Absynthia's Journal, 13 June 2014

If I have time, I glance at everyone's food log. I have learned a lot by doing that! We learn from those who are doing good, and we also learn from those who are not doing so good. I think everyone does the best they can, with the money they can afford to spend on food. Some people don't log their food at all. The first step is to log their food and see how bad it is, then make healthy changes as they can. I'm hopeful that everyone will eat healthier, eventually.  

I'm guilty. I've been eating junk for the last few days. : 

Fully agree. I am one of those people who used to snack on crisps and similar...one 120 gram bag contains 600 calories...so one could basicly survive on 4 bags a day...and I used to eat two some days... Now after a slow and rather difficult start - haven't exercised or kept a diet for a decade - it finally seems to work. I replaced carbs with beans and lentils and don't feel at all hungry. Lost about 18 kilos so far ( I was so ashamed of my body that I didn't even want to weigh it before losing some). :D  

I know exactly what you mean! I am always up for advise and glad to give mine if it's wanted. 

Why do we do it? Because we were raised on it and it has become a part of our lives. Makes no sense, but how many people do you know were raised to eat totally fresh, organic, foods with no additives or preservatives. I knew one family, but the influence from the children's friends got them eating fast foods. Sad, isn't it. We can consider ourselves lucky we woke up, and are being given the chance to correct the wrongs in our lives. I admit to still eating crap. But the majority of the food I eat is fresh. It's a tough habit to break and it will be an uphill battle for me for the rest of my life.  

Thank You! I have learned in my two plus years here that it is about the QUALITY of those calories - not just the quantity. I can eat more calories when it is vegetables, fruits and good protein sources!  

Amen! fantastic journal entry. Our bodies need real food.  

I also take a look Sometimes. I wish there was a place for comments on the tracker. Mine will have a brand name of something that comes close to what I made homemade, when I don't have the time to create an item in the cookbook I will grab something similar when what I ate was homemade and probably healthier. Most of what I eat is homemade whole foods. There are times like tonight, late off from work, kids ball games @ 6:00 40 miles away, no time to get the dinner . Grabbed a fast food burger. Need to get stocked back up on my pouches of salmon for the rest of ball season, just in case, am out.  

I agree and disagree. I think everyone goes though cycles. There are weeks when if you look at my food it's nearly all whole food or stuff we made from whole food. However there are weeks (like now) if you look at my food logs you are going to see a lot of processed crap- a, because money is tight so we are mostly eating things we had around the house already & b, because I'm stressed and making food just isn't going to happen this week(s). That of course normally means an increase of breathing issues (because I'm allergic to corn and in North America corn is in EVERYTHING) which is two fold, I'm forced to slow down on everything else and activities like eating right start to get my attention again. I would assume that everyone is similar. You are right, there is absolutely a slow down in weight loss on the weeks we are eating lots of processed crap. If people ask specifically for advice or what to do I will check out their stuff and offer whatever I might notice- but otherwise I assume they know where they are going wrong and have their reasons or just need more time or different circumstances to make a change. 

Wholefoodnut, I do that too with the brand names. If I can find something that has the same (or very close) calories and nutrients to what I made I will just log it as that item instead of having to enter each food I made it from =p 

What I'm talking about is not just eating out fast food or unhealthy treat every once in a while. We all do that. I do it too. I don't expect anyone to be perfect and your food log should be a place to be honest and log everything, including your mistakes. But I see people doing it day and day out, and they don't think they're making mistakes. They make journal entries about how they are changing their eating to be healthier, and they actually believe it. Even if they manage to lose some weight, they will just be thinner and still unhealthy. And if they go off their "diet" then they will gain the weight back because they haven't changed anything. I went through 6 days on one person's journal and could not find one single vegetable they had eaten, and only 2 pieces of fruit. Nothing real, everything packaged and processed. I'm just saying it makes me sad and I want to help them so badly, but I know I can't. 

And by the way, I bet everyone that's commented has looked at my food log now and seen all my mistakes! LOL! 

I have done what Wholefoodnuth has done. I make something from scratch and if the measures in ingredients, fats, and carbs are very close to a commercial product I will log that product. Example banana nut Quaker bars, I used bananas and black beans. It can be a pain to log in every single ingredient when you are cooking so I save it to favorite meal, then edit every time I change something. I'm sure everyone does it. Everyone's journey is different. What we have to do for our time, family, and our jobs is different. My family loves spaghetti with meat sauce (not out of a can). I learned to eat only a little, not a whole plate full. In the past I have been stuck at work with only the snack machines to get food from for days at a time . Yep, I knew it was junk but survival mode makes you overlook some crap.  

Abs... no, not until you mentioned it and I didn't see any donuts, so you're okay. :~) 

Sometimes also I cannot find the food I'm using. As many of you know I am a crazy cook, shop little ethnic grocers and farmers markets in season instead of the big supermarkets, and pick up things I have no clue what they are to try. I've found terrific foods that way and some I will not buy again. I also love tossing edible weeds and flowers into my salads, stir frys etc. I have no idea what the nutrition for a 1/2 of rose petals is but they do have vitamins c.  

Abs, I agree on the healthy. I cringe when I see what people eat often and just know what it will do to their health. Not just on this site but at work, my friends, family, and even seeing what people eat or put in their shopping baskets when I do go to a regular market for staples. I've been that way though since the early 1970's when I started my journey into learning about food which grew into natural gardening. I want to tell them NO, No, but I mostly keep quiet. My friends, family, and some co-workers especially since I've lost weight know my passion for whole foods but I know that won't make much difference in what they do. The push for 5 a day fruits and veggies is good, though that seems to have recently disappeared. I jump start most days now with a smoothie with a serving of fruit and kale, it's easy to get at least 3 more servings in during the day. I gained when I did not follow my previous healthy lifestyle, my life was a mess in all aspects for awhile.  

Its helpful to use the 80/20 rule so you dont drive yourself insane. 80% of the time if you follow your plan (exercising, eating, life in general) then you will ultimately be successful. Well, the idea is that you don't want to defeat yourself with perfectionism or all-or-nothing thinking. No one can feel good trying to live up to an impossible ideal. 

Wow, interesting post. I couldn't help but to examine my own journals and food intake. You have given me something to look at within myself, Thank You. I will accept advice anytime, I may not like it but I would certainly be open to it. I hope you have a great weekend. :) 

Guilty of eating fiber bars and occasionally snacking on unhealthy bars but I've also have been on low carb diets and have felt starved by eating just protein. I have lost before after my first two pregnancies in 2000 and 2004 but have felt this time I would try a 1200 calorie diet at a slower pace which is also a healthy alternative to losing the weight. I've just started including fruits into my diet as shakes and believe me when I say I hate shakes. Next will be more veggies. My.mother who is 77 is on the modified Atkins but still remains high in her blood sugar. Everybody has a different metabolism and should exercise caution when losing to much weight too quickly. A healthy diet isn't all about the food but also the exercise. 

Jara... try whole foods. Fruits, veggies, make your own smoothies out of good for you ingredients. Seriously, I've tried low carb, it didn't work for me. Limit calories eat real food, not shake mixes etc. or protein/fiber bars. Real food. Not processed. Make it yourself from scratch. 1200calories, add some exercise, eat good natural foods, it may fit what works for you. I'm 50+ pounds lighter, feel great, love my life now!!!