly processed foods like macaroni salads, cookies, and breads to more low fat proteins. I know when I load up on carbs I just don't feel good. Then I'd be trying to find a breakfast that is quick, even if its just a protein shake or hard boiled eggs. And a half hour walk a few times a week. Then I'd be looking at fruits and veggies. At least that is what has worked for me in getting more energy and feeling better.
Thanks for clarifying your situation. Maybe you should start slowly: have a can of V8 with meals...Is there a reason you have to eat in your car? Does it have to be moving?
I take pictures of houses for lending institutions. I have a limited amount of time to get my work done, due to shorter winter hours of sunlight. I cannot stop to eat. I have to keep going and eat in between photos. It's not as bad in the summer when I have 10 - 12 hours of daylight but right now, I am under a lot of pressure to get my work done by the end of the daylight.
Just trying to guesstimate for your description, I would say that eating more veggies and fruits might not be at the top of you priorities. I think the first thing I'd be wanting to do is a shift away from highly processed foods like macaroni salads, cookies, and breads to more low fat proteins. I know when I load up on carbs I just don't feel good. Then I'd be trying to find a breakfast that is quick, even if its just a protein shake or hard boiled eggs. And a half hour walk a few times a week. Then I'd be looking at fruits and veggies. At least that is what has worked for me in getting more energy and feeling better.
I understand what you are saying. But as I mentioned in my first post, eating fruits and vegetables does not make me feel good and give me energy. It makes me feel terrible. From time to time I will get on a "healthy eating" kick and even after weeks I see no improvement and in fact, feel WORSE.
Hey Enota, can you try some good quality peanut butter or sesame butter with salty pretzels? And a piece of fresh fruit? There is an organic protein drink that tastes good (to me) and doesn't need refrigeration, it comes in individual meal-size bottles--you can order it online : Orgain. No more expensive than a fast food sandwich and a lot healthier--at least maybe try one? It is really hard to eat on the go, I feel for you. At least just try to fit in some fresh fruit every day.
I checked it out on the internet and it looks good, nutrition wise, but one of the reasons that I have never used meal replacement products is because they are always sweet. I can't abide eating sweet things when I am hungry. I am not much of a sweet eater anyway, but eating something sweet when I am hungry turns my stomach.
Hi Enota,
Are you much overweight? Do you ever get any kind of exercise? How is your sleep? Do you snore? Many times people with sleep apnea are very hungry for the types of stuff you eat.
May I ask what kind of work you do? Are you depressed?
I am about 50 pounds overweight. Once a week or so, I will do housework, which is the exercise I get.
I do not snore, I have asked my husband to monitor me when I sleep to see if I have any apnea and he said I did not.
I really do not enjoy food very much and never really have. What I choose to eat, other than for convenience sake, falls into the "least objectionable" category. I am definitely not depressed!
Can you possibly pack your own lunch that you can eat in the car? When's the last time you had your blood sugar level checked? Do you take any vitamins/supplements?
How about making a vegetable/fruit smoothie for a drink during the day? You can put a fair amount of spinach in a smoothie and not even taste it.
Carbs DO beget carbs. What I mean is, a diet high in carbs makes you crave them even more.
I could pack my lunch with no problem, but even when I do that, I tend to pack stuff that is probably not that good for me. I have not had my blood sugar tested because I don't go to doctors.
The reason I don't drink smoothies is because all of the recipes I have seen for them are sweet and I don't like sweet things, especially when I am hungry. I saw one recipe for a savory smoothy once, (it had avocado, tabasco, etc.,) and I did not like it.
It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Just try to slowly work in some veggies and fruit. How about hummus? You could eat a thin crust pizza with veggies in your car.
You could even pack several days lunches at a time and just keep them in the fridge. Can you be home for dinner? Even if you can't/don't want to cook, there are some healthier frozen options you could keep in your freezer and just heat up when you get home.
How many hours a week do you work? Do you live alone?
I have two jobs. All together I work about 70 hours a week. I am married, but my husband works about 80 hours a week.We have a business which requires a lot of both of our time, and I have a second job in addition to that.
Sorry for all the questions.....but they are important in getting a better understanding of your problem.
Thanks for taking the chance with us, and being so open. :)
It's been a big problem for me for quite a while. I would like very much to get healthier. In the past I have talked with people and they tell me.. 'You're just going to have to change your schedule". They don't understand that I do not have the luxury of doing that. As far as eating better, the times I have tried have not been successful for me. I try to force myself to eat healthier things now and then, but I do not feel any benefit from it and it really does not seem to be worth the effort. I suppose if I felt better then I would be more motivated to continue the practice.
Haven't read the whole thread so sorry if I'm repeating. One thing that comes to mind is abrupt changes. They are almost never good or easy. Can you add healthier foods in a little at a time to allow your body to get used to more fiber and other goodies? Things like eating an apple or banana as you're driving around are easy. Not talking about replacing anything, just adding a little in and, if you happen to feel less hungry when you're in the drive-thru then so much the better. Healthy or not your body is used to running on what you're giving it. Give yourself a chance to adjust slowly and it might work out better.
Haven't read the whole thread so sorry if I'm repeating. One thing that comes to mind is abrupt changes. They are almost never good or easy. Can you add healthier foods in a little at a time to allow your body to get used to more fiber and other goodies? Things like eating an apple or banana as you're driving around are easy. Not talking about replacing anything, just adding a little in and, if you happen to feel less hungry when you're in the drive-thru then so much the better. Healthy or not your body is used to running on what you're giving it. Give yourself a chance to adjust slowly and it might work out better.
That sounds like great advice Gregg. My thanks to you and the others who have contributed to this thread. I've gotten lots of good ideas and advice and I will pursue this further. Thanks all!
The Inuits, Dr. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, and a fellow named Bear all thrived on a diet of meat and fat. http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2009/09/two-brave-men-who-ate-nothing-but-meat.html , http://diagnosisdiet.com/all-meat-diets/
Their diet is a little extreme (but no more so than veganism, for example), and you would probably want to supplement and eat organ meats on a regular basis.
The reason you're feel like you're starving to death when you eat nothing but fruits and vegetables is that they're carbohydrates that cause you to secrete more and more insulin--the hunger hormone--and causes your blood sugar to go up and down like a roller coaster. Also, you will eat until you get enough protein (like the Mormon crickets)--which in the case of someone eating nothing but carbohydrates, could be quite a task. I think there is something to be said for genotype-specific diets, but I don't agree with D'adamo's simplistic approach. If I were you, I'd eat whole foods, make sure you get enough protein and natural fats, and experiment. Some people thrive on more vegetables, some have food sensitivities--you get the drift.I agree here with Jane. I'm a vegan who eats a mostly raw foods diet (hate to cook!!) but include large amounts of both non-animal proteins and fats. Sounds like you (Enota) aren't getting enough protein and fat and, as Jane pointed out, the high carb and sugar (mostly bad-for-you fructose in fruits) will make you feel ill with the highs and lows in your blood sugar. What I do is always eat some fat (often a lot) and protein with any carb or sugar food. Helps regulate the blood sugar and insulin and makes you feel full and satistfied much longer. Also, you may just be getting too few calories per meal. Fruits and veggies are mostly water and have few calories compared to other foods. So if your diet is made up most of that you are probably calorie deprived. Adding protein and fat (animal or non-animal based) will add a lot more healthy calories and make you feel better too.
Part of the problem is that I have to be able to have it in the car and eat it while I am working. Beans and rice just won't work, unfortunately. It's got to be a sandwich or finger food of some kind. I can't stop working to eat. That is part of the problem. If I could stop and eat, I could have a salad every day or something a little better than chips and Red Bull. LOL
20yrsinBransonEat an apple and a few things of string cheese. Eat a banana and put some peanut butter on top of it. Have a pack of raw nuts and some dried fruit on top of a fast food salad (every place has one). Make a healthy sandwich (veggies and some kind of protein & fat on whole grain bread) and take it with you. The list goes on and on. I eat on the run almost everyday. Lots of easy healthy options that don't have to be cooked, prepared or refrigerated (or carry a small cooler in your car like I do because I like my water (what I usually drink) fruit and veggies cold). Lots of options for healthy eating you can do in your car with no hassle or mess.
Miss Cellane
12-7-13, 12:18pm
enota, three thoughts.
1. Rethink what a "healthy" diet is. I'm noticing more and more that people are jumping on the "gluten is evil" bandwagon. Now, for some people, gluten is bad. I'm not arguing that. But I'm seeing a lot of "eat healthy" articles that make the assumption that everyone needs to avoid gluten all the time, which isn't, so far as my research has gone, true.
So part of eating healthy, IMO, is figuring out what healthy means for *you*. Avoid the latest fads in eating healthy and experiment to find the balance of meat/fruit/vegetables/starches that works best for you.
For example, I've tried being a vegetarian twice, for a total of 7 years. Both times I ended up very anemic, despite my best efforts at eating iron-rich foods and despite taking huge amounts of supplements. I've worked out that while vegetarianism works really well for other people, it does not work well for me. Eating two servings of poultry or fish and two-three servings of beef each week keeps me healthy. So I still have vegetarian meals and vegetarian days, but I also have enough energy to get through the day.
2. Instead of making big changes to what you eat now, think about small replacements. Water or iced tea for one soda a day. If you have a smart phone, get an app that will let you see if there are any healthy fast food choices on your route for the day. If not, make a sandwich to take with you. Pack one healthy snack per day. Little changes over a long time may last, and will give you the chance to see what works and what doesn't work for your body.
3. Not all fruits are sweet. Tomatoes and avocados are two fruits that frequently get a "savory" treatment. One of my favorite breakfasts/snacks is half an avocado smooshed onto a good piece of toast/english muffin, drizzled with a bit of olive oil and sprinkled with salt. So consider non-traditional ways to get a bit of fruit into your diet.
"So part of eating healthy, IMO, is figuring out what healthy means for *you*. Avoid the latest fads in eating healthy and experiment to find the balance of meat/fruit/vegetables/starches that works best for you."
I pretty much agree with this, but I think it's useful to consider what appear to be fads. I suspect there's something to wheat (and to a lesser extent other grains) being a problem for a significant part of the population. But do experiment; every body has its own sweet spot.
"So part of eating healthy, IMO, is figuring out what healthy means for *you*. Avoid the latest fads in eating healthy and experiment to find the balance of meat/fruit/vegetables/starches that works best for you."
I pretty much agree with this, but I think it's useful to consider what appear to be fads. I suspect there's something to wheat (and to a lesser extent other grains) being a problem for a significant part of the population. But do experiment; every body has its own sweet spot.
Not to run too far afield of the topic at hand, I just want to throw out there that I am convinced that this "gluten sensitivity" issue is due 100 percent to genetically modified wheat. Humanity has been eating wheat for (literally) THOUSANDS of years and up until the last 30 or so, had no issues whatsoever utilizing the gluten found in these products. Genetically modified foods are NOT recognized as food by our body and rejects the foreign substance as though it were poison. Just my two cents.
Lots of good advice, everybody. Thanks
...I am convinced that this "gluten sensitivity" issue is due 100 percent to genetically modified wheat. Humanity has been eating wheat for (literally) THOUSANDS of years and up until the last 30 or so, had no issues whatsoever utilizing the gluten found in these products. Genetically modified foods are NOT recognized as food by our body and rejects the foreign substance as though it were poison. Just my two cents.
I agree, and think the same of high fructose corn syrup, even though cane sugar is not much better, it's amazing to me the ubiquity of this engineered sweetness after having just been invented thirty years ago, and I truly think it's not compatible with our metabolism.
ApatheticNoMore
12-7-13, 8:36pm
Not to run too far afield of the topic at hand, I just want to throw out there that I am convinced that this "gluten sensitivity" issue is due 100 percent to genetically modified wheat.
However officially no GMO wheat is grown anywhere in the world. Officially?
Well ... even though GMO wheat is commercially grown nowhere (there's no white market for Monsanto et al GMO seeds for wheat anywhere), GMO wheat has been grown on test farms. It is possible some escaped as traces of GMO wheat have been found. Some found is a long way from "GMO wheat is widespread enough to be causing problems", while possible (since some GMO wheat escaped), it's definitely nothing I'm 100% convinced of. It's not openly GMO like corn is.
"Also, nobody knows how widely this genetically engineered wheat has spread, and whether it's been in fields of wheat that were harvested for food."
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/30/187103955/gmo-wheat-found-in-oregon-field-howd-it-get-there
GMO wheat not officially grown anywhere:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_wheat
It is true that breeding and other techniques to manipulate wheat might still be problematic (increasing gluten content via such measures for instance). But it is not GMO.
However officially no GMO wheat is grown anywhere in the world. ...
It is true that breeding and other techniques to manipulate wheat might still be problematic (increasing gluten content via such measures for instance). But it is not GMO.
Increased gluten content is one problem, but gliadin is another.
However officially no GMO wheat is grown anywhere in the world. Officially?
Well ... even though GMO wheat is commercially grown nowhere (there's no white market for Monsanto et al GMO seeds for wheat anywhere), GMO wheat has been grown on test farms. It is possible some escaped as traces of GMO wheat have been found. Some found is a long way from "GMO wheat is widespread enough to be causing problems", while possible (since some GMO wheat escaped), it's definitely nothing I'm 100% convinced of. It's not openly GMO like corn is.
"Also, nobody knows how widely this genetically engineered wheat has spread, and whether it's been in fields of wheat that were harvested for food."
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/30/187103955/gmo-wheat-found-in-oregon-field-howd-it-get-there
GMO wheat not officially grown anywhere:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_wheat
It is true that breeding and other techniques to manipulate wheat might still be problematic (increasing gluten content via such measures for instance). But it is not GMO.
Perhaps our wheat is not "genetically modified" in the same way as the Roundup Ready(r) soybeans, corn, alfalfa, beets, etc. ad nauseum, but it is HAS been altered through selective breeding to the point where it no longer resembles, on a genetic level, the wheat of 100 years ago. Here is a quote from an online article....
"The wheat we consume today is drastically different from the wheat that our ancestors, even our grandparents ate. Einkorn wheat, the first wheat cultivated, has only 14 chromosomes (those little packets of genetic information that determine, among other things, the specific constituents that will make up the final organism). The wheat that we consume today has 42 chromosomes and is, therefore, much more genetically and chemically complex." (from: What’s the Deal with Wheat?by DR. SANDRO (http://www.fourriversclinic.com/author/sandronmd/) on JANUARY 30, 2013
(the full text is available here: http://www.fourriversclinic.com/2013/01/whats-the-deal-with-wheat (http://www.fourriversclinic.com/2013/01/whats-the-deal-with-wheat/))
Sorry for the weird "cut and paste" formatting.
I find it fascinating that gluten can be such a western "problem" food and in Asian cultures a protein replacement. They actually wash the wheat to remove starch and the the remaining gluten is used as an ingredient.
I find it fascinating that gluten can be such a western "problem" food and in Asian cultures a protein replacement. They actually wash the wheat to remove starch and the the remaining gluten is used as an ingredient.
There are a lot of variables: the variety of wheat. how often it is eaten, what shape the eater's gut is in...If your gut is in good shape, the foreign proteins in wheat presumably just pass through. If it's damaged, they escape into the blood stream, as I understand it. Regardless, there's no harm in experimenting by giving up wheat--for some people (with IBS, Crohn's disease, various autoimmune disorders, undiagnosed celiac--and the generally wheat-sensitive...) it can be life-changing.
(I've done the wheat-washing to make seitan, back in the day--took a class. Hilarious memories.)
sweetana3
12-8-13, 11:25am
I absolutely agree that each person should really study their own body and its needs. No article or book is as good as a careful analysis of what you put into your body and what it does to your own unique body and its makeup.
I often advise that if an illness is present to write a diary of symptoms, eating, sleeping, emotional attitude, and overall feelings to help identify potential issues and perhaps causes of illness.
We have to be our own advocate. When I think of how little info we really give medical professionals, it is amazing they can diagnose anything.
iris lilies
12-8-13, 12:24pm
Perhaps our wheat is not "genetically modified" in the same way as the Roundup Ready(r) soybeans, corn, alfalfa, beets, etc. ad nauseum, but it is HAS been altered through selective breeding to the point where it no longer resembles, on a genetic level, the wheat of 100 years ago. Here is a quote from an online article....
"The wheat we consume today is drastically different from the wheat that our ancestors, even our grandparents ate. Einkorn wheat, the first wheat cultivated, has only 14 chromosomes (those little packets of genetic information that determine, among other things, the specific constituents that will make up the final organism). The wheat that we consume today has 42 chromosomes and is, therefore, much more genetically and chemically complex." (from: What’s the Deal with Wheat?by DR. SANDRO (http://www.fourriversclinic.com/author/sandronmd/) on JANUARY 30, 2013
(the full text is available here: http://www.fourriversclinic.com/2013/01/whats-the-deal-with-wheat (http://www.fourriversclinic.com/2013/01/whats-the-deal-with-wheat/))
Sorry for the weird "cut and paste" formatting.
I don't know what that quote proves other than the wheat we eat is hybridized.
This is true for all agricultural and horticultural crops. Hybridizers develop a plant for improved (fill in the blank.) And while it's certainly true that the one characteristic is improved and others are possibly made less, that doesn't mean that each successive generation is bad.
If I were stuck with a fixed number of cultivars in iris 'n lilies, what a boring place my garden would be. Everyone who is a serious plant enthusiast plays around with hybridization, they aren't Dr. Frankenstien, they are attempting to improve on a cultivar.
...
If I were stuck with a fixed number of cultivars in iris 'n lilies, what a boring place my garden would be. Everyone who is a serious plant enthusiast plays around with hybridization, they aren't Dr. Frankenstien, they are attempting to improve on a cultivar.
My sister used to celebrate Luther Burbank's (famous horticulturist) birthday. Then I discovered we had a common ancestor. Which has nothing whatever to do with anything. There's nothing wrong with hybridization itself.
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