I promised that we would talk about our new eating habits today! Are we obsessed with weight and health? No, not at all, but health plays a role in how you feel and what you can do. When you are negatively affected, you feel you have to do something, and that's where we are today.
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New eating habits
We have felt for quite some time that we need to do something about our health. We are both tired, and Peter has had stomach pains for a long time. When he quit smoking and started taking cortisone in the same year, he also gained a lot of weight. Weight isn't everything, but it matters, and when you can't wear your clothes or move around like you used to, it's not much fun. (And Peter wants to really be able to have their clothing from Taracci!).
A few months ago we started jogging in the morningsand we have kept it up to some extent. It's good, but it wasn't enough to affect our weight. Then we decided to stop drinking wine, but that's the way it is. so boring. It didn't last and (probably therefore) had no effect. Eventually we had enough and felt that we had to change something else, and that was properly.
But ... didn't we have good eating habits?
In some ways, we probably had good eating habits before. We ate a lot fish and lots of vegetables, and we rarely ate sweets and hardly ever drank soft drinks. So that's positive! Meneveryone has their weaknesses. For our part, the weaknesses have been about wine, beer, biscuits and cheese and a little too large portions. Peter has also been quite generous with butter and oil in his cooking. There are simply too many calories per day, and in the long run it makes you gain weight.
New eating habits - no special diet
No, we haven't started any particular diet, and there are several reasons for that. Firstly, some diets can become monotonous and unhealthy for various reasons, and we don't want to expose ourselves to that. Secondly, some diets (such as the popular 5:2) involve eating irregularly.
We understand and respect that many people may think this type of diet is good, but it's not for us. Because I (Helena) suffer from migraines, I can't manage to eat different amounts on different days. If I try to do that, I get migrainesimply put.
New eating habits - counting calories
Our new eating habits are really about counting calories, trying to be even more aware of what we are eating. Recently, we have been counting just everything. We are careful to also count things that are easy to forget, such as marinades and cooking butter. We don't use a special app, but we have mostly looked at the Swedish National Food Agency's database, or we have simply googled.
New eating habits - prioritising and replacing
Our new eating habits are very much about thinking, prioritising and switching. After counting the calories, we can choose, and we realise that there are lots of smart swaps we can make that still feel ok to us. Some things we changed:
- Half the portion of yoghurt in the morning
- 17% cheese instead of regular
- Water instead of beer at lunch
- Most food cooked in the oven (without butter or oil) instead of the frying pan.
- Smaller portions for dinner (and more vegetables)
- Sauces made from sour cream instead of crème fraiche or mayonnaise
- No snacks in the evening
But, we're not going to cut out wine completely! Since wine is the luxury that we appreciate the most, we have decided to continue to treat ourselves to a few glasses of wine from time to time. It's all about prioritising, isn't it?
Several smaller meals per day
We try to eat slightly more, but smaller, meals per day. On weekdays we start with a small breakfast, with about a cup of yoghurt and half a banana (and on fancy days maybe some blueberries too). When we are done with our jogging round, there will be coffee and sandwiches!
For lunch we have usually eaten instant noodles, because it is easy and cheap. It may not be completely optimal from a calorie point of view (since we also usually have two hard sandwiches with butter and cheese), so we may have to change this habit. Yesterday we tried a tuna can from Willys, which is originally mixed with beans, spices and other goodies. Together with this we had boiled eggs, vegetables and some hummus. Tasty and filling!
Sometimes, if we feel we need it, we have an extra meal in the afternoon. It could be a boiled egg, a tin of mackerel or a banana. On other days, we can do without that extra meal.
In the evening we have a relatively 'normal' dinner, except that we count the calories. We try to choose low-calorie products like chicken, fish, potatoes, carrots and various vegetables. Yesterday we tried making cauliflower rice, which is very energy efficient. Tasty and fresh!
How do you think about eating habits?
What are your thoughts on eating habits and health? Is this something you want us to write more about, or do you think we should stick to the travel theme?
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New Year's resolutions and diets - about food and health in the long run
Jogging in winter - dress for the weather
Inner peace in the Sierra de Madrid - Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Mataelpino
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Ditte says:
The most important thing is that you feel good, I think. And you seem to be doing that now with exercise and changed eating habits. Nice to read about how you think
I move around a lot and eat what I like and what makes me feel good. A lot of seafood and a lot of Asian food. I avoid red meat, even beans and food that is fatty and hard-boiled. Since childhood and youth, I have done a lot of sports and then of course I ate more. And made off with more calories. At a more mature age, I've probably always had it in the back of my mind that I can't eat more than I spend. It has worked well so I don't have any restrictions. I have studied a lot of nutrition and nutritional physiology so this with diet and exercise is built in somehow. I have been involved in some experiments where different diets were physiologically tested and then muscle biopsies were taken. Very exciting and interesting.
I think you can continue to write about what feels important and the everyday life you live in. For now, travelling is fairly limited.
18 November 2020 - 12:57
Helena says:
Yes, the most important thing is to feel good, I agree! That is the goal! It sounds like you are aware and have control. super! I actually also have control, have studied lots of nutrition, but then we have probably relaxed and life has rolled on. We needed to take care of things!
18 November 2020 - 21:21
Ann says:
Of course I want to read about your travels, but I appreciate a post like this with good food tips, so maybe food travelling?
We have made food trips, cooked and found wines that belong since spring and it has been super fun 🙂 .
18 November 2020 - 20:16
Helena says:
Food and travel together is a great theme, love it! 🙂 We also did that kind of food travelling in the past, a long time ago now, but we may have to resume it 🙂 .
18 November 2020 - 21:22
Ann / anngelic.com says:
I look forward to reading about that 🙂
24 November 2020 - 10:10
BP says:
This is the second article on changing eating habits that you have written. It's interesting to read your reasoning.
I also thought you were eating "right" with lots of fish and vegetables. But then you must not forget your mingle dinners that may have contributed to a few extra kilos.
We also love wine, and I would never give it up. Beer, on the other hand, can be skipped, especially during the winter.
I don't like different diets either. Because when one diet is "in" it is followed by another, and another, and another. I think that common sense should determine what you feel good about. Snacks/chips and such are not exactly "rewarding", but how fun is it to nibble on raw carrots or cucumber sticks... Well, you know what I mean.
18 November 2020 - 20:25
Helena says:
Maybe that's it? Haha, not even I remember. But I know that we have never changed as much as now 😉 And you are absolutely right about the mingle dinners! There has been a lot of that, and then we have not been in control.
18 November 2020 - 21:23
Maria says:
Sounds good! I read Michel Mosley's book about 800, 8 or something like that. Works great for me! 800 calories. Last meal 20.00 Breakfast 10.00 ie night fasting of 14 hours. Then between 10-20 eat 800-1000 calories. In 2 weeks it fell by 4 kg! Now it is more stable with half a kg a week. Finally, I get into my clothes again! I didn't want to have to go up in size...and not get diabetes either... Now the values are good again. The good thing is that there is really no ban, just more or less good things like sugar for example. I also used the Swedish Food Agency's database and my own notes to understand what is filling, what gives good energy, etc.
Go for it!
18 November 2020 - 21:51
Emma, sun like sun? says:
That's the thing about parties and everyday life, that every day is not a party. I like the attitude of not slavishly following a diet, but eating varied and smaller quantities. You should feel full, not stuffed. In addition, it is important to have snacks because then you don't get as hungry at lunch and dinner and then you eat more sensibly. I think.
Mmmm hard bread with tuna, capers, black pepper lemon and yoghurt. With a few slices of boiled potato on top, it's a whole meal. Some chives too. Oh, now I'm hungry.
18 November 2020 - 22:24
Emmi - explorista.se says:
I think it sounds like a good concept, keeping track of energy in and out, not banning anything or going on short-term diets. Lagom is best, both with exercise, food and sleep! 🙂
19 November 2020 - 20:36
Lena - good for the soul says:
I have been eating many meals a day for many years. I kind of have to, otherwise my brain shuts down. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. It works well and keeps me full and reasonably alert.
It sounds like you live a healthy life and feel good. That's the main thing. You're great for exercising so much!
Hug Lena
20 November 2020 - 20:51