5:2 diet

~Chameleon~

Just_a_Girl wrote: »

But this is the problem - everyone's opinion is different about what is classed as healthy. To me, healthy food is natural, non-toxic foods with the most nutrients so red meat, liver, eggs, full fat dairy, salmon, coconut, berries and vegetables.

My work colleague classes anything low calorie as healthy

True but people can't go far wrong by cutting out junk food, processed food, refined carbohydrates such as white bread/rice/pasta and sugary drinks.

Nobody will ever agree on the perfect diet because it simply doesn't exist. One size does not fit all but things such as "low-fat" and "counting calories" are so deeply ingrained in many people who have quite simply been brain-washed by the government and food industry.

Whilst a growing number are starting to realise the truth and more studies and research is being done to provide the scientific data behind the theories, it's going to take a long, long time before it becomes widely accepted. It's taken just 27 years to create an obesity epidemic but, sadly, it's going to take many times more than that to solve it again.

euronorris

The problem with the term 'healthy food' is also that some people will consider anything healthy, if it has just one healthy ingredient in it. So they'll consider a processed chicken and veg pie as healthy, because it has chicken and veg in it. They don't always consider the calorie content, fat content, salt content or additives etc. Heck, the so called chicken content can be extremely low too. I remember buying a chiken & veg pie for the OH about 6 months ago. It wasn't until I got home and looked at the ingredients list that I saw there was only a 7% chicken content!!! He was convinced it was full of chicken because of the flavour (artificially added). When I looked inside the pie, there were just a few small strands of chicken, no chunks, just strands. As though someone had used a cheese grater on a peice of chicken. Ridiculous.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are very reluctant to give up processed foods and get quite defensive if you try to point out the benefits of switching to home cooked meals, as well as the dangers of processed goods. They just aren't ready to hear it yet.

Like Chameleon said, it's going to take a long time to turn this around. I know it took me a long time to realise just how bad the processed stuff is, and a while longer to address it.

~Chameleon~

euronorris wrote: »

Like Chameleon said, it's going to take a long time to turn this around. I know it took me a long time to realise just how bad the processed stuff is, and a while longer to address it.

Same here! Even now, I automatically reach for the low-fat/fat-free dairy options in the supermarket before realising it's actually OK to have the full fat versions and they're actually better for you in the long run as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

I sometimes find all the conflicting advice overwhelming and I'd like to think I'm extremely knowledgeable about food/diet so I can't begin to imagine how the average person feels. It's no wonder they shut their eyes & ears to the advice and retreat into their comfort zones

KxMx

Not going great with the 8/16 fasting diet. Feel very lethargic in the mornings, and today knowing I can't eat for 3 hours is a bit depressing. Very, very hungry as soon as I wake up. I'm not one to run for the biscuit tin the minute I get hungry, I know hunger is ok and have a glass of water, wait half an hour before eating etc, but it is quite bad.

I don't want to give up, so if my body isn't a bit more well adjusted in a few days I will tinker with it a bit, was thinking of doing 9/15 or 10/14 instead.

I can't improve a great deal on what i'm eating either due to gastro issues. Things such as nuts and wholemeal are a no-go area!

euronorris

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Same here! Even now, I automatically reach for the low-fat/fat-free dairy options in the supermarket before realising it's actually OK to have the full fat versions and they're actually better for you in the long run as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

I sometimes find all the conflicting advice overwhelming and I'd like to think I'm extremely knowledgeable about food/diet so I can't begin to imagine how the average person feels. It's no wonder they shut their eyes & ears to the advice and retreat into their comfort zones

Oh I cannot tell you how many people have lambasted me for choosing the full fat option, and using butter (rather than marg or a low fat spread). 'You'll undo all your hard work if you start eating that!' is the usual line, and my response is 'I don't think so. I've been eating like this the whole time. The diet stuff is not good for you!', and then they scoff at the idea that the natural version (ie real butter) is better for you than the low fat version.

Trying to insist that processed foods are bad for you, when they have these stickers on them saying the calorie or fat content is low, or that it's even one of your five a day, is like talking to a brick wall. The label says it's healthy, so it must be true!

Everyone has to get there on their own I guess, and only when they're ready. Frustrating though!

~Chameleon~

KxMx wrote: »

Not going great with the 8/16 fasting diet. Feel very lethargic in the mornings, and today knowing I can't eat for 3 hours is a bit depressing. Very, very hungry as soon as I wake up. I'm not one to run for the biscuit tin the minute I get hungry, I know hunger is ok and have a glass of water, wait half an hour before eating etc, but it is quite bad.

I don't want to give up, so if my body isn't a bit more well adjusted in a few days I will tinker with it a bit, was thinking of doing 9/15 or 10/14 instead.

I can't improve a great deal on what i'm eating either due to gastro issues. Things such as nuts and wholemeal are a no-go area!

What are you currently eating when you do eat? List a typical day's food. It could be that you're simply not eating enough of the right food, hence why you wake up feeling hungry. What times are you "fasting" to/from?

euronorris

Oh, and I've lost track of how many times I've heard 'I'm too busy/tired/stressed to cut back on sugar. I NEED it to get me through the day.'. I try to point out that after a few days, things will settle down again and they won't need it like that, but no one seems to want to endure those first few days.

KxMx

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

What are you currently eating when you do eat? List a typical day's food. It could be that you're simply not eating enough of the right food, hence why you wake up feeling hungry. What times are you "fasting" to/from?

Sorry i'm not willing to have what I eat picked over. I've already stated due to gastro issues I cannot make major changes or start eating new foods, you'll have to take my word for it.

If anyone would like to give me an idea of what the right foods are, i'd be grateful. As I said I can't tolerate nuts or any kind of brown/wholemeal bread.

I can (and do) however eat lots of fruit and veg, yesterday I had tomato, lettuce, grapes, strawberries, blackberries (off my plant so organic!) and raw carrots. Typically I will have peas, sweetcorn or green beans with my evening meal- yesterday evening it was raw carrot with rice.

I'm fasting from 10pm to 2pm next day. I could change it so I can eat sooner the next day, but late night snacking is one of my biggest problems so I don't want to have an excuse to start again!

~Chameleon~

KxMx wrote: »

Sorry i'm not willing to have what I eat picked over. I've already stated due to gastro issues I cannot make major changes or start eating new foods, you'll have to take my word for it.

Your choice, I was just going to see if I could pinpoint what might be going wrong.

KxMx

If you have any suggestions though of foods that could combat this, i'd be happy to take them on board