Encouraging healthy choices -support thread

[quirkycooking]

I drink Rooibos tea too - I found a really delicious one the other day, it's Rooibos Spice and has cinnamon, cloves, cacao shells (!), ginger, aniseed, star anise, cardamom & pepper in it!  So yummy.  (As soon as I saw 'cacao' on the ingredients list I knew I had to try it!!  )  I can't handle any caffeine after about lunch time - just don't sleep at night if I have it.

I'm afraid I eat right up to bed time - I can't sleep if I'm hungry! (And I have to eat small amounts often because of the low blood sugar thing.)  My naturopath told me you shouldn't eat close to bed time because it will make it harder to sleep, but I'm the opposite!  I sleep best on a full tummy! 

I'm trying to drink more water too - I get very slack with that in cooler weather.  And I definitely need to get to bed earlier!!!  (It's just that it's so lovely and quiet when the kids are all in bed asleep - I love that time of night, and tend to stay up too long!)

I'm trying to get back into a regular excercise routine - I used to do Pilates every day and ride my bike as well a lot, but I've gotten so busy it's hard to fit it in... and the constant wet weather makes it hard to want to ride a bike!!  So I'm trying to just get back into the Pilates each morning.  I've put excercise time on the kid's schedules too, and they think it's great to have it scheduled in - breaks up the morning routine so it's not just all jobs!  (I let them ride bikes/scooters/jump on trampoline/jog/do Pilates for excercise time.)

I don't eat a lot of desserts and baking (even though it may look like it from looking at my blog! - My kids eat most of it, and I don't make it every day) - my special treat is a small piece of my homemade chocolate.    It's so dark and rich that a small piece is satisfying, and I only have a bit once every day or two, so it's not a big deal.  Besides, it's healthy chocolate!!    And a sorbet or fruity dream or banana ice-cream every couple of days seems to keep the family happy, so that's a healthy sweet.  (I make fruity dream with about 50g raw honey now, instead of rapadura - it's nice!)

[Meagan]

A good day today again normal bircher breakfast,  coffee, left over tmx fried rice for lunch, tea, tacos for dinner, small bowl of instant banana cocoa agave ice-cream. No formal exercise but cleaned the house etc so got some exercise from that.

[CreamPuff63]

I wish that exercising the brain counted as calorie burning...

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I've had a good couple of days - lot's of power walks without the kids as Hubby is on holidays.  I don't think I have lost any more weight but my body is certainly getting stronger. I have been eating small portions of family meals with extra garden salad or steamed veg on the side.  I am finding whole grains a godsend - they are so healthy and filling.  Last night we had honey mustard chicken with brown rice and steamed veg and my little serving was so filling because of the brown rice.  I love being able to eat lovely dishes and am finding that I am really satisfied with a small serving.

For any parents who are wanting to convert to brown rice and are worried about the kids reaction, I suggest starting with 1/3 brown rice to 2/3 white rice and gradually building it up.  For a couple of months I was cooking 100g brown rice for 20 minutes and then adding 200g white rice and cooking for a further 16 minutes.  Now the kids (and Hubby) are happy just to eat brown rice when it is served with a saucy dish and two-thirds brown rice in dishes such as Quirky fried rice.  A small victory! 

As I am getting closer to my goals I am starting to think about how I am going to keep healthy and keep the weight off long term.  I know I need to keep exercising and find different ways to exercise (perhaps yoga or pilates would be good during the winter months).  With regard to food I like the idea of not depriving myself but focusing on small portions with healthy sides.  It seems realistic and sensible - if I can stay focused.

[bigTcup]

I'm loosly following Cindi O'Mera & CSIRO - basically low carbs.  Have been having Cindi's shakes for breaky for a week and salads for lunch.  Today is tomato soup for lunch  - the kids are loving the shakes (theirs doesn't have the raw egg or minerals) but I give them some bible bread as well - got to fill up those growing bodies.  I'm lunch - I got my TM when the kids were young (well they still are.. 1 & 2) so they don't know any different re brown rice and such  .  Am working on finding time to exercise 

[Meagan]

Chelsea what do you have in your morning smoothie?

[Coops]

What a great thread! I am new to the forums and I hope you don't mind me joining in I should get my thermomix in the next few days and I hope it will help bring the changes my family so desperately needs! My son is really really fussy but is getting quite over weight because even though he often refuses dinner he hangs out till he gets carb loaded, sugary food, my daughter who eats much more than him, eats a lot of salads and things and is about 25 kgs less than him, even though they are only 18mths apart. And I am very overweight too, I love eating a certain way but unfortunately I have a food addiction, and so even though I eat good healthy meals I blow it inbetween. Hoping to find some support and inspiration here

[sue_h]

I'm sure you will get plenty of inspiration and support from the forum Coops. It has been fabulous for me. I'm finding with the TM and the cooking I'm losing weight very slowly which is what I love. It's only approx 2kg over 2 months and all I'm doing is preparing meals and snacks with the TM wherever possible and using inspiration from the forum. I still have a long way to go and I'm not stressing because I know it will now happen and be sustainable weightloss.

[Meagan]

Anyone is welcome to give or receive support  welcome Coops 

[cookie1]

Well done Meagan and everyone else.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Chelsea what do you have in your morning smoothie?

My Hubby generally makes them while I am in the shower.  Ours are fruit-based smoothies (thick and puply ) with a few tablespoons of chia gel, 500g water and some ice cubes thrown in.  At the moment fruit-wise I think he is putting in an orange, banana, kiwi, apple and some frozen blueberries.  That amount serves 4.  We were having green smoothies with spinach and silverbeet leaves, but have since discovered that our youngest son is allergic to green veg. We have our smoothies as part of breakfast - usually with a small wholegrain muffin. I tried Cyndi's smoothie and loved the taste.  I needed to share it with Hubby though as it was a bit much just for me.

[Meagan]

Thanks Chelsea 
Well I was very good yesterday some serious self control. Went to the pub for my fortnightly knitting group and drank water and didn't have my usual wedges. I was very proud of myself!! Today was a bit of a "20" day as in the 80/20 theory lol we normally have pancakes on a Sunday and today was no different, then coffee,went to the pool with the family, salad sandwich for lunch homemade iced coffee with a small scoop of edc ice-cream picnic tea - homemade sushi, fruit and the kids ate mini cyndi  sausage rolls, I had two of those. Edc lemonade, small scoop edc ice-cream with TMX Milo on top, one square 70% lindt chocolate. Hmmmm back to the more controlled eating tomorrow and a bike ride with DS 4 on the back for at least 30 mins in the morning.

How is everyone else going??

[Cuilidh]

I'm not going as well as you, Meagan.  I am working on making my portions smaller and avoiding the local French Chocolatier (who does the best chocolates ever!).  These two aspects are working so far, I'm not weighing myself, at this stage, but I am feeling a little better about my efforts to behave.

Exercise always has been - and always will be - my main stumbling block.  We live in Melbourne during the week so I tend to walk most places - but I use the term "walk" loosely.  I start out with good intentions, striding along the street, but then I forget I am meant to be getting some exercise and drop back into my usual 'stroll', which really does me no good at all.  Ah well, I'll keep at it.

[Meagan]

Cuilidh, you have to start somewhere 
Well I did a 40 minute ride this morning  with ds4 on the back in the weehoo ( he loves it and asks to go in it every day now  )  I am very proud of myself!! That is the first proper ride I have been on for years. Cada with yoghurt and berries for bfast sushi for morning tea/ lunch. My aim is to exercise 5 out of 7 days this week. Also to get up earlier in preparation for DH going back to work next week and me being on my own with the kids again.
I feel great today for having exercised, so much more energy 

[Cuilidh]

Thanks for your support, Meagan