If there is one thing in my life now that I'm feeling I have under control it's nutrition. And it's been a long road

A year and a half ago I had blood tests and my iron levels and vitamin D levels were so low I was hospitalised (to get an iron infusion - tablets made me sick) and put on supplements FOR LIFE

I was tested for food allergies and seems I'm VERY lactose intolerant and although not coeliac, I'm also sensitive to gluten. So I got my explanation as to why I always felt AWFUL and tired, and lethargic and depressed, with daily digestive issues

In the last 3 months I decided to totally overhaul my eating. Cut out all breads, refined sugar, any and all processed foods (!!) and drastically increased my intake of fresh vegies and fruits. My diet wasn't that bad before I thought, but I was eating CRAP, and drinking a LOT, I could finish a 700ml bottle of rum in a week (without drinking excessively in one session - 2 drinks was my max at any time) but I drank the rum with Coca-Cola, and I was a total addict to that shit

Soooooooo…

This is a snapshot of a day of eating at my house - I have the master on this diet too, although he likes bread and drinks coffee and I suspect doesn't eat ANY fruit

I am not a huge snacker, but in my handbag I have a bottle or water and a container of nuts for emergencies should it be too long between meals - I'm trying to eat every 3 hours or so. Morning snack might be 2 pieces of 85% cocoa dark chocolate and afternoon snack and boiled egg or 2.

I LOVE fruit and vegies and my breakfast fruit salad might kiwi, papaya, banana, usually also blueberries, strawberries, walnuts, macadamias, almonds and sunflower seeds. It's my favourite meal of the day. It makes me happy and my tummy feels good! This is a revelation to me after years of feeling SICK EVERY MORNING after a traditional breakfast with cereals and milk

I'm now drinking lactose free skim milk I'm VERY happy this exists! I consider soy milk a processed food, given it's long list of ingredients in an attempt to imitate cows milk Almond milk is OK, I sometimes have that, but it is expensive and difficult to find here unsweetened

I attempt each day to drink 1.5L of water, and find that relatively easy. Weak organic decaf green tea a few times a day, or I like hot water with ginger pieces at the bottom of the cup it's spicy!

Lunch and dinner are generally some lean meat (not a huge amount) with as many different vegies as I have I LOVE colours! I keep my fridge stocked with packets of triple washed baby kale and baby spinach. Cherry roma tomatoes Several times a week I bake up sweet potato or butternut squash, baby beets, whole heads of garlic that I can put in my salad meals. I buy bags of avocados that ripen in my fruit bowl. I try new things whenever I can. I'm in love with black rice, wild rice and quinoa.

I'm always on the look out for foods that might be good for things like arthritis if you have any ideas - I heard turmeric was helpful.

What about your diet? Is it out of control? Do you find it easy or hard to eat healthy?

My iron levels were extremely low for years. The dr put me on iron tabs which helped a little but I was still low. And then all of the sudden, I started having high levels of iron. Dr immediately told me to stop taking the iron tabs and 6 months later, it's still high. The doctor thinks my body has adjusted to iron and now absorbs it from my diet much better. The bummer part is I'm just as tired with too much iron as I was with too little. The human body is amazing.

You are very disciplined with your diet. I wish some of that would rub off on me. I do a little bit to change it here and there but would love to be inspired for a total transformation. So far all I have is a bucket full of Halloween candy and excuses.

My mom got sick about a month ago. She ended up in the hospital for a few days, after the doctor's saw she had a blockage, in her heart. Since then, I started looking at what I ate and how stress was effecting my health. So, for the last few weeks, I have started my day with a bowl of oatmeal followed by some fruit. I also take fish oil and 5000 IU's of Vitamin D3. I must tell you, that I feel, 100% better than I used to.

JuliePurplehead said:

My iron levels were extremely low for years. The dr put me on iron tabs which helped a little but I was still low. And then all of the sudden, I started having high levels of iron. Dr immediately told me to stop taking the iron tabs and 6 months later, it's still high. The doctor thinks my body has adjusted to iron and now absorbs it from my diet much better. The bummer part is I'm just as tired with too much iron as I was with too little. The human body is amazing.

You are very disciplined with your diet. I wish some of that would rub off on me. I do a little bit to change it here and there but would love to be inspired for a total transformation. So far all I have is a bucket full of Halloween candy and excuses.

Yikes! But ultimately that's good news - I wonder what changed to help you absorb better?

In my case, three months after the infusion (immediately after I was what the gastroenterologist called "replete") I had already lost approx half of my new iron already

shorttrini said:

My mom got sick about a month ago. She ended up in the hospital for a few days, after the doctor's saw she had a blockage, in her heart. Since then, I started looking at what I ate and how stress was effecting my health. So, for the last few weeks, I have started my day with a bowl of oatmeal followed by some fruit. I also take fish oil and 5000 IU's of Vitamin D3. I must tell you, that I feel, 100% better than I used to.

oh no, sorry to hear that

How old are you? I'm glad you are taking care before it's too late.

I saw on TV last night Red Krill Oil

The next big thing? They are saying it's better than fish oil

I'm thinking the arthritis relief might be helpful to me? The only thing is fish oil can thin out your blood and I'm a bleeder already, don't produce enough fibrinogen. I wonder if that would be not very good for me? I will ask my doctor.

i crave fruit and veggies all of the time, and i've started buying much more of both. but i still eat way too much un-healthy stuff, and drink too much soda. i do drink a lot of water, however i need to get my act together and start eating a healthy diet all of the time. thanks for the great thread!

JuliePurplehead said:

My iron levels were extremely low for years. The dr put me on iron tabs which helped a little but I was still low. And then all of the sudden, I started having high levels of iron. Dr immediately told me to stop taking the iron tabs and 6 months later, it's still high. The doctor thinks my body has adjusted to iron and now absorbs it from my diet much better. The bummer part is I'm just as tired with too much iron as I was with too little. The human body is amazing.

You are very disciplined with your diet. I wish some of that would rub off on me. I do a little bit to change it here and there but would love to be inspired for a total transformation. So far all I have is a bucket full of Halloween candy and excuses.

Have you had your vitamin D and thyroid levels checked?

ZombieKitten said:

shorttrini said:

My mom got sick about a month ago. She ended up in the hospital for a few days, after the doctor's saw she had a blockage, in her heart. Since then, I started looking at what I ate and how stress was effecting my health. So, for the last few weeks, I have started my day with a bowl of oatmeal followed by some fruit. I also take fish oil and 5000 IU's of Vitamin D3. I must tell you, that I feel, 100% better than I used to.

oh no, sorry to hear that

How old are you? I'm glad you are taking care before it's too late.

I saw on TV last night Red Krill Oil

The next big thing? They are saying it's better than fish oil

I'm thinking the arthritis relief might be helpful to me? The only thing is fish oil can thin out your blood and I'm a bleeder already, don't produce enough fibrinogen. I wonder if that would be not very good for me? I will ask my doctor.

I turned 45 a month ago. I need to read up on this and see how good it is. Since I have been taking the vitamin D 3, I feel like a new man....

uniden said:

i crave fruit and veggies all of the time, and i've started buying much more of both. but i still eat way too much un-healthy stuff, and drink too much soda. i do drink a lot of water, however i need to get my act together and start eating a healthy diet all of the time. thanks for the great thread!

I was going to do this gradually, but found it suited me better to go cold turkey. I am now at the point where I've become an obsessive bore I get on the computer when I have alone time and google healthy food pictures

I started a pinterest to keep all the salad porn in one place

http://pinterest.com/happymutant/super-foods/

The nice thing is I'm finding when we eat out, most places will do a salad with roast chicken breast or similar, so I'm not having to feel like a PAIN IN THE ASS and if worst comes to worst ie. food court, I'll get a sushi pack.

Stymie said:

JuliePurplehead said:

My iron levels were extremely low for years. The dr put me on iron tabs which helped a little but I was still low. And then all of the sudden, I started having high levels of iron. Dr immediately told me to stop taking the iron tabs and 6 months later, it's still high. The doctor thinks my body has adjusted to iron and now absorbs it from my diet much better. The bummer part is I'm just as tired with too much iron as I was with too little. The human body is amazing.

You are very disciplined with your diet. I wish some of that would rub off on me. I do a little bit to change it here and there but would love to be inspired for a total transformation. So far all I have is a bucket full of Halloween candy and excuses.

Have you had your vitamin D and thyroid levels checked?

I haven't had my thyroid checked in years. And I don't think I've had my vitamin D checked. I remember you mentioning how much vitamin D has helped you.

I eat much better than I used to but not as good as I should. I have rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes and other stuff so a lot of food are triggers for pain and inflammation. Lately, I've been having coffee for breakfast since I have no appetite in the morning from the diabetes meds (bad, I know) but when I am forcing myself to eat in the morning, I have some oatmeal. Lunch is soup or a salad and most nights, like tonight, I'm skipping dinner (no appetite at the end of the day either).

When I was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago, I stopped putting sugar in anything. I can honestly say I put some sugar in my coffee one time in the last three years.

shorttrini said:

My mom got sick about a month ago. She ended up in the hospital for a few days, after the doctor's saw she had a blockage, in her heart. Since then, I started looking at what I ate and how stress was effecting my health. So, for the last few weeks, I have started my day with a bowl of oatmeal followed by some fruit. I also take fish oil and 5000 IU's of Vitamin D3. I must tell you, that I feel, 100% better than I used to.

Are you taking 5000 IU of vitamin D a day? Did your doctor suggest that?

I had a vitamin D deficiency and the doctor put me on 50, 000 a week. When my levels came back to normal, my maintenance dose became 1,000 a day. Be careful because too much vitamin D is bad, too.

Stymie said:

JuliePurplehead said:

My iron levels were extremely low for years. The dr put me on iron tabs which helped a little but I was still low. And then all of the sudden, I started having high levels of iron. Dr immediately told me to stop taking the iron tabs and 6 months later, it's still high. The doctor thinks my body has adjusted to iron and now absorbs it from my diet much better. The bummer part is I'm just as tired with too much iron as I was with too little. The human body is amazing.

You are very disciplined with your diet. I wish some of that would rub off on me. I do a little bit to change it here and there but would love to be inspired for a total transformation. So far all I have is a bucket full of Halloween candy and excuses.

Have you had your vitamin D and thyroid levels checked?

Having all that checked is a good idea

when I turned 40 my doc ran through everything with me

I'd never have known otherwise

JuliePurplehead said:

Stymie said:

Have you had your vitamin D and thyroid levels checked?

I haven't had my thyroid checked in years. And I don't think I've had my vitamin D checked. I remember you mentioning how much vitamin D has helped you.

It's a night and day difference.

Stymie said:

shorttrini said:

My mom got sick about a month ago. She ended up in the hospital for a few days, after the doctor's saw she had a blockage, in her heart. Since then, I started looking at what I ate and how stress was effecting my health. So, for the last few weeks, I have started my day with a bowl of oatmeal followed by some fruit. I also take fish oil and 5000 IU's of Vitamin D3. I must tell you, that I feel, 100% better than I used to.

Are you taking 5000 IU of vitamin D a day? Did your doctor suggest that?

I had a vitamin D deficiency and the doctor put me on 50, 000 a week. When my levels came back to normal, my maintenance dose became 1,000 a day. Be careful because too much vitamin D is bad, too.

I never knew it came in such high doses since Ren said he takes that you both must have had VERY low levels.

I take 2000iu daily, unless I can spend 20 minutes in the sun naked

shorttrini said:

ZombieKitten said:

oh no, sorry to hear that

How old are you? I'm glad you are taking care before it's too late.

I saw on TV last night Red Krill Oil

The next big thing? They are saying it's better than fish oil

I'm thinking the arthritis relief might be helpful to me? The only thing is fish oil can thin out your blood and I'm a bleeder already, don't produce enough fibrinogen. I wonder if that would be not very good for me? I will ask my doctor.

I turned 45 a month ago. I need to read up on this and see how good it is. Since I have been taking the vitamin D 3, I feel like a new man....

fourth testimonial I've heard on the org

ZombieKitten said:

Stymie said:

Have you had your vitamin D and thyroid levels checked?

Having all that checked is a good idea

when I turned 40 my doc ran through everything with me

I'd never have known otherwise

Absolutely! I had the worse muscle aches and spasms when my thyroid was out of whack and my vitamin D was super low.

ZombieKitten said:

Stymie said:

Are you taking 5000 IU of vitamin D a day? Did your doctor suggest that?

I had a vitamin D deficiency and the doctor put me on 50, 000 a week. When my levels came back to normal, my maintenance dose became 1,000 a day. Be careful because too much vitamin D is bad, too.

I never knew it came in such high doses since Ren said he takes that you both must have had VERY low levels.

I take 2000iu daily, unless I can spend 20 minutes in the sun naked

It was super low. And unfortunately, 3 of my 10 meds make me sensitive to sunlight so staying out too long gives me sun poisoning.

Stymie said:

ZombieKitten said:

I never knew it came in such high doses since Ren said he takes that you both must have had VERY low levels.

I take 2000iu daily, unless I can spend 20 minutes in the sun naked

It was super low. And unfortunately, 3 of my 10 meds make me sensitive to sunlight so staying out too long gives me sun poisoning.

oh no, that's crazy

ZombieKitten said:

Stymie said:

It was super low. And unfortunately, 3 of my 10 meds make me sensitive to sunlight so staying out too long gives me sun poisoning.

oh no, that's crazy

It's ok.

I would hope that people do take heed to this thread and learn something from the mistakes we have made.

Putting on tons of weight with kids and then a busy life later on, eating tons of fast food, led me to put extra weight on my joints and cause me to have both osteoarthritis and diabetes. Over the last three years, I lost 80 pounds but the damage is done. I believe my one autoimmune disease, diabetes, triggered my oher two, hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis.

It is my belief that getting sick was the best thing that happened to me because it forces me to eat right and now it's not even forcing: it's habit. It's habit to drive past McDonalds and go to the grocery store and get salad fixins instead.

Stymie said:

ZombieKitten said:

oh no, that's crazy

It's ok.

I would hope that people do take heed to this thread and learn something from the mistakes we have made.

Putting on tons of weight with kids and then a busy life later on, eating tons of fast food, led me to put extra weight on my joints and cause me to have both osteoarthritis and diabetes. Over the last three years, I lost 80 pounds but the damage is done. I believe my one autoimmune disease, diabetes, triggered my oher two, hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis.

It is my belief that getting sick was the best thing that happened to me because it forces me to eat right and now it's not even forcing: it's habit. It's habit to drive past McDonalds and go to the grocery store and get salad fixins instead.

there's something pretty important

new habits to replace old ones

and salads aren't that hard to make either if you keep your fridge stocked with the things you love.

Chicken salad lunch today for me and the SOB took like 5 mins to make

ZombieKitten said:

I am trying to get better.

For a long time I had a really shitty diet...bacon/egg/cheese on a bagel for breakfast almost everyday...or Burger King/McDonalds for breakfast...then fast food for lunch which TYPICALLY consisted of a bacon cheeseburger....then the ex would have a big meal waiting at home (Mon thru Thurs of course, Fri thru Sun was her "off" period so we'd eat out).

And to top it off, I was addicted to Coca-Cola. I'd drink Coke for lunch, Coke for my 3pm caffeine fix, and Coke with dinner. EVERY DAY.

Now I'm trying to be better with that in order to keep the midsection down. I have a tendency to gain weight around my gut.

I only have my bacon/egg/cheese bagel sandwich once a week (Friday morning). As for lunch and dinner, I try to limit my red meat & fat intake BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY - I'm eating smaller portions. I don't supersize anything, and pick the smallest sandwich or meal.

So I'm not as dedicated as you Zombie when it comes to eating RIGHT, but the smaller portions AND going to the gym have helped me drop a pant size.

PurpleJedi said:

Stymie said:

shorttrini said:

My mom got sick about a month ago. She ended up in the hospital for a few days, after the doctor's saw she had a blockage, in her heart. Since then, I started looking at what I ate and how stress was effecting my health. So, for the last few weeks, I have started my day with a bowl of oatmeal followed by some fruit. I also take fish oil and 5000 IU's of Vitamin D3. I must tell you, that I feel, 100% better than I used to.

Are you taking 5000 IU of vitamin D a day? Did your doctor suggest that?

I had a vitamin D deficiency and the doctor put me on 50, 000 a week. When my levels came back to normal, my maintenance dose became 1,000 a day. Be careful because too much vitamin D is bad, too.

My doctor suggested it about a year ago, Stymie. I had extremely negative levels, so she suggested that amount. I take it along with the fish oil and calcium which actually helps it absorb slower. As for overdosing on it, you can take up to 10,000 IU's without overdosing on it and as long as you don't spend too much time in the sun, one should be fine. Since I have been on it, I have never felt better.

Stymie said:

PurpleJedi said:

I am trying to get better.

For a long time I had a really shitty diet...bacon/egg/cheese on a bagel for breakfast almost everyday...or Burger King/McDonalds for breakfast...then fast food for lunch which TYPICALLY consisted of a bacon cheeseburger....then the ex would have a big meal waiting at home (Mon thru Thurs of course, Fri thru Sun was her "off" period so we'd eat out).

And to top it off, I was addicted to Coca-Cola. I'd drink Coke for lunch, Coke for my 3pm caffeine fix, and Coke with dinner. EVERY DAY.

Now I'm trying to be better with that in order to keep the midsection down. I have a tendency to gain weight around my gut.

I only have my bacon/egg/cheese bagel sandwich once a week (Friday morning). As for lunch and dinner, I try to limit my red meat & fat intake BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY - I'm eating smaller portions. I don't supersize anything, and pick the smallest sandwich or meal.

So I'm not as dedicated as you Zombie when it comes to eating RIGHT, but the smaller portions AND going to the gym have helped me drop a pant size.

i was having White Castle, McDonald's or polish sausage with fries and a Pepsi for breakfast every morning.

I was bad with soda, but I could never drink soda for breakfast.

PurpleJedi said:

shorttrini said:

Stymie said:

PurpleJedi said:

I was bad with soda, but I could never drink soda for breakfast.

i was drinking it with every meal.

Have you broken your caffeine addiction?

Stymie said:

PurpleJedi said:

I was bad with soda, but I could never drink soda for breakfast.

i was drinking it with every meal.

me too