23 overweight and struggling a bit!

Fire_Fox

euronorris wrote: »

Thanks FireFox - I will certainly be trying to put my own museli mix together

I have been trying to get OH out and about, but it's difficult. I did manage to get him to come to the coast with me on Saturday, and we had a 2 hour long walk along the promenade in the sunshine (we were really lucky, it was raining on and off with thunderstorms in our home town which is only 5 mins away by train). He told me after that he really enjoyed it, and was the first time in ages where he didn't think about work for the entire time.

Other than seeing the company doctor on Tuesday, today is the first time he has been out. So I'm glad he's doing it alone, off his own back. And he has his first appt with the therapist on Tuesday to talk through it all. Plus, as the weather will be good again this weekend, we are going to the coast again and taking the frisbee this time, to play with on the beach.

There's no way he will take meds. He's very against them and has told me that on more than one occasion.

As for meals - he's doing mostly OK. Though I know he doesn't always eat lunch if I'm not there, I keep telling him too and that he needs to. He's gradually getting better with it (it comes from laziness, and nothing more) - if he could just stick something in the microwave, he'd never miss a meal! lol

Thanks for the advice

If your husband is against medication then IMO the way to recovery is lifestyle modification. I promise from personal exeperience, a body of research and from professional experience a low glycaemic index, nutritious diet and physical activity are VERY effective. Exercise is twofold, triggering release of happy hormones and distraction as you identified. Sunlight works even on a dull day, just look up not down. Stopping indoors he is at risk of stress turning into clinical depression, the two are very closely related.

How would he respond to a pedometer challenge or a fruit and veg challenge with you as his worthy opponent? Whoever does the most steps in the week or eats the most fruit and veg gets a big treat from the other, either a day out or something 'naughty' or whatever you want. Lunch doesn't have to be a meal as such, he can graze on nuts, seeds, dried fruit, cheeses, fresh fruit, yoghurt and suchlike. There are plenty of 'shove it in the microwave/ toaster' healthy options - baked beans and grated half fat cheese, canned pilchards in tomato sauce on granary toast for example. Either one of those you can add part of a jar of Loyd Grossman chargrilled vegetable pasta sauce for extra veg without extra effort. Otherwise maybe cook a larger evening meals so there are leftovers to reheat.

Edwardia

Breakfast: Yeo Valley organic natural probiotic yogurt with organic English strawberries sliced in.

Lunch: Two organic English lamb chops with a teaspoon of organic mint sauce and a heap of chopped salad * with a dessertspoon of organic mayonnaise.

* Chopped salad comprised of spring onions, celery, cucumber, courgette, carrot, red and green bell peppers, cherry and Heirloom tomatoes, Lye Cross Farm mild Cheddar (all organic) plus radishes and additive free Negroni prosciutto di Parma

Dinner: Wild Alaskan salmon fillet, oven baked with sliced organic lemons, pitted organic Kalamata black olives, freshly ground black pepper and dried Herbes de Provence. Organic petits pois, organic sliced runner beans.

What's difficult to stick to about that ?

euronorris

Fire_Fox wrote: »

If your husband is against medication then IMO the way to recovery is lifestyle modification. I promise from personal exeperience, a body of research and from professional experience a low glycaemic index, nutritious diet and physical activity are VERY effective. Exercise is twofold, triggering release of happy hormones and distraction as you identified. Sunlight works even on a dull day, just look up not down. Stopping indoors he is at risk of stress turning into clinical depression, the two are very closely related.

I know. Which is why I insisted he come out, and continues to go out more and more. It doesn't sound like much, but what he's achieved so far this week is far more than the last month or so! Having had the positive experience of the walk, he seems more motivated and happy to keep going.

How would he respond to a pedometer challenge or a fruit and veg challenge with you as his worthy opponent? Whoever does the most steps in the week or eats the most fruit and veg gets a big treat from the other, either a day out or something 'naughty' or whatever you want. Lunch doesn't have to be a meal as such, he can graze on nuts, seeds, dried fruit, cheeses, fresh fruit, yoghurt and suchlike. There are plenty of 'shove it in the microwave/ toaster' healthy options - baked beans and grated half fat cheese, canned pilchards in tomato sauce on granary toast for example. Either one of those you can add part of a jar of Loyd Grossman chargrilled vegetable pasta sauce for extra veg without extra effort. Otherwise maybe cook a larger evening meals so there are leftovers to reheat.

Mmmmm, challenging him with the promise of a naughty treat might work actually. Contrary to most people, his libido seems to increase when stressed, so that might be a good motivating tool! :rotfl:He's been very good with regards to eating more healthily and has embraced the change in meals that I've brought about.

I need to do some batch cooking, that's for sure. I just find it difficult to find the time sometimes as I usually just want to rest and do fun things at the weekend. lol

He's just me again to say he's enjoying the sunshine He also got some sweet potatoes, baby onions, almond and herbs (not sure what they're for - we have loads already) and an organic beef sausage (?). Don't know what that will be like! lol

His big weakness is chocolate. So rather than have him cut back too drastically at first, I've been steering him towards dark chocolate instead (still cut down on the amount).

I know that all you've described works because I've been there myself, and had to get myself back on track too. And he knows that too, and the GP reiterated it. The plus side is that he's seen me turn things around that way, so he knows it can work.

Fire_Fox

Edwardia wrote: »

Breakfast: Yeo Valley organic natural probiotic yogurt with organic English strawberries sliced in.

Lunch: Two organic English lamb chops with a teaspoon of organic mint sauce and a heap of chopped salad * with a dessertspoon of organic mayonnaise.

* Chopped salad comprised of spring onions, celery, cucumber, courgette, carrot, red and green bell peppers, cherry and Heirloom tomatoes, Lye Cross Farm mild Cheddar (all organic) plus radishes and additive free Negroni prosciutto di Parma

Dinner: Wild Alaskan salmon fillet, oven baked with sliced organic lemons, pitted organic Kalamata black olives, freshly ground black pepper and dried Herbes de Provence. Organic petits pois, organic sliced runner beans.

What's difficult to stick to about that ?

Many people can't cook at lunchtime and many dislike greens. It's also quite pricey. Why so much green BTW? Should be a balance of red, yellow, orange, blue/ purple and green produce for the antioxidant phytonutrients. Not sure if you have enough healthy fats given that is low-ish carb. I only see two portions of dairy, assuming your cheese is 30g, or do you eat the bones in the fish?

Fire_Fox

euronorris wrote: »

Mmmmm, challenging him with the promise of a naughty treat might work actually. Contrary to most people, his libido seems to increase when stressed, so that might be a good motivating tool! :rotfl:He's been very good with regards to eating more healthily and has embraced the change in meals that I've brought about.

I need to do some batch cooking, that's for sure. I just find it difficult to find the time sometimes as I usually just want to rest and do fun things at the weekend. lol

He's just me again to say he's enjoying the sunshine He also got some sweet potatoes, baby onions, almond and herbs (not sure what they're for - we have loads already) and an organic beef sausage (?). Don't know what that will be like! lol

His big weakness is chocolate. So rather than have him cut back too drastically at first, I've been steering him towards dark chocolate instead (still cut down on the amount).

I know that all you've described works because I've been there myself, and had to get myself back on track too. And he knows that too, and the GP reiterated it. The plus side is that he's seen me turn things around that way, so he knows it can work.

So pleased he is appreciating the sunshine, that must be a relief for you. :A Dinner sounds healthy and delicious! It's not so strange to increase the libido, naughtiness triggers endorphins so it can be a form of self-medicating - much better for both of you than him hitting the booze!

Do you have a slow cooker? Under a tenner and amazing for soups, stews, bolognese sauce or chilli con carne: I can chuck a meal together in under five minutes (yes I timed it!). Obviously meat and onions are slightly nicer fried off first but it doesn't make that much difference if you marinade the meat in wine and/ or use a lot of herbs and spices for flavour.

euronorris

Yeah, I have one. I've just been a bit lax in using it lately.

Yeah, it is a relief! Thankfully, we rarely drink and he doesn't like it all that much. He started avoiding it after he found himself relying on it quite heavily during the break up from his ex, which coincided with work stress (again - I don't like his company and would actually rather that he left) and a family feud. Luckily, he was self aware enough to spot it and put a stop to it.

Edwardia

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Many people can't cook at lunchtime and many dislike greens. It's also quite pricey. Why so much green BTW? Should be a balance of red, yellow, orange, blue/ purple and green produce for the antioxidant phytonutrients. Not sure if you have enough healthy fats given that is low-ish carb. I only see two portions of dairy, assuming your cheese is 30g, or do you eat the bones in the fish?

OH has week off atm. Ran out of eggs yesterday and getting low on dairy and fruit & veg so will be shopping early tomorrow. Er not the pinbones, no. Do sometimes have milk in organic tea/unsweetened pure cocoa.

Fats n oils.. have organic unfiltered Extra Virgin olive oil, gusto frittato olive oil, coconut oil, walnut oil, cobnut oil, mustard oil, sesame oil plus unsalted organic butter, pure butter ghee without ethyl butyrate, beef dripping, lard, duck fat, goose fat.

Dairy - when fully stocked fridge- butter as above, semi-skimmed organic milk, organic probiotic natural yogurt, creme fraiche, Polish additive free kefir, clotted cream, double cream, Brie, Camembert, Cheddars, Mozzarella, Feta, goat's cheese, Red Leicester, Wensleydale, Double Gloucester (all organic if poss).

daska

PollyOnAMission wrote: »

I guess it depends if your priority is to lose a lot of weight more quickly, or to be more healthy overall (including weightloss). Depending on how overweight you are, it might be that substantial weightloss quickly would be the most beneficial thing to your health. Chances are you may well be able to do this more quickly on a low carb diet. But what about after that? Stay on Atkins forever? Personally I'd be extremely concerned about the long term impact on my health, especially as there is a history of heart disease and inherited high cholesterol in my family. I've said all along that very low carb diets often give quick weightloss results; my concern is their sustainability and long term health impacts.

The difficulty of sustaining a very low carb diet is demonstrated in that study you cite: the participants found the very low level of carb intake difficult to stick to and ended up increasing it away from the guidelines (essentially no longer following the Atkins diet). They were also the group with the biggest re-gain of weight between six months and a year. This to me suggests it might well help you lose a fair amount of weight quickly, but after a while it will be bloody hard to stick to and your weight will go back up. It doesn't appear to be a sustainable solution for the long term.

I would rather eat a fresh, homecooked diet based largely on vegetables and pulses with fruits to a lesser extent, some wholegrains (but not loads), nuts/seeds and proteins with a good amount of oily and other fish, lean white meat and not too much red meat. That way I can feel more confident that my body is getting the nutrients it requires without the concerns of the long term effects of high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol. I've eaten this way most of my adult life and I certainly feel it has been beneficial to me (health assessments back this up). If I'd gotten to the point where my weight was compromising my health more than an imbalance of nutrients/fats would, I would perhaps consider trying a very low carb diet to kick start the weight loss. However I doubt I could stick to it long term, nor would I want to for health reasons.

I'm not quite sure what your :rotfl: are in aid of

I was laughing at two things

1. the notion that Atkins is unhealthy when more and more studies are showing that low carb eating improves blood chemistry. On Atkins you eat a moderate amount of protein, the fat that comes with it naturally, other good fats and plenty of veg.

2. the notion that it's hard to stick to

the only imbalance I see is the fixed belief that we 'need' grains and 'ought' to eat them. Why? What can you get from grains that you can't get more effectively from other sources without mucking up your blood sugars?

2 months ago the GP was warning dad that he needed to go back on statins, eat more benecol and cut out all cheese - dad is vegetarian. Dad refused the statins as he'd been on them previously and had nasty side-effects. This week the GP was praising him on the massive improvements in his blood chemistry - a good improvement on the cholesterol and a huge (nearly 90%) improvement on triglycerides - and assumed that this was what dad had done but was still amazed at the difference. Then dad told him he'd ditched the benecol, been eating low carb and increased the cheese...

And I think you're missing the point. Very few people stayed strictly on any of the diets in that study, but the Atkins ones still had the best results and they did not point to long term damage.

Personally I don't do Atkins because I have never been able to cope with the artificial sweeteners and other processed foods that so often form a part of it. But I do low-carb because my blood sugars are high; the weight loss is a pleasant side effect rather than the raison d'etre. I eat real food, plenty of green leaves, liver, eggs, fats, meat, berries, dairy. Apart from the fact that I'm still disabled I've never felt better.

Fire_Fox

Edwardia wrote: »

OH has week off atm. Ran out of eggs yesterday and getting low on dairy and fruit & veg so will be shopping early tomorrow. Er not the pinbones, no. Do sometimes have milk in organic tea/unsweetened pure cocoa.

Fats n oils.. have organic unfiltered Extra Virgin olive oil, gusto frittato olive oil, coconut oil, walnut oil, cobnut oil, mustard oil, sesame oil plus unsalted organic butter, pure butter ghee without ethyl butyrate, beef dripping, lard, duck fat, goose fat.

Dairy - when fully stocked fridge- butter as above, semi-skimmed organic milk, organic probiotic natural yogurt, creme fraiche, Polish additive free kefir, clotted cream, double cream, Brie, Camembert, Cheddars, Mozzarella, Feta, goat's cheese, Red Leicester, Wensleydale, Double Gloucester (all organic if poss).

I was commenting on the imbalances in your sample day diet, as stated it looks too heavy on the green vegetables and too light on the healthy fats. Green and red veg, animal protein and animal fat is not a varied, balanced diet IMO. It also looks low on minerals.

As a separate issue I don't see the logic in consuming dairy extracts and processed/ extracted fats most of which must surely have entered the human diet well after we mastered fire and started eating small amounts of cooked grains and cooked pulses.

Edwardia

I posted a menu to show that it's not that difficult to eat lower carb food which isn't bread, pasta, doughnuts, cereal etc and that it's not torture and doesn't mean eating Atkins bars.

I have T2DM and in two years eating this way my HbA1c went from 13% to 5.5%, my cholesterol is now excellent, LFT normal etc. Since going organic the retinopathy I was diagnosed with in Spring has started to improve and my consultant told me to keep on doing what I'm doing.

I don't believe that anyone's diet is ever perfect, because not only do humans have that self sabotage thing going on (I confess to 2 x 3.5g carbs Heinz organic biscotti today) the advice changes all the time. Eggs spent decades in the nutritional wilderness now suddenly they are OK to eat.

My diet is limited by what I can eat without spiking my BG and by the availability of organic food in my area. The first I can't change, the second I'm working on all the time.

Dairy isn't paleolithic but neither are lentils, wheat and soya. I can eat dairy, I can't eat grains, legumes, pulses, however wholegrain wholemeal unrefined and organic.

I do still feel that anyone wanting to lose weight without the anorexia inducing-calorie counting and processed Weight Watchers stuff would be doing themselves a huge favour if they ditched the processed stuff. For some people that may be all they need to do, just change the eating habits and stick to the new way of eating.