There are times when I really HATE to accept reality. Although there are probably times when we all feel that way aren’t there?
After finishing my last article, I did more research on the obesity epidemic, particularly in young children; on UPF’s and the consequences of the 80%/20% dietary regime followed by so many people today. Because it really bothers me that nothing is being done, or is even likely to be done, by food manufacturers or governments while they still make so much money from these diets.As a reult I talked it over with my daughter, who is very sensible and clear eyed. Thankfully before I talked myself into severe depression, she eventually said, “Mum, you can’t force others to follow a more healthy lifestyle, even if it WILL help them and their families to avoid or reverse their obesity problems”.Much against my inclinations, I had to accept the reality that she was right.
But I can’t just forget it. I feel like it is too important. So, because I have similar concerns about myself, I am now fully committed to bringing my own weight down to an acceptable (for me) level. – And so –
Week One
On the scales – 183lbs – 83.1kg!
Not allowing depression to take hold, for someone once said that it likely took years to put it on, don’t expect to take it off – and keep it off – in six weeks or so, about the fact that even though I am eating less meat, and more vegetables after having researched foods said to be good for health and weight loss, I have been at the same weight for 4 weeks.isn’t always easy though.
However, after researching other studies on the subject I am trying something a little different. I already try to walk 4-6 days a week, and last week I joined a Tai Chi class. WHAT an experience. We walked there and back, about 15 minutes each way, then had an hour long session. I had heard that Tai Chi is gentle, with slow, easy movements though I couldn’t see how that could help over my 30-60 minute walks. Boy, was I ever wrong! By the time we had walked home – all up hill – my knees really wanted to buckle and my upper arms felt like cooked spaghetti. Taught me a lesson and I will certainly keep going and am also hoping to find another class on a different day as well.
The second thing I will be doing is working toward my weight loss goals by kick starting my body in to leaving my weight plateau, by taking a month on the very successful Intermittent Fasting regime. Also checking the nutrition and calories in all my meals.
As well as finding meals I can cook and freeze in a short amount of time. I have already found some new favourite meals so will add at least one in all my upcoming articles for anyone who is interested in changing things for themselves, without having to spend hours in the kitchen.
This week, Wholemeal Loaf . (Have just begun my own sourdough starter, looking forward to using it for a sourdough loaf).
Ingredients
250g (1 1/2 cups) wholemeal flour
250g (1 1/2 cups) high grade (bread) flour
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp yeast – I used dried yeast
400ml warm water, though I used a little more. Makes wet sticky dough,
which is just what you want.
Directions
Mix flours, salt, sugar together.
Then add yeast and mix together again.
Make well in centre, add warm (NOT HOT as you will kill the yeast) water and mix with a spoon.
Cover and leave to rise, about an hour, but leave longer if not risen enough, should be double size of original mix. I put in slightly warmed oven for 10 mins if not risen enough for me.
When mixture doubled, deflate with spoon, mix and pour into oiled & paper lined tim.
If you turn oven to 200c first, by the time you have finished re mixing, it should be hot enough. Bake for 55 mins or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
I sprinkle a few seeds on top before baking, seeds that I likethe taste of. Today’s loaf I used Fennel seeds, gave a really nice extra pop.
Anyway – Onward and Upward.
During my searches I couldn’t ignore the evidence that currently suggests diets heavy in UPFs can cause overeating. The problem is – in many cases we blame ourselves for overindulging in these kinds of foods.
But, what if it is in the nature of these products to BE overeaten??
“In 2014, the Brazilian government took the radical approach of advising its citizens to avoid UPFs outright. The country was acting out of a sense of urgency, because the number of young Brazilian adults with obesity had risen so far and so fast, more than doubling between 2002 and 2013 (from 7.5% of the population to 17.5%). These radical new guidelines urged Brazilians to avoid snacking, and to make time for wholesome food in their lives, to eat regular meals in company when possible, to learn how to cook and to teach children to be “wary of all forms of food advertising”
If you would like to check these facts for yourself go to fao.org – regions – food based dietary guidelines.
Being in the classification – “obese” at over 101kg (222lbs) when I finally woke up and stopped fooling myself about what I was doing to my body, I decided to do something about it. Tired of being tired all the time, hating to shop for clothes as I couldn’t find nice clothes in my size, that helped me feel good about myself. The clothes that fit were, in my eyes, frumpy.
The shocking thing about today is there are so MANY places that sell the feel good clothes for overweight and obese people. Adults AND children. Instead of showing people how they can CHANGE. Again, to my mind, this just proves how so many of our population are now obese.
I am still a work in progress, but having lost 18kg over the last five years, I am so much healthier, fitter, and – dare I say it? – much happier. I can also, now, believe that I will reach my goal weight. And I can accept that this won’t be a quick fix.
BUT, with UPFs only on the menu as an occasional treat maybe once a fortnight, or month, means I have taken a huge step forward.
I truly believe that if you want to be fit and healthy, YOU CAN.
You don’t have to exercise to exhaustion, just a half hour walk round the block, to your local supermarket, down to the water if it’s close enough. You can so easily make your food, my next experiment will be burgers at home with just mince, a bit of onion and egg. And I will look for yummy stuff to go with them.
Do you have any favourite foods?
Let me know and I will look for recipes to fit your budget.
[email protected] will always reach me, even if I’m away from home.
My concerns just keep growing with all I am reading right now. Check any reports about U(ltra) P(rocessed) F(oods) online and see if the results bother you as they do me.
But KNOW, that you can reverse many of your health concerns (Not medical of course). Beginning with avoiding the UPFs that manufacturers keep offering so they can keep making their millions.