Food Journal & other tidbits.

[Nina Kay]

Okay, Here I go with some raw honesty. I've never posted what I ate, because I know that I don't eat healthy. I'm a compulsive overeater to the nth degree and just an all-round Compulsive Eater, period. So today, I decided that I'm gonna try to stick to, or at least try, to post as often as possible to establish a personal pattern thatI can work on or to chart my own progress. I do need and want everyone to post their own opinions, good or bad, just so that I can consider your ideas. Let's be honest from the get-go though, I am very compulsive in every way in my life and I'm a habit person with no self-control. So if I keep going down a bad path of eating don't let it discourage you, because you think that I'm not listening. I am. It's just that putting changes into practice, that I know are good for me and best for me, are not always what I seem to be able to do, hence compulsive personality. In order to be honest here, I have to post the truth whether someone approves or not. Most of the time, I'm not approving of what I eat and drink either. That's why I am here. Here goes.

I didn't go to sleep last night until 5:00 this morning, so I slept till almost lunch. I took my meds with water and I drank about 3 cups of coffee with sweetnlow and 2% milk in them. That's what I do every morning and have for years. I'm a big water drinker, so I drink plenty of water everyday without having to try. I love water. I decided to eat a piece of Bush's Chicken with some Bush's gravy, left over from last night, since it was really lunchtime. I waited four hours and I ate a bowl of Cheerios with sweetnlow and 2% milk in it. Med. size bowl. I know that none of this is really eating healthy but it's the truth about what I did eat. The amounts were good anyway. So far today, that's all. When I eat again I'll come back and update. Thanks ahead of time, if you decide to read this and comment.

[Jwife22]

Hi Nina-
I PM'd you.

[Nina Kay]

Thanks so much, Jwife, for your PMs and sharing your ESH with me. Keep up your wonderful progress. You are very inspiring. (((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

[Gambaru]

Nina - I admire you for taking the first steps to get back on the road to the happiness and recovery you deserve. Do you plan your food? For me, that's one of the most important things. It helps to get rid of the mind obsession with regards to upcoming meals. If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. Keep going Nina - you can do it!!

[Nina Kay]

Thank you Gambaru. No I don't plan my food as yet anyway. I have learned when I was going to OA a long time ago, that it was very important to make a food plan and follow it. I hope that it won't be long until I can get to the point of being able to do that, but today I'm just not there yet. I'm so glad that you are. I think that it's a really important step. Thanks for all of your encouragement. You've been supportive of me ever since you came & I really appreciate it. Keep up the progress in your own recovery program. You're doing awesome !!!

[sugarssweetpea]

Nina,
I am glad to see you feeling better & making a plan of action. I do not have any advice at this moment, as I am finding it hard to stick to a food plan once I make it. I either forget that I make it, or I change my mind by the time it is time to eat. I am just trying to focus on making healthy food choices one choice at a time. I know what is unhealthy. Pretty much without reading labels anymore. Been through it too many times. Anyway, I wish you the best in this new year. You are an inspiration to us all.

[Nina Kay]

Thanks SSP, for the encouraging things that you said. I understand about finding it hard to stick to a food plan right now. I'm not to that point yet either, but I really do believe that you are making progress when you try to focus on making healthy food choices. I know that a food plan is so important. I did learn that during the last few times I got to go to OA. I know that I'll be able to make one and hopefully stick to it when the time is right. I've just got to not make any huge changes all at once, because I know me well enough to know that I'll just be setting myself up for a fall. I will get there eventually because I know that I won't quit trying completely, ever. I know that you won't ever quit completely either, as I've seen you keep coming back here too. Just keep trying to do what you're doing, SSP, and I know that you'll get better & better at it. You will get it and I believe that you will succeed.

[Nina Kay]

I wanted to journal that I did eat a half of a peanut butter sandwich this afternoon, a few hours after I ate the cereal. I couldn't hold out until supper, because I could tell that I was gonna have a hypoglycemia attack if I didn't eat some protein right away. It was about 2 1/2 hrs. later that I did eat supper. I had some Stouffer's Chicken Alfredo. It did say, no preservatives, at least. I did have a good sized helping. I ate 2 pieces of Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast. Garlic. It also said No Preservatives. I ate some mixed vegetables. I've only had water to drink since I last posted. Oh well, this is the true me. I at least didn't eat any obvious sweets today. I didn't have any sodas, popcorn, chips or aspertame today.Just for today though.

[Nina Kay]

I actually made it back today. LOL !!! I'm not good at following up. I'm sure that no one's noticed that yet ?!?!
Well, I got up alot earlier this morning. (Phone woke me) But I still didn't eat anything until lunchtime. I did have water, meds. & my usual 3 cups of coffee when I got up. I just now finished eating (12:00; lunchtime here) a "Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls". (eggs, potatoes, bacon & cheddar cheese) I do know that these frozen things are not the healthiest things, but right now I just seem to be going with the lesser evils. That's just the truth about me. I guess I'm just trying to get into a routine of not eating specific things that I do know has a negative effect on how I feel physically and mentally, such as sugar, aspertame, sodas, chips & popcorn. I really love to eat and drink all of these, but I feel them affect me negatively. They've been hard to give up, but I know that I've not had them in my system for at least a year with a few slacking & bingeing exceptions. Really not many times at all, for me. And I'm trying to not eat as much of the amount of other things, that I usually do. I guess this is progress, to a point. I know that these are changes that are going to make a signicant difference for me, as often as I can carry through. Just for today, though. I really can't count on myself to continue past today. So this is all I'm working on. I know that it'll be better than nothing for my sick system.

I hope to be back later to update. Keep going everyone. I don't believe that any of our good efforts are wasted, no matter how small or short length of time, we do well.

[dave47]

Thanks for all your post Nina, i hope you realise from the responses that you are appreciated.I don't think i have any sort of routine with my food, it really is all over the place apart from that i am trying to eat healthier.I never have breakfast, yet everything i read says that this is the most important meal of the day. All i want is a strong coffee or two and my appetite is non existent at that time(maybe my mind and body still think it's trying to deal with a hangover).Sometimes i'll have a lunch and dinner, other times i'll eat little and often throughout the day.Sometimes i'll forgo dinner for a bowl or two of cereal with fat free milk. I better stop rambling now, although i must say i like the sound of that Jimmy Dean.All the best, Dave.

[Nina Kay]

I ate four ritz crackers with peanut butter on them for a snack, a few hours before supper. For supper, I ate four pieces of pizza. I've only drank water for the rest of today. I didn't start walking yet and I didn't get outside for any sunshine and fresh air today. Maybe tomorrow. Who knows. I'm depressed right now, so I might just go on to bed early.

Dave, Thanks for your encouragement and support. I really think that choosing to eat healthier is very important. Progress; Not Perfection is what we learn is important in this program. Keep on keepin' on and so will I.

[Jwife22]

((((ninakay)))) Progress not perfection is right. I'm an instant gratification kinda gal so those three words make my life hell sometimes.

I do hope you start to feel better soon.

[Nina Kay]

Hello Everyone. I'm starting to feel alot better. I'm just still having alot of trouble with the pain in my lower back, as I have for the last several weeks.

As for my eating, I got up late again and ate an "Aunt Jamima Breakfast" (eggs, bacon, & hashbrown) around noon. I drank water and took my meds this morning and drank my usual 3 cups of coffee. A few hours later, I ate 2 pieces of pepperroni pizza that was left over from last night and drank a few sips of milk. Then I did bad, because we didn't eat until very late tonight, so I was too hungry and I ate 2 whole homemade hamburgers (hubby cooked the patties on the grill) and some tater tots with ketchup. I only drank water all day. The hamburgers were made with regular buns, ground meat patties, cheese, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, salt, pepper, mayo, mustard. I have managed to stay abstinent from all obvious sugar, aspertame, sodas, chips & popcorn, today. Just for today.

I did sit outside a few times and got a some fresh air & sunshine. Still no exercise, as yet.

I had a very emotional day, as my AS got out of prison today. He was there for shock probation, so he's been incarcerated for exactly 6 months. I haven't seen him or talked to him for the last 2 months. So I'm very tired after today. It is really late now and I'm about to go to bed. I plan to be back here tomorrow.

Thanks Jwife. I am starting to feel a little better today. I hope that you're doing well.

[Nina Kay]

Well everyone, today was just awful. I felt horrible and was in a lot of pain. I was edgy and anxious and I drove everyone crazy with my grouchiness. I'm not sure what all is going on with me.
Today, I got up late and took my meds with water and drank my 3 cups of coffee with sweetnlow and 2%milk, as always. I didn't eat for a couple of hrs. and I had no real appetite, so I just made a half sandwich with Miracle Whip Salad Dressing which I call mayonnaise and one hamburger patty from last night. I waited a few hours and ate another hamburger patty by itself, just because I was feeling a hypoglycemia attack coming on. Later I started to feel one coming on again and I knew that we'd have a late supper again, so, I went ahead and ate a peanut butter sandwich. My daughter cooked supper and I had spaghetti with ground meat & sauce in it, and a piece of cornbread with a little Smart Balance Butter and a little green salad with a teaspoon of Ranch Dressing on it. My serving sizes were good tonight, so I'm happy about that. I ate no obvious sugars and no aspertame, no sodas, no popcorn, no chips, today. Just for today. I'd love to hear some feedback and how each of you are doing with your food lately. Thanks for allowing me to keep track of what's going on with my recovery process. Oh yeah, I didn't exercise today or get any sunshine and fresh air. I just wasn't feeling good at all today.

[dave47]

Sorry you aren't feeling great Nina and hope this will soon pass.
I ate fairly healthy yesterday, but as usual it was all over the place. I drink about 10 cups of coffee a day but the last few i put a sugar free sweetener in as it does get a bit bitter. I bought a bag of lovely big pink apples coming home from work and in the course of the day polished them off. I had a couple of bananas, which i always try to eat daily. I worked with someone once who was an ex pro boxer and he told me that they are a good energy food especially if you are taking exercise.
I must admit i am getting a bit addicted to Special K breakfast cereal. I think its less than 2% fat and i had it with skimmed milk, 3 big bowls is probably too much though.
We have a takeaway Saturday night and i had a chicken kebab which normally comes with loads of salad. I felt a bit cheated as there wasn't much and didn't fill me up as much as usual.Best wishes for Sunday,Nina and thanks for all your posts.
I find Nina that i do have a big appetite but if i aim for low fat foods then even if i eat a lot during the day, i am still getting somewhere.

[Gambaru]

Nina - well done on not eating any obvious sugars. When reading your food, I wondered if the headaches may be from sugar withdrawal? They will pass! Perhaps trying to eat a little breakfast would help instead of 3 cups of coffee which is quite a lot of caffiene. Anyhow, one day at a time - you are doing great!!

Dave - forgive me if you don't want this ESH, and it may not be on your foodplan anyhow, but be careful of how much natural sugar you are getting through fruit. If I eat a sweet red apple, I feel sick sometimes as I've come to realise my body has an intolerance to food with amounts of any kind of sugar. It's why I don't eat some very sweet fruits like grapes. Also, you may find that Special K has more sugar in it than you realise.

Just speaking from my own experience, but I always check to see what the top 5 ingredients are for a product. As you know, ingredients are listed on the product in volumes of descending order. So if sugar comes in the top 5 listed, I avoid it because I know my body will react. In order for my body to stop the sugar cravings, I really had to eliminate it properly. Just my ESH though. You know the saying, take what you like and dump the rest! Best wishes to you!!!

[dave47]

Feel free to educate me any time Gambaru and Nina. I need to learn to eat properly after years of abuse.

[Nina Kay]

Well Dave, I also need to learn to eat properly after years of abuse. I guess that maybe we'll learn together. We CAN do together what we could never do alone.

Today, I ate late again, which I hope to start correcting soon. I can't seem to sleep lately, so I go to sleep at wee hours of the morning and sleep 8 or 9 hours which takes me almost to noon to get. Not good at all, and I know that. I had to quit my Daycare that I had in my home because of extreme exhaustion and extreme pain and there have been other adjustments I'm having to make, as well. I think that maybe things are gonna start smoothing out soon around here, so I'm thinking that maybe I'll be able to get my sleep patterns back in order and my time to arise in the morning will fall back in place. Then I can go back to eating my breakfast in the morning instead of lunchtime.

I took my meds with water and then drank my 3 cups of coffee, as usual. I drank only water for the rest of today. I ate a small bowl of Cheerios first, then a few hours later I ate a couple of small pieces of left-over pizza and a piece of left-over chicken. Then for supper I ate some Taquitos with chicken or beef w/cheese dipped in Salsa. I drank water again.

I didn't have any obvious sweets, or aspertame, or sodas, or chips, or popcorn, today. Just for today. Tomorrow, I can not be sure of yet. Today is enough for me to deal with.

[Jwife22]

Hi Nina-
You are doing great to stay away from obvious sweets, aspertame, sodas, chips and popcorn. Sometimes that can be soo hard, especially when your body is used to it.

I do hope you get your sleep back to normal as well. It is ALOT more important to our physical, mental and emotional well being then so many people realize.

I'm sorry if I am offering unwanted advice but one of the things that I find helps me to stick to my eating plan is if I make myself (and believe me, I have to Make Myself or I won't do it) drink a full glass of ice water with lemon or lime in it about 10 minutes before I plan on eating. If I do that, I find I eat less. Also, when I feel hungry, I drink a glass of water just to make sure its hunger and not thirst. I've mistreated my body for so long, sometimes I can't tell the difference. If I drink that water and 15 or 20 minutes later, I still feel hungry, I eat but sometimes it just goes away.

Also, replacing ingredients in my recipes with lower calorie ones make a huge difference. For instance, a regular ground beef hamburger patty is 380 calories but if I purchase 95% lean ground beef, it only has 140 calories per patty. That is a difference of 240 calories! Its amazing the amount of calories that we can cut by doing small adjustments. For a long time I didn't realize how big of a difference changing the small things could make!

((((nina))))

[sugarssweetpea]

I do not buy any meat that has over 15g of fat per serving. The hamburger I buy is the extra lean with 4.5g per 1/4 lb patty. You actually have to spray the pan or the patty will stick due to no fat coming out. Pretty cool.

[Neagrm]

Nina Kay, I think you're doing great posting what you eat and about your days. This, and also SSP's thread, are getting me thinking about making food plans. Thanks,
Nea

[barb dwyer]

Nina Kay -

where are ya?????

I've been checking every day ...

[Gambaru]

I've been thinking the same. Thinking of you Nina!