Perpetual Healthy Eating and Fitness Rant & Rave thread

[Courtney]

Oh, and for my meat eating friends, I wanted to share this recipe that I ran across, that sounds so good:

http://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/28/homemade-trader-joes-chili-lime-chicken-burgers/

[cgraz]

Friends of ours have done paleo for a few years and they really love it - both for how they feel on it and for weight management. They just eat lots of fruits and veggies, and they do allow non-paleo days as warranted - we were at a party and they definitely partook of the cheesy dips and breads and pigs in blankets and stuff.

So that's the hard thing if you're doing it for reasons like you describe - after you do it for a while and start to feel better, then allowing yourself "cheats" would just make you feel like crap, probably.

But there are lots of resources out there for good paleo food, and when it comes down to it, it's really just stuff like grilling up some chicken and making veggies with it, having salad or fruit, etc. The trick is to keep the variety and to stay satisfied if you are a lover of stuff like cheese or sweets. (Which I am.) But even if you adapt it to your needs - like would you have to give up regular potatoes, or just grains, breads, etc. - you might really like it after you get used to it.

When mr. cgraz did a one-month strict paleo challenge (including exercising daily), he lost 30 pounds. It took me 6 months to lose 30 pounds on WW!

I have to say, eating even somewhat paleo when he was on it (because I prepared the meals for both of us) did leave me feeling less loagy and sluggish, in general. Now, whether it's a combination of eating well with WW and exercising more, or whatever, I do notice that eating carby bread stuff and sweets or lots of cheesy stuff makes me feel really tired and heavy.

[Courtney]

Guys lose so fast, don't they?  Sheesh!! 

I need to get my DH more on board than he is right now.  He has a major sweet tooth, and it's hard to always be the one saying no to stuff, and then when I try to just pretend like we don't have any chocolate, it's SUPER HARD. 

I think the key for me, if I do attempt this, is to find variety.  Potatoes are tough.  I love them.  And they are the only carb that I really eat now with meals (no bread, no pasta, and I don't like rice), so it's a bit of a crutch.  Plus, my DH isn't a big fan of cooked veggies, so I feel like I'd need to make different meals for us, which ain't happening. 

[cgraz]

Yeah, sounds like getting him on board will be key. Finding ways to make veggies so he will like them more, coming up with good paleo treats, etc. I know I have seen paleo brownie recipes and I think there are things made with cocoa powder that are paleo-friendly, so you can find ways to satisfy the desire for chocolate. I think lots of the Larabar flavors are paleo-friendly if you need snacks or energy bars, and there are tons of recipes out there to try. I know my friends have made muffins and things, so it's just a matter of experimenting. I am sure there's a lot of stuff on Pinterest too!

I think even if you try adapting paleo to your own needs, ie allowing yourself regular potatoes! - it could be good, right? I mean, there's only so many sweet potatoes one person can eat, right?

[Magic Microbe]

I sure hope my Dr apt today gives me some help. I am super tired of my belly hurting every damn day.

[Courtney]

I sure hope my Dr apt today gives me some help. I am super tired of my belly hurting every damn day.

I hope so, too, MM. 

Have you tried giving up certain foods?  It was crazy how fast I knew gluten was a problem when I went off it. 

[Courtney]

Yeah, sounds like getting him on board will be key. Finding ways to make veggies so he will like them more, coming up with good paleo treats, etc. I know I have seen paleo brownie recipes and I think there are things made with cocoa powder that are paleo-friendly, so you can find ways to satisfy the desire for chocolate. I think lots of the Larabar flavors are paleo-friendly if you need snacks or energy bars, and there are tons of recipes out there to try. I know my friends have made muffins and things, so it's just a matter of experimenting. I am sure there's a lot of stuff on Pinterest too!

I think even if you try adapting paleo to your own needs, ie allowing yourself regular potatoes! - it could be good, right? I mean, there's only so many sweet potatoes one person can eat, right?

Right?    I need to just do some planning.  I got my temporary kitchen resituated a bit last night, so that cooking isn't as big of a PITA.  That should help. 

[merigayle]

MM i hope you get some answers or closer to answers.

Courtney- one of my patients has hashimotos and was vegetarian already and giving up gluten mAde a huge difference for her, not so much any other dietry changes, but everythin is worth a try. Instead of going paleo, what about doing an elimination diet and really find the triggers than giving up so much? As far as DH, mine eats what i make or makes his own, i ain't a diner!

[Magic Microbe]

I hope so, too, MM. 

Have you tried giving up certain foods?  It was crazy how fast I knew gluten was a problem when I went off it. 

So he suggested IBS (which I basically already knew) and suggested I try giving up dairy to see if it helped.  They are also testing me for gluten intolerance.

He also showed me this website but he prefaced it with the fact that he wasnt showing it to me as my Dr  :
http://www.notmilk.com/

[Ice Cream]

So he suggested IBS (which I basically already knew) and suggested I try giving up dairy to see if it helped.  They are also testing me for gluten intolerance.

He also showed me this website but he prefaced it with the fact that he wasnt showing it to me as my Dr  :
http://www.notmilk.com/

Why are you sad at giving up dairy?  There are plenty of good substitutes. I just bought a wonderful soy yogurt yesterday. 

[merigayle]

WOW! I am impressed your dr showed you the notmilk site!!!!!! There really is not much good to come from dairy products. You can get calcium and protein elsewhere, imo. I am experimenting with cashew cheeses right now and so far everything has been tasty. Thinking about making DD a cashew cheese pizza tomorrow, or a block of it to put on crackers. Will report back There are so many substitutes out there now, that eating dairy free is not that bad and in CA, you have access to even more than we have here. The coconut milk based ice creams are amazingly delicious, though some brands are very high in calories, so just look. DD has been eating some almond milk yogurt and it is not bad when i taste it. You can also try goat's milk if you want, which some people can tolerate over cow's milk.

[Courtney]

MM i hope you get some answers or closer to answers.

Courtney- one of my patients has hashimotos and was vegetarian already and giving up gluten mAde a huge difference for her, not so much any other dietry changes, but everythin is worth a try. Instead of going paleo, what about doing an elimination diet and really find the triggers than giving up so much? As far as DH, mine eats what i make or makes his own, i ain't a diner!

I'm kind of considering that, more of a modified paleo thing.  Grains (wheat specifically, but that is pretty much all I ate) are not a big problem for me, it's the notion of giving up dairy that is the toughest.  I literally JUST read about cashew cheese yesterday, so I'm curious what you think.  I also wonder if maybe just cutting WAY back on it would work.  Because I'm not sure I want to live in a world entirely without cheese (or frozen yogurt).   

I've also heard that about goat's milk...  which is good because I f-ing love goat cheese on stuff like pizza and salad.  Mmmmmm. 

Ice Cream, I know MM has a soy allergy/intolerance, so soy is most likely not doable for her. 

[Magic Microbe]

I would rather not give up dairy because I can't do soy and we can't do nuts so I would really lack options. And cheese is about my favorite food ever.

[Run Amok]

MM- how was your appointment?

I'm not giving up dairy. I eat less of it these days as a weight control measure.

Most of the dairy alternatives seem to have very little in the way of nutrition. The coconut milk stuff, in particular, is all calories (carbs and fat) and is generally pretty highly processed.

I like nuts... but I eat them like 6 at a time.

So... I'm just really not a fan of the whole dairy alternative thing. When I was vegan, I just ate other stuff...

[Courtney]

I would rather not give up dairy because I can't do soy and we can't do nuts so I would really lack options. And cheese is about my favorite food ever.

I feel the same way. 

I avoid soy (not nazi like, but just don't ever purposely eat it) because I have a mild intolerance to it. 

I feel like without dairy, getting protein in a snack form is tough.  I'm not going to munch on a chicken breast for a snack.  It's not appetizing to me.  And nuts (why can't you do nuts?  are you allergic) really don't have that much protein in them, comparatively speaking.  Plus they are calorie dense, and I struggle with not eating a bunch in one setting. 

[merigayle]

i make chickpea salad for snack. I am not very exciting. ANd soups. Soups are my go to snack lately.

I would try cutting out dairy totally then having it on occassion and see how your body reacts, if it reacts at all. I am hoping ot try another cashew cheeze recipe tomorrow, will keep you posted

[Magic Microbe]

I feel the same way. 

I avoid soy (not nazi like, but just don't ever purposely eat it) because I have a mild intolerance to it. 

I feel like without dairy, getting protein in a snack form is tough.  I'm not going to munch on a chicken breast for a snack.  It's not appetizing to me.  And nuts (why can't you do nuts?  are you allergic) really don't have that much protein in them, comparatively speaking.  Plus they are calorie dense, and I struggle with not eating a bunch in one setting. 

I can have nuts for snacks but I don't like them.  I can't use them in meals though because antag is allergic.

[merigayle]

My friend with Hashimotos who is vegetarian and recently went gluten free has a severe nut allergy as well! It must be tough for her. Not sure if she does soy or not. Next time i see her i will have to ask.

[Courtney]

I can have nuts for snacks but I don't like them.  I can't use them in meals though because antag is allergic.

Ah, gotcha.  Makes sense. 

I could eat peanut butter for every meal, so you know, nuts are probably a trigger food for me.    I can't keep them around. 

[Magic Microbe]

My friend with Hashimotos who is vegetarian and recently went gluten free has a severe nut allergy as well! It must be tough for her. Not sure if she does soy or not. Next time i see her i will have to ask.

I like food way too much. That sounds horrific.