A proper help me thread!!
Discussion
This is a serious request for advice, some of you may have noticed in the pictures thread I am not averse to the odd portion of chips or three. Therein lies my problem, my diet is horrendous and no amount of exercise or gym work does me any lasting good.
I am reasonable active and still struggle to keep my weight down.
Now I know most of you would say just eat more green stuff but I have a huge problem eating normal foods. I love a good indian, I adore flavoured chicken but not roasted stuff, I love steaks, I enjoy barbecue ribs, I like chocolate and lots of sweet stuff and I don't mind apples and grapes.
Beyond that lot there isn't a great deal that is good for me I can bring myself to eat. To give an example of my irrational response to food I will eat garlic bread but not buttered toast because I cannot stand butter or marg on bread. I despise pasta, rice, tomatoes, cheese and other such foods that make up the majority of a normal diet.
Basically I know I am heading for a s
tty ride before I get half way through my 30's unless I tie my good exercise intentions to a good diet. My mum and dad tried their best when I was younger but as soon as I could I simply found alternatives to eating at home when they pushed me to try stuff. I have broadened my diet hugely by my standards since my early 20's but still can't break into the healthy side of food. The OH has also helped me but still struggles to get me eating much more variety.
Does anyone have any experience of this? I am certain that the problems now lie inside my head but would be interested to know if people know ways I can make a wholesale change and start to want to eat fruit and veg rather than chocolate and crisps.
Note to mods: I fully expect some unpleasant comments to this but can we let it run if any advice is coming out of it.
I am reasonable active and still struggle to keep my weight down.
Now I know most of you would say just eat more green stuff but I have a huge problem eating normal foods. I love a good indian, I adore flavoured chicken but not roasted stuff, I love steaks, I enjoy barbecue ribs, I like chocolate and lots of sweet stuff and I don't mind apples and grapes.
Beyond that lot there isn't a great deal that is good for me I can bring myself to eat. To give an example of my irrational response to food I will eat garlic bread but not buttered toast because I cannot stand butter or marg on bread. I despise pasta, rice, tomatoes, cheese and other such foods that make up the majority of a normal diet.
Basically I know I am heading for a s
tty ride before I get half way through my 30's unless I tie my good exercise intentions to a good diet. My mum and dad tried their best when I was younger but as soon as I could I simply found alternatives to eating at home when they pushed me to try stuff. I have broadened my diet hugely by my standards since my early 20's but still can't break into the healthy side of food. The OH has also helped me but still struggles to get me eating much more variety. Does anyone have any experience of this? I am certain that the problems now lie inside my head but would be interested to know if people know ways I can make a wholesale change and start to want to eat fruit and veg rather than chocolate and crisps.
Note to mods: I fully expect some unpleasant comments to this but can we let it run if any advice is coming out of it.
Edited by chris_w666 on Monday 13th October 22:06
You mention that you like curries, can you bear the thought of adding some green (vegetable) stuff to them, whilst at the same time changing the type of curry that you eat? As an example you can make tandoori chicken with natural yoghurt and lots of spices, end result flavoured chicken, without quite the same calorie content. Similarly, add some vegetables to a tomato sauce to put chicken in, if you blend it, you don't know the healthy stuff is in there.
It sounds like you have more of a mental block than anything, how does the thought of adding one 'new' or disliked item to a meal strike you - if you can take the small step of adding an extra ingredient every few days or once a week, you can soon build up a much wider diet. I guess like many things it is a question of willpower and desire as much as anything else....
It sounds like you have more of a mental block than anything, how does the thought of adding one 'new' or disliked item to a meal strike you - if you can take the small step of adding an extra ingredient every few days or once a week, you can soon build up a much wider diet. I guess like many things it is a question of willpower and desire as much as anything else....
Eat what you want (in moderation), but make sure you do something that involves decent exercise before or after. I find it is a very good trade off.
Typically if I fancy an Indian I make sure I either go out for a decent bike ride up the mountains during the day before or get into the gym next day and do a good 2 hour slog, it helps.
Typically if I fancy an Indian I make sure I either go out for a decent bike ride up the mountains during the day before or get into the gym next day and do a good 2 hour slog, it helps.
I have a very weird problem where most vegetables will make me feel incredibly sick. It's completely a "head over stomach" thing for me as I tend to feel less ill if I don't know it's there. It drives my family and my boyfriend up the wall but they don't really want me to run out of the meal to go and throw up so don't push it. Same with fruit, someone once offered me a piece of dried pineapple and I had to spit it out as I just could not swallow it. Can't bite in to an apple, pear or strawberry and then probably finish them without feeling the urge to retch.
The only thing I'd found so far that works, other than not knowing it's there, is having them in the form of soup. I hate carrots, either cooked or raw, and yet I like soup that has them in, assuming it's soup that's blended rather than chunky. I like fruity yoghurt (especially strawberry) and drink a lot of fruit juice.
I'll probably go to a psychologist about it at some point but I can't afford it right now.
The only thing I'd found so far that works, other than not knowing it's there, is having them in the form of soup. I hate carrots, either cooked or raw, and yet I like soup that has them in, assuming it's soup that's blended rather than chunky. I like fruity yoghurt (especially strawberry) and drink a lot of fruit juice.
I'll probably go to a psychologist about it at some point but I can't afford it right now.
One of my friends lost a lot of weight a few years back (and he has managed to keep it off) by really clamping down on his diet during the week. When i say really clamping down, i mean he would eat one low calorie sandwich at lunch time and have soup for dinner.... but then, he would cut loose at weekend (beers, curries, kebabs, etc).
This routine, all mixed in with a fairly good gym routine, helped him to lose a lot of weight...
Good luck with it.
This routine, all mixed in with a fairly good gym routine, helped him to lose a lot of weight...
Good luck with it.
I've got the same problem. I think nothing of eating two 500ml tubs Hargen darz, one after the other.
Luckily i've always done plenty f sport, but I could do with eating a better diet and doing more exercise.
For me I have no valid excuse (not having the time is poor) for not making a tasty meal each night. Instead it's a takeaway or frozen food.
Have you got a mate that you could start excersing with (indoor rowing is good for burning calaries), or playing another sport such as squash? Is it possible for you to commute to work by bicycle. I've just started riding to work myself which is around 25 miles/week. Not a great deal but probably enough to work off the equivalent half a days caleries.
If you don't mind me asking, how much do you weigh and how tall are you?
Luckily i've always done plenty f sport, but I could do with eating a better diet and doing more exercise.
For me I have no valid excuse (not having the time is poor) for not making a tasty meal each night. Instead it's a takeaway or frozen food.
Have you got a mate that you could start excersing with (indoor rowing is good for burning calaries), or playing another sport such as squash? Is it possible for you to commute to work by bicycle. I've just started riding to work myself which is around 25 miles/week. Not a great deal but probably enough to work off the equivalent half a days caleries.
If you don't mind me asking, how much do you weigh and how tall are you?
Once you start eating lot's of fruit and veg... you're body will get used to getting what it needs easily and won't crave all that crap.
I'm terrible for diet... I go through three weeks of diet hell only to give up and gorge on KFC and pizza for a week. Thing is though I run a couple of miles every day and hit the gym hard four or five times a week minimum.
But seriously... Veg and fruit is amazingly good for you. You can make it dead tasty too, it doesn't have to be boring.
Diced swede and carrot with a knob of butter and loads of black pepper and even a pinch of parmesan, eaten with a steak and a nice leafy salad will taste great.
Try eating sugarsnap peas raw instead of eating chocolate... they are really addictive... crunchy and sweet
Just try to get a bit more 'whole' food in your diet every week...
Unsalted nuts, dried fruit, porridge, honey, whole fat milk, cheese, eggs, fish, red meat, salads, multigrain bread etc.
Doesn't have to be fat free, but it sounds like you should be looking to get some natural, wholesome food inside you
I'm terrible for diet... I go through three weeks of diet hell only to give up and gorge on KFC and pizza for a week. Thing is though I run a couple of miles every day and hit the gym hard four or five times a week minimum.
But seriously... Veg and fruit is amazingly good for you. You can make it dead tasty too, it doesn't have to be boring.
Diced swede and carrot with a knob of butter and loads of black pepper and even a pinch of parmesan, eaten with a steak and a nice leafy salad will taste great.
Try eating sugarsnap peas raw instead of eating chocolate... they are really addictive... crunchy and sweet
Just try to get a bit more 'whole' food in your diet every week...
Unsalted nuts, dried fruit, porridge, honey, whole fat milk, cheese, eggs, fish, red meat, salads, multigrain bread etc.
Doesn't have to be fat free, but it sounds like you should be looking to get some natural, wholesome food inside you
I am pretty sure it is the quality of food not the quantity.
My exercise level is probably above average, hill walking once or twice a month, use a cross trainer 3 times a week for an hour, go canoeing once a week and on my mountain bike at least twice a week. I gave up the gym as I could rarely make it.
Have thought about a psychologist but am sceptical.
My exercise level is probably above average, hill walking once or twice a month, use a cross trainer 3 times a week for an hour, go canoeing once a week and on my mountain bike at least twice a week. I gave up the gym as I could rarely make it.
Have thought about a psychologist but am sceptical.
M400 NBL said:
If you don't mind me asking, how much do you weigh and how tall are you?
6ft tall, at the moment around 21st. I have quite a big frame anyway so don't feel the need to drop too much but ideally 16 stone would be good. I was around that weight at 18 or 19 and wore 34inch waist jeans, I now wear 40 - 42 inch depending on fit so would like to lose the waist and my diet I feel is key. There is the incentive that my Dad had a triple bypass in jan and I don't fancy one.
A friend of mine was in a similar position about a year ago, heading for his mid 30's with 2 kids that he didn't have the energy to play with, and felt he was missing out. He started on the Cambridge diet, he admitted it was absolute hell for him to start with, but he lost 4 stone, has completely changed his diet and now enjoys cycling over 100 miles a week. The complete absence of food changed his eating habits as he found any food better than none.
I think losing any sort of weight really takes some will power, a lot like giving up smoking.
I think losing any sort of weight really takes some will power, a lot like giving up smoking.
chris_w666 said:
I am pretty sure it is the quality of food not the quantity.
My exercise level is probably above average, hill walking once or twice a month, use a cross trainer 3 times a week for an hour, go canoeing once a week and on my mountain bike at least twice a week. I gave up the gym as I could rarely make it.
Have thought about a psychologist but am sceptical.
Nah fMy exercise level is probably above average, hill walking once or twice a month, use a cross trainer 3 times a week for an hour, go canoeing once a week and on my mountain bike at least twice a week. I gave up the gym as I could rarely make it.
Have thought about a psychologist but am sceptical.
k that... just get some decent grub inside you... Try some nicer pasta dishes... olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, sweet peppers all make stuff taste gorgeous 
The other thing you can try is to make a big fat chilli instead of a curry. Get loads of lean beef in there, loads of chilli's, peppers, tomatoes, kidney beans (really beef it out) and serve it with a small portion of brown rice (season the rice to make it tasty). Whack a little bit of nice cheese on top and eat it with a pint of whole milk.
Meal idea number two... Fry off some thai green curry paste, then stir in a whole can of coconut milk... chuck in a load of mixed frozen seafood (get the massive bags of calamari, mussels and prawns in asda). Warm them through and chuck the lot over a busted open jacket spud. Massive glass of OJ and you've got everything you need in one meal.
Probably worth mentioning at this point, that results will initially come very slowly, then as your metabolism changes and you get a smaller, the changes will be much more rapid. Basically, don't be discouraged at any point. You can change your metabolism, as well as just eating better foods.
Google '14 foods which will change your life'. It's a book which explains why the foods help you, with a list of substitutes incase you don't like them.
I am also a sucker for a bag of chips, steaks, curry etc... But, you can make healthy food extremely tasty, too...
Try some of this..
Throw a chicken breast in a tray, and put lemon juice, chopped rosemary and chopped garlic on it. Bake it for 30 mins, and eat it with a boiled (7 mins) corn on the cob.
Pork chops - lean - with a bit of balsamic vinegar and salt & pepper,
As King Richard says, once you get used to putting greens in your body, your body will want more..
To make a leafy salad more 'substantial', I like to have 1/2 a jar of kidney beans or chick peas, covered with a hot sauce like sriracha, microwaved for a min on the side.
Stir fry? Slice some lean meat up, throw it in a wok/frying pan with a bag of fresh stir fry veggies... chuck in some garlic paste, ginger paste and a dash of soy.. Nice and tasty..
Get into fish. It's meaty, and it's full of great oils & acids. Try this, it'll put any restaurant to shame..
Get yourself a sashimi grade tuna steak, make a marinade from olive oil, loads of chopped garlic, chopped corriander, juice from a couple of limes, and some pepper... let it marinade for a couple of hours, and throw it onto a very hot pan for a minute on each side... Has a very meaty texture, and if you don't want it raw inside, just reduce the heat and cook for 5 mins each side. Serve it on a leafy salad with some sliced avocado... Gorgeous..
Hope that's something to be getting on with. I started cooking like this, trying to make healthy stuff tasty, and it really taught me to be creative ad actually enjoy cooking, as I get an idea of what flavours I like on my foods..
Google '14 foods which will change your life'. It's a book which explains why the foods help you, with a list of substitutes incase you don't like them.
I am also a sucker for a bag of chips, steaks, curry etc... But, you can make healthy food extremely tasty, too...
Try some of this..
Throw a chicken breast in a tray, and put lemon juice, chopped rosemary and chopped garlic on it. Bake it for 30 mins, and eat it with a boiled (7 mins) corn on the cob.
Pork chops - lean - with a bit of balsamic vinegar and salt & pepper,
As King Richard says, once you get used to putting greens in your body, your body will want more..
To make a leafy salad more 'substantial', I like to have 1/2 a jar of kidney beans or chick peas, covered with a hot sauce like sriracha, microwaved for a min on the side.
Stir fry? Slice some lean meat up, throw it in a wok/frying pan with a bag of fresh stir fry veggies... chuck in some garlic paste, ginger paste and a dash of soy.. Nice and tasty..
Get into fish. It's meaty, and it's full of great oils & acids. Try this, it'll put any restaurant to shame..
Get yourself a sashimi grade tuna steak, make a marinade from olive oil, loads of chopped garlic, chopped corriander, juice from a couple of limes, and some pepper... let it marinade for a couple of hours, and throw it onto a very hot pan for a minute on each side... Has a very meaty texture, and if you don't want it raw inside, just reduce the heat and cook for 5 mins each side. Serve it on a leafy salad with some sliced avocado... Gorgeous..
Hope that's something to be getting on with. I started cooking like this, trying to make healthy stuff tasty, and it really taught me to be creative ad actually enjoy cooking, as I get an idea of what flavours I like on my foods..
I'm crap with veg, brassicas make me violently ill and I'm not that keen on most other veg.
Its very easy to hide veg in a curry, include plenty of onions and some green peppers, add in tomatoes, pineapple, sultanas etc
The key is portion control. Look at the size of the palm of your hand. That amount of protein, and carbs, and veg per meal. Three meals a day
Add in some exercise and you'll soon get used to it.
Its very easy to hide veg in a curry, include plenty of onions and some green peppers, add in tomatoes, pineapple, sultanas etc
The key is portion control. Look at the size of the palm of your hand. That amount of protein, and carbs, and veg per meal. Three meals a day
Add in some exercise and you'll soon get used to it.
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