Any suggestions please

margaretclare

Aliss08 wrote: »

Thank you for your replies girls. I did wonder if it might be carb related (there seems to be a lot of talk about this at present). However I really enjoy fruit and veg. and ideally don't want to cut these out if I can avoid it plus they are good for your digestive system which is something I need with an underactive thyroid (sorry if TMI). I will try the bread, thanks for the suggestion. Do you know roughly how many carbs there are in a normal slice of wholemeal bread?
Elle - I haven't counted calories but again something to look at. Evening meals are along the lines of chicken stir-fry with rice, shepherd's pie, spag. bol. or an omelette with a salad.

One slice of Hovis medium-sliced wholemeal bread: 92 calories according to https://www.weightlossresources.co.uk

I used to think I was doing well by having muesli-type breakfasts or muesli bars as a snack. These contain a lot of sugar and are not good news.

I find nowadays I need some protein to start the day, therefore I've junked all so-called breakfast cereals in favour of some protein. Something simple like a boiled egg with a slice of wholemeal toast, a one-egg omelette with a slice of low-fat Leerdammer cheese, grilled bacon and tomato.

Re 'middle-aged spread'. This is meant to highlight the fact that as we get older we lead less energetic lives and therefore need less of the energy-giving carbs. Quality rather than quantity becomes more and more important as time goes on. Food should be 'nutrient-dense' rather than giving a quick energy boost which we needed when e.g. we were running around after toddlers.

Also, exercise is important but not necessarily joining a gym. Walking is one of the best exercises of all because it uses the biggest muscles in the body, those in the legs and bottom, and these big muscles burn most calories.

Most of the evening meals you've mentioned contain a lot of carbs - the rice, the spaghetti, potato in shepherd's pie. Yes, green veg are good, but don't count potatoes as a vegetable. They're carbs, especially if you peel them thereby destroying the vitamins just under the skin. And even more so if e.g. you mash them with milk and butter, fry them, do anything like that. Me, I've cut out all potatoes in any shape or form. My distant ancestors didn't know about them, and they all managed to live active and busy lives! As far as fruit is concerned, some fruits contain huge amounts of sugar e.g. bananas. I no longer eat bananas but again, I grew up not knowing they existed, so no hardship really.