Milann's life keeps getting in the way.......

EssexHebridean

It's a lovely idea to try to get your GK's interested in crafting - would you be able to make up little packs for each of them from your own stash I wonder so they are personalised to the likes, colours etc that they both have? 

On the SW thing - there is an old saying along the lines of "continuing to repeat the same actions whilst expecting a different outcome is the definition of madness" - could be worth thinking about? Have you read the "Beyond Chocolate" book - it's a sort of variant of intutive eating in some ways, and focuses on getting away from the idea that foods are good or bad, or should be restricted, with the theory being that if you give yourself unconditional permission to eat all foods, you stop craving the things you previously restricted as they are no longer "off limits". It's an approach that has worked for me, alongside ensuring that my portion control is correct (which is where my method veers away from intuitive eating). 

WinterWarrior

@EssexHebridean that sounds like a wonderful idea, but the portion control would have to be in force. You know the boy in Matilda that has to eat the whole chocolate cake? That would be me without portion control 😁

milann

The beyond chocolate book sounds interesting. I might well look into it. Beanie once sent me a Paul McKenna cd. That worked on a similar principle eat until you are comfortably full. I’m going to drag that out again. To be honest I’m going back to Slimming World to give me a bit of structure on one day of the week and I’d become quite friendly with some of the people and I quite miss them I know they now have a walking group that I quite fancy joining. I tend to use a combination of the cd and SW,  I can’t be doing with measuring my skimmed milk as they recommend - 2 litres last me and dh 3 days on average and that works out roughly what they recommend.
I bought a 1st  knitting  kit for eldest gdd and a Pom Pom maker from Hobbycraft. In the range they had a bag with assorted coloured balls of wool and a pair of child sized needles for £2.50 which was nicely packed and cheaper than giving her my wool. I will top up with my wool if she takes to it.
im not sure quite what possessed me deciding to walk. I’ve stiffened up so much. I used to walk into town and come home, clean the house and cook tea. Atm a takeaway is sounding appealing. 😟

milann

I didn’t go for a takeaway. Chicken portions and veg in garlic, turmeric and paprika traybake in the oven. I do love my kitchen now as I sat down and chopped the veg 😁 Will be a very late tea but dh is quite happy with that 👍

milann

The chicken tray bake was well worth waiting for…..de-lish-ous. Tastier and cheaper than a take away….I was just so tired after my outing but so glad I didn’t cave in 😏 I’m off to bed in a bit…….

EssexHebridean

WinterWarrior said:

@EssexHebridean that sounds like a wonderful idea, but the portion control would have to be in force. You know the boy in Matilda that has to eat the whole chocolate cake? That would be me without portion control 😁

It's an interesting one for sure - I use to not let myself buy peanut butter, because on the odd occasions I did, I'd happily eat through the entire jar in a few days. That - in my head at the time - was "bad" and so I mustn't put myself in a position where that could happen. when I flipped the thinking, and let myself buy it again, sure, the first couple of jars disappeared pretty fast, but after that it was as though my body realised that there was no need to munch my way through it because there was no scarcity, no shortage, and I could eat it whenever I wanted. Sure, there are still times now when I'll go to the jar and just eat a teaspoonful because I fancy it, and that's absolutely fine, but equally, a jar lasts a sensible amount of time and I'm far happier having a food that I love available to eat - I no longer over-eat it because that restriction has lifted. It's the "boring" stuff I have to make sure I measure though - I have no eye for a portion size on things like pasta, rice and potatoes, so I weigh the right amount for a sensible portion for me and MrEH, and that means I cook the right amount and don't either waste it or end up eating more than I actually need. If I'm hungrier than usual one day, I increase the amount a bit, slightly less hungry, and I decrease it a bit. 

milann said:

The beyond chocolate book sounds interesting. I might well look into it. Beanie once sent me a Paul McKenna cd. That worked on a similar principle eat until you are comfortably full. I’m going to drag that out again. To be honest I’m going back to Slimming World to give me a bit of structure on one day of the week and I’d become quite friendly with some of the people and I quite miss them I know they now have a walking group that I quite fancy joining. I tend to use a combination of the cd and SW,  I can’t be doing with measuring my skimmed milk as they recommend - 2 litres last me and dh 3 days on average and that works out roughly what they recommend.
I bought a 1st  knitting  kit for eldest gdd and a Pom Pom maker from Hobbycraft. In the range they had a bag with assorted coloured balls of wool and a pair of child sized needles for £2.50 which was nicely packed and cheaper than giving her my wool. I will top up with my wool if she takes to it.
im not sure quite what possessed me deciding to walk. I’ve stiffened up so much. I used to walk into town and come home, clean the house and cook tea. Atm a takeaway is sounding appealing. 😟

Goodness milann life is definitely to short to be measuring out skimmed milk! It's not like it's something you're likely to consume in huge quantities is it!   Absolutely get the structure thing and treating it as a social event too - I just recalled previously that you were cross with yourself over how much you'd spent on it, and wanted to give a different perspective for you to consider.  The Beyond Chocolate book is really fascinating - it focuses on really trying to be mindful about eating. From my perspective it also needs to be used in combination with the fact that there is nothing inherently wrong with eating past the point of fullness on occasion either - let's face it, most of us will be doing that for sure in a month's time today won't we because CHRISTMAS DINNER! The book was very definitely the first major step in me starting to think about food, eating, and indeed weight rather differently though, and it was certainly a change for the better.   

On the walking, if you know how far you want yesterday then you know what your benchmark is - you did that yesterday but are now still, so aim to get out for something very short, steady and gentle today, then tomorrow, look to find a route the same length as the one yesterday. If that doesn't make you ache/stiffen up the day after, then the next time you walk, make it very slightly further. It's the same principle as we use with running, that if increasing distance you never increase more than 10% at a time - otherwise you risk injury. Also making sure you always try to add in a "rest day" with far less distance/time on feet in between days with more activity can make a difference to both motivation and injury risk. I overdid the walking during the earlier lockdowns - partly just through boredom and feeling like I "should be doing more" and have ended up with a poorly foot which has stopped me running OR walking long distances for months now, so I speak from bitter personal experience here! Definitely better to prevent than to have to do the rehab afterwards! 

milann

You are so right HE I was indeed cross with the amount I’d spent on SW and didn’t get far with it. Dh put a different slant on it for me……he reckoned he goes to a U3A group which is a token amount of between £1-2  depending on the group, then they all go for a coffee afterwards £3-4 which roughly equates to my £4.60 for SlimmingWorld. He said stop thinking of it as a slimming club but a club where I meet friends for a coffee and we talk about food…I love food…..eating, watching about and reading about it and how it affects our well being…..dh also reckons that’s why the new group I went to didn’t work, I missed the people I know from the old group and the consultant tended to stand at the front and all at us rather than group discussion. I do think a lot of my problem atm is my body image with wearing the stoma bag now, I tell myself I’m fine, it’s saved my life and nobody can see or smell it…..which is all true….but my mood swings have been all over the show and the whole experience has changed me deep down to an extent. My mood swings have been all over the place which is also to do with finishing work. I’d also got myself too obsessed writing any food  I’d eaten down. I’ve stopped all that…..and I’ll just enjoy eating the free foods until I’m satisfied and eat whatever else I fancy in smaller quantities. Go to meet my friends and get weighed, but keep it in perspective.  I’ve taken a liking to peanut butter and jam on toast….I’ll continue having it sometimes. I am going definitely going to find the book you recommended. A relative has recently had to alter what she eats because of her health and has dropped some dairy (anything from a cow but goat milk is fine) and gluten…..it’s amazing what a difference it has made to her. My job before I was married was the diet cook in a big hospital…so I’ve always had a foodie interest.
Talking about food - were taking my sil to the pub that we went to at Halloween - it should be lovely and Christmassy there now. I shall be enjoying 3 courses 👍
I have had an eye on some burgundy boots on and off for a while. Chatting on a different diary about boots, I looked on line and they have a lovely pair. I have had a burgundy handbag years and rarely use it as I’ve no footwear to go with it. I think I might just take the plunge and order them…..they’re reduced 👍

badmemory

I can completely see what you mean about the stoma bag, but people who are friends are not going to criticise they are more likely to say well what a bummer, tea or coffee.  As in they don't care about the thing itself but just about your wellbeing.

Peanut butter & marmite!  On home made bread cos I no longer eat bought bread - bloat here we come.

EssexHebridean

When I ended up rather poorly and in hospital for a short while a few years ago, one thing I was told by one of the nurses was that I absolutely shouldn't underestimate the effect that having such a major health scare (More easily fixed than yours but still came within a handful of hours of taking me out of the game entirely, and something which not only had without me knowing had long term effects, and which I continue to have to deal with, albeit mostly easily managed) would have on my mental health. She warned me to expect some health anxiety for a start - which I very definitely have now, no question. Also simply that for a good long while - and yes it still happens - I'd find myself in a bit of a panic about any vague symptoms which felt like what I'd been experiencing previously. After what you went through over the past few years I would quite frankly be astonished if you weren't suffering from a degree of that, also, so I completely get the body image thing. It'd incredibly tough to deal with - I was really glad I was warned as otherwise I would have thought I was being completely paranoid and ridiculous! Something I've found incredibly helpful is to remember that there are SO many aspects to health, and indeed in most cases weight will only make a minor change to your actual health. I've tried to work on improving sleep, lowering stress levels (that one's been interesting over the last couple of years!), making sure my general activity levels are good, and aiming for a "mostly healthy" diet - so lots of plant based stuff, and generally as I mentioned keeping an eye on portion control on the thing I know I've not got a good eye for. Interestingly those things have meant I'd stabilised at a particular size which feels right for me - I vary a little within a couple of dress sizes but that "set point" is always around the middle of that variation.  Absolutely don't underestimate the mental impact of the experience you've been through though! Sure the stoma bag is life saving, but it's also life changing - and that will take some real adjustment.

I saw the boot chat - there is one of that brand's shops in my OH's hometown so I've often walked past and thought they do some lovely stuff! 

milann

I know Badmemory……they don’t care whether I have a stoma or not as long as I’m around…….and I know how lucky I am to still be around. The first stoma I had back in 2006 was the worse and far more poorly than this time. 

It does give a different perspective on live doesn’t it HE.

I actually think by writing that post it has done me a lot of good. I keep telling myself I’m ok…..for me and the family- positive head and all that. But writing it down has made me realise it has affected me more than I care to admit. I’m still ok 😁😁 and now I’ve actually acknowledged the affect it has had on me I can begin to move forward 👍👍 I think at first I’m so engrossed in getting better and getting through each day, setting little milestones and playing mind games and setting targets…..that I don’t actually think about things…….it’s when I’m much better and have time to think that the reality sets in.
Thanks to everyone on here for keeping me going……it has meant a lot 👍👍😁
On the money front…..I have taken the foot of the gas and haven’t an idea where I’m up to. I’ll do some number crunching tomorrow 👍