Lifestyle changes

I've talked to my husband extensively about this over the weekend, and I'm making another small change to my diet. I have started on monday with reducing the sugary items I eat. I've been using the wartime rationing system as inspiration. My goal is not to lose weight , but to achieve optimum health in my diet and see what it does for me. Losing weight is welcome but optional.
For now I am going for the Australian world war 2 ration limit of 500 g sweets a month, which is truly a lot less than I am used to eating. This means I can have a max of 125 g of candy or chocolate a week. I just weighed out my ration yesterday, and came to 12 easter eggs for a week. That's what I will stick to. So far eating 2 easter eggs and not more has not been hard because my meals have been more filling without the sugary stuff.
Otherwise I am also limiting sugar by not buying sugared yoghurts, desserts, cakes or cookies. I can make desserts and baked goods myself from the rationed allowance of sugar and fat that my family would have in the US or Australian system. I didn't choose to use the UK system as this seemed very austere and not feasible with my eating disorder or the demands of my other family members.

The following items I am rationing:
Sweets: 500 g a month for me alone, my husband is not doing it

Rations for the whole family of 3:
Butter: 250 g a week (one stick) for bread or baking
Margarine : 250 g a week
Cooking fats and oil: 80 ml a week
Milk: 3 liters a week (one for each person in our household)
Yoghurt: 1 liter a week
Sugar: 500 g a week
Red meat: 500 g a week
Bacon/deli meats: 200 g a week
Cheese: 450 g a week
Eggs: 6 a week
Tea : 250 g a month

Not rationed
Fruits
Veg
Starches (bread, potatoes etc)
Fish
Poultry
Preserves
Alcohol (as I almost never consume it anyway)
Nuts and seeds

I also posted this in: Wartime cooking
This is very interesting and such a good idea for you to try!

I think I will adapt to some of these changes in my own goals. It should be a relatively easy transition since I already don't eat a "standard" adult meal anyway. I also no longer have a vehicle so there is no way for me to cheat and run to the grocery. It's simply a matter of not having certain things around.

Thanks for sharing this.

I wish you the best in your optimum health goals! I believe you can do it!
 
This is very interesting and such a good idea for you to try!

I think I will adapt to some of these changes in my own goals. It should be a relatively easy transition since I already don't eat a "standard" adult meal anyway. I also no longer have a vehicle so there is no way for me to cheat and run to the grocery. It's simply a matter of not having certain things around.

Thanks for sharing this.

I wish you the best in your optimum health goals! I believe you can do it!
Yes exactly it's about removing temptation and focussing on the right choices.

Yesterday I only ate 2 easter eggs yet was not hungry for snacks at all because my meals were more filling.
 
I had a light dinner. I went a full 48 hours with no liquids other than water. I had a chocolate protein drink to satisfy my chocolate craving.

I'm going to fewer solids each day until I am on a full juice fast which I will try to do for 7-10 days.

I plan to start yoga exercises today.

How is everybody doing?
 
I had a light dinner. I went a full 48 hours with no liquids other than water. I had a chocolate protein drink to satisfy my chocolate craving.

I'm going to fewer solids each day until I am on a full juice fast which I will try to do for 7-10 days.

I plan to start yoga exercises today.

How is everybody doing?
Good, I just got a call from a registered dietician specialised in Eating Disorders this morning. I am seeing her tomorrow to review my health plan 😊
 
I had a light dinner. I went a full 48 hours with no liquids other than water. I had a chocolate protein drink to satisfy my chocolate craving.

I'm going to fewer solids each day until I am on a full juice fast which I will try to do for 7-10 days.

I plan to start yoga exercises today.

How is everybody doing?

I'm doing quite well, I don't feel a particular need to eat bread beyond what is necessary. Today for lunch I had a salad with cherry toms, tuna, gorgonzola and carrots, a slice of rye bread and I've had three glasses of water so far. This morning I had a tea for brekky.
I have a lot of work to do from home and my last work call will be at 9 p.m. Maybe this being busy is somehow helping me not to overdo it. I don't have much time to exercise, maybe just a couple of push-ups later.

I'm glad you will start yoga exercises today.
 
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I'm doing quite well, I don't feel a particular need to eat bread beyond what is necessary. Today for lunch I had a salad with cherry toms, tuna, gorgonzola and carrots, a slice of rye bread and I've had three glasses of water so far. This morning I had a tea for brekky.
Today I have a lot of work to do from home and my last work call will be at 9 p.m. Maybe this being busy is somehow helping me not to overdo it. I don't have much time today to exercise, maybe just a couple of push-ups later.

I'm glad you will start yoga exercises today.
I'm assuming that "brekky" means breakfast? Or is it something else?

Sounds like you're doing great!

If you hear someone screaming like mad, it's me trying to do yoga poses. Ha Ha.
 
Wow, you all are so determined and active. Waves!
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Today's artichoke soup with cream, butter and egg yolks wasn't ideal health-wise :oops:. I'll do a bit more pedal(l)ing on the exercise bike.
 
I'm assuming that "brekky" means breakfast? Or is it something else?

Sounds like you're doing great!

If you hear someone screaming like mad, it's me trying to do yoga poses. Ha Ha.

Yes, brekky is breakfast. I've learned this abbreviation here :)
Please be careful with yoga poses. I once stayed in the position of the crescent moon for an entire night :laugh:
 
I’ve had 1 lt of water today... little by little I’m reaching my goal 😃

I have often wondered why people pay for bottled water. I mean, it's free (not exactly, if you're paying the water bill, but you've already paid for it). And, at least in the Great Lakes region, water from the tap is excellent.

But, I can understand it now in this context. If you have a bottle of water sitting in front of you, there's a good chance you'll remember to drink it. But, hoping you'll remember to grab a glass and fill up from the tap isn't the same thing.
 
I have often wondered why people pay for bottled water. I mean, it's free (not exactly, if you're paying the water bill, but you've already paid for it). And, at least in the Great Lakes region, water from the tap is excellent.

But, I can understand it now in this context. If you have a bottle of water sitting in front of you, there's a good chance you'll remember to drink it. But, hoping you'll remember to grab a glass and fill up from the tap isn't the same thing.
When we first moved to our area, tap water was decent, but as the customer base has increased, quality seems to have decreased. I'm not usually sensitive to off flavors in water (I grew up on well water, which had color - orange, taste - iron, and texture - flaky sediment :laugh:), but I can taste it these days.

MrsT is a water bottle nut - she'll drink only bottled water, and I've tried for years to break her of the habit, for both economic and environmental reasons. She's got digestive issues, so she drinks six 20oz bottles a day, on her doctor's recommendation - sometimes more.

Apart from everything else, I'm <bleeping> tired of lugging packs of water into the house. We go through so much, it's like milk...something I buy on every shopping trip.

I got her to agree to using a Brita pitcher, but that lasted about a week - "Too much bother!" - though that's what I use, but it's wasteful in its own way (disposable filters, 36 cups of water poured down the drain every time the filter is changed), and she's not lying - it really is a PITA to keep it filled all the time.
 
I have often wondered why people pay for bottled water. I mean, it's free (not exactly, if you're paying the water bill, but you've already paid for it). And, at least in the Great Lakes region, water from the tap is excellent.

But, I can understand it now in this context. If you have a bottle of water sitting in front of you, there's a good chance you'll remember to drink it. But, hoping you'll remember to grab a glass and fill up from the tap isn't the same thing.
The water from my faucet is brown. It's like every other day our police department reports another main line break and no boil orders. I was so ticked off two Summers ago when I went to the laundromat (the laundry room in our building was closed) and all my white items were stained because of the nasty water here. Some of it was brand new lingerie and linens. All ruined. Mj doesn't do tap water. No siree bob!

On top of that, I can get a case of water (36 bottles) for $3.25 or so. So, it's basically free anyway.
 
Thank you, mjd and TastyReuben for chiming in. I mistakenly assumed that what I have here is common to the region - and it really should be - but it clearly isn't. I forget that each municipality makes negotiations to decide where their water comes from. There was obviously an utter nightmare situation in Flint - 9 people died because the water source was switched to the Flint River - and finally criminal charges are being brought.

Having said all that, my kids like drinking bottled water, and like both of you, I buy quite a bit of it. In their case, though, it's even cheaper: being residents of my house, everything is free! :laugh:
 
I have often wondered why people pay for bottled water. I mean, it's free (not exactly, if you're paying the water bill, but you've already paid for it). And, at least in the Great Lakes region, water from the tap is excellent.

But, I can understand it now in this context. If you have a bottle of water sitting in front of you, there's a good chance you'll remember to drink it. But, hoping you'll remember to grab a glass and fill up from the tap isn't the same thing.

Ah yeah, you can't imagine how much I'd like to get rid of the water bottles and drink tap water... if only it was good. Or maybe it really is and it's just a matter of habit. However, I must admit that tap water has a 'flat' taste. I know, it sounds strange to me too to give water a taste, but it does.
Anyway, yes, as you say, bottled water is a great convenience and a salvation when I go (used to go) running or to have a little bottle in my bag or while I'm working on my laptop. I also always keep a bottle on my bedside table.
Even when it's at room temp, it's still pleasant to drink unlike tap water which is awful at room temperature.
 
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