slow changeover in my diet

[Nazgul Girl]

As many know, my DH has been diagnosed with prostate cx and has chosen to be on Active Surveillance, which includes several lifestyle changes. He has gone on the recommende diet, and one of the things he has stopped eating is red meat. Since I want to support him, I'm gradually eating up what red meat we have frozen, but in small portions, and the rest of the time, I am eating only chicken and fish.

As I have cut back on almost all red meat ( 3-4 times a week instead of 8-10 times per week ), my appetite has absolutely plummeted. I can't explain it, exactly, but now, I find beef stew ( for example ) to be pretty unappetizing. I also eat much less, and don't feel any cravings, except for periodically wanting sugar. I just am amazed at how much more energy I have and how much more comfortable I feel. I would say that I am ingesting 30 % fewer calories, and don't want anything to eat past 8:00 at night.

I am already experiencing my clothes fitting me better, and the will to exercise far more often. It's been amazing.

[Cookies Galore]

[Nazgul Girl]

I also feel much more positive now, but I don't know if that's an effect of eating less red meat, or exercising more, or both....

[Nazgul Girl]

I agree with what you're saying, Lone. My thoughts are clearer, I definitely think less about E-A-T-I-N-G, I don't want second helpings anymore, and I am more cheerful. I also am yearning for more fish to eat, which has never, ever happened before in my life.

[weltschmerz]

As I have cut back on almost all red meat ( 3-4 times a week instead of 8-10 times per week ), my appetite has absolutely plummeted. I can't explain it, exactly, but now, I find beef stew ( for example ) to be pretty unappetizing. I also eat much less, and don't feel any cravings, except for periodically wanting sugar. I just am amazed at how much more energy I have and how much more comfortable I feel. I would say that I am ingesting 30 % fewer calories, and don't want anything to eat past 8:00 at night.
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Yay! Good for you! I gave up red meat several years ago, and I feel great. I no longer feel sluggish. I no longer gain weight just by looking at food. My weight is stable, I have plenty of energy. I consume mostly fish and seafood, and lots of fresh produce.

[weltschmerz]

I find beef stew ( for example ) to be pretty unappetizing.
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Lol! I used to like beef stew. Now the thought of it makes me want to hurl.

[Deleted]

Every time I give up something that is bad for my particular body, I develop a significant aversion to it. I gave up gluten 3 years ago, and the thought of bread made me for a long time. I still have no desire to eat it. Most recently was corn. Same thing happened. I tried going paleo for awhile, but I couldn't give up rice and potatoes. Right or not, i think its because these aren't really 'bad' for me. I know some people say that you can actually have an 'opposite' reaction and actually crave things your body is 'alergic' to (for want of a better word... intolerant of is probably a better word...) ... but once i'm free from it...

I'm glad you are having success and wish you more of it...

[mmhmm]

I've never cared for red meat so have eaten very little over the years. Fortunately, mother doesn't like it either. Around here it's mostly seafood and veggies.

[Cookies Galore]

I haven't eaten red meat/poultry/pork in 16 years and don't miss it. I'm glad to see you are seeing such positive changes!

[weltschmerz]

I used to be SUCH a carnivore. I liked my steaks 'bleu' (still with a pulse) and I loved raw meat like Steak Tartare. I didn't even want spices on it to mask the taste of the meat itself. Just raw with a bit of salt.
I didn't give it up for my health. I saw what goes on at industrial feedlots and slaughterhouses, and after that, I just couldn't swallow it. It became really repulsive to me. I can't say I miss it.

[Deleted]

hmm. I don't eat much red meat... maybe a few times a month? A steak now and again or some stuffed cabbage... I'll have to pay attention next time.

[Deleted]

welts, if you don't miss it, you probably don't need it... but I will say that we get our meat from local, sustainably raised places, which helps a lot with the issues you describe.

[Deleted]

Does lamb count as red ?

[weltschmerz]

Sept 6, 2012 21:50:40 GMT -5 oped said:

Does lamb count as red ?

Yes.

[cronewitch]

I am dieting and only allowed 4oz of meat a day so I have pretty much stopped eating it. This last pot of soup doesn't even have chicken stock but I had 4oz of pork last week. I am giving up dairy too except I was eating cheese but I am stopping that too.

I haven't lost my appetite at all and my thinking was always clear. I am more tired now and cold even when others are warm. I do kinda feel like dancing, not doing housework or exercise but I am starting to feel like exercising.

I am eating a lot of beans, split peas, veggies and fruit and some bread and popcorn but I am a bottomless pit, yesterday I had three bowls of soup and about 5 slices of bread, three pears and 10 cups of air pop popcorn and a tablespoon of butter. I am doing better today only one bowl of soup and two bread and 10 cups of popcorn and a slice of watermelon but I am not full, actually still hungry 9:30 at night and I might eat a bell pepper and a couple tomatoes before bedtime. I should skip more food and go to bed hungry so I lose weight but skipping meat, dairy, sugar, salt and fat is helping.

[Deleted]

Sept 6, 2012 23:41:14 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Crone...I think that feeling you're having of never feeling like you've had enough to eat is because you're missing the fat in your diet. Try a pat of butter on something and see if that helps. It did with me.

if someone is adding fat to their diet, there are much healthier ways to do it than butter - avocado, olive oil, nuts.

[Deleted]

Coconut oil... But I don't consider butter 'bad' ... Especially not a pat...

[Deleted]

Next you're going to tell me that bacon is bad for me....

[whoisjohngalt]

I find it fascinating how much time people spend on thinking about food. It seems that every other day there is a new research or a new finding about what we should or should not be eating. I wonder if we stopped obsessing about food so much and just simply ate, if we all would be happier and healthier.......

Lena

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I wonder if red meat is also an addictive substance. There are times when I *crave* a roast beef or good hamburger. Nothing else will satisfy that craving. We eat plenty of protein, here, (and by some standards too much), so I can't imagine I am low on that. Maybe it's an iron thing?

Frankly, I'd love to cut our red meat consumption way down or even eliminate it all together. But, we can't eat eggs or tree nuts or soy, so our alternative protein sources are limited. We do eat poultry and beans and rice, but 2 very active teenage boys need large quantities of food to keep going and so red meat has to play a substantial role in our diet. That said, I do tend to buy my red meat only at Whole Foods and I try and buy leaner cuts and often, grass fed, with its higher Omega 3s ratio.

[Formerly SK]

Sept 6, 2012 23:32:22 GMT -5 cronewitch said:

I am dieting and only allowed 4oz of meat a day so I have pretty much stopped eating it. This last pot of soup doesn't even have chicken stock but I had 4oz of pork last week. I am giving up dairy too except I was eating cheese but I am stopping that too.

I haven't lost my appetite at all and my thinking was always clear. I am more tired now and cold even when others are warm. I do kinda feel like dancing, not doing housework or exercise but I am starting to feel like exercising.

I am eating a lot of beans, split peas, veggies and fruit and some bread and popcorn but I am a bottomless pit, yesterday I had three bowls of soup and about 5 slices of bread, three pears and 10 cups of air pop popcorn and a tablespoon of butter. I am doing better today only one bowl of soup and two bread and 10 cups of popcorn and a slice of watermelon but I am not full, actually still hungry 9:30 at night and I might eat a bell pepper and a couple tomatoes before bedtime. I should skip more food and go to bed hungry so I lose weight but skipping meat, dairy, sugar, salt and fat is helping.

I don't know your health issues, but that does NOT sound like enough food. Where is your protein? Fat? Watermelon is mostly water, and there aren't any nutrients in popcorn. Of course you are hungry - you can't live off that stuff. I would encourage you to see a dietician who can give you specifics on what and how much to eat.

[Nazgul Girl]

I like butter. Butter on toasted English muffins. I eat butter every couple of days. I cut it out, but then found that I wanted sugar, candy bars, cake, pie, and anything else made of pastry. Now, I just eat a toasted English muffin with some butter on it every 2-3 days. It's cheaper in calories in the long run, LOL.

Other good news today from the doctor -- my blood pressure way down ( although this is from walking for 20 mins to an hour every single day, I think ), and I've lost 5 lbs since June. Also, the chronic growths on my feet are gone, gone, after a year of treatment. Yes, it's embarassing, but I've had one growth on my foot which has been coming back for 21 stinkin' years, and has had every treatment and surgery in the books, but always has returned like the swallows of Capistrano. It even flares and grows every July. Today ,the doctor said that it was gone, and that my immune system had finally beaten it. She's been treating it for a year. Best birthday present I've had in a long time. ( Turn 60 next month ). So, things are looking up for me....I used to be a carnivore, also. Now, I like chicken and fish. Tonight, we're going out to dinner with my elderly aunt and uncle ( the aunt is the one who is still substitute-teaching at the age of 80 ! ), and I'm having a caesar salad with grilled chicken on it. I'm going to check myself for feathers tongiht....bwak bwak.