What are your principles in eating?

[Anelia]

Do you follow some long term diets? Like Paleo or The Zone or Intermittent Fasting or do you avoid some food combinations (separate diet)? Maybe some of you are vegetarians, vegans or even raw eaters.

I am omnivorous but my principles are not to eat carbs in the evening if I am not going to race in the morning. I also eat cottage cheese with some raw nuts before going to bed. I try (and most of the time succeed) not to eat sugar and also not to drink calories. I drink only milk or protein shakes but I do not drink juices or any other sweetened drinks. I avoid alcohol but I enjoy an occasional beer. I don't fry food: I boil, bake, grill or eat raw. I use only good fats: virgin olive oil, nuts and of course fat from animal products: fat meat (I like pork and lamb), whole milk, butter, eggs, cheese and sour cream. I eat bread once in a blue moon but when I eat it, it doesn't have to be whole grain.

[tealtreak]

Do you follow some long term diets? Like Paleo or The Zone or Intermittent Fasting or do you avoid some food combinations (separate diet)? Maybe some of you are vegetarians, vegans or even raw eaters.

I am omnivorous but my principles are not to eat carbs in the evening if I am not going to race in the morning. I also eat cottage cheese with some raw nuts before going to bed. I try (and most of the time succeed) not to eat sugar and also not to drink calories. I drink only milk or protein shakes but I do not drink juices or any other sweetened drinks. I avoid alcohol but I enjoy an occasional beer. I don't fry food: I boil, bake, grill or eat raw. I use only good fats: virgin olive oil, nuts and of course fat from animal products: fat meat (I like pork and lamb), whole milk, butter, eggs, cheese and sour cream. I eat bread once in a blue moon but when I eat it, it doesn't have to be whole grain.
I have been a vegetarian for 11 years, eat tons of fruits and veggies, most from my gardens and fruit trees/brambles. I would easily do vegan, but can't convert my family. Interesting note on that- one of my triathlete teen sons tried to eat what i do for a month and lost too much weight and couldn't train full speed. I think the best diet must be what makes you feel good and works for you (age/gender/health issues)

[shootingstar]

We don't deep fry food at all.

I stir fry/sautee 2-3 times per week (which is not the same in technique at times)....which if I can say: a huge % of the population outside of Western world can be healthy on this technique for life, if it's whole foods, unprocessed and oil used (not butter) sparingly, no sugar and know how to use this technique in multiple ways.

After all, salads are not widespread or a very frequent dish in traditional Asian cuisine. And boiled can be punishing to killing flavour of some veggies.
Steaming and preserving tasty flavour works for some veggies..but then there's a need to overlay with sauces....

So sautee with right recipes/combinations makes a vegetable dish more dynamic.

I don't have white rice anymore nor alot of bread, because I get sugar crashes /tip towards diabetes 2.

So it's light noodles. I have egg replacement 2-3 times per month in omelet, whatever. I eat lean meat about 2-4 times per month. I will have skim milk products, I have heavier European strong cheeses (3-6 times per month). I haven't bought butter for home in past few years but will have it at a restaurant, sparingly.

Over 40% of our home cooking is Asian in taste/technique/veggies. (I do get a hankering for boy choy, choi sum, nappa, gai lan, Chinese eggplant, lotus root, water chestnuts,,..etc.) any of these, over time. So I buy and prepare. Then other stuff integrates his techniques/dishes ..salads, some German/whatever dishes, ie. koh rabi with a white sauce, pureed soups (I tend to make consomme veggie/noodle soups), etc.

I don't race-cycle/run. So have no idea how these foods are like..but I have sisters who have a diet similar to mine and they jog regularily/run 1/2 and full marathons.

They are fine. One of them is in great shape and she's had 3 children.

Maybe you can visit us and join us in this mixed up way of eating.
Oh yea, I gotta cut out my sweet tooth. Hanging around with someone originally from Germany has helped me develop discerning taste for fine pastries...the real quality stuff and artisanal bread.

Does Bulgaria have alot of Asians living there?

[Blueberry]

No beef. No pork. No bell peppers.

Whole (non-processed) foods as much as possible. Limit carbs and high fat foods. Rarely drink juice. Usually drink tea and water.

Try to live by the mantra: eat food. mostly plants. not too much.

[Anelia]

It's very interesting about Asian cousine. I'd love to try some of the food. We have Chinese reastaurants in my town but I guess it's only the rice with veggies and soya sauce added and this makes them Asian. Well, there are different restaurants (like Thai) in the capital - Sofia but it's far away so I don't go often.
And on the whole, we don't have many Asian people living here. I know only some Vietnamese boys who study in the Naval Academy and some of them come to the school where I teach but I personally don't teach them. We took them sightseeing and these are my pictures with them (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1370223216440.2047432.1257515807&type=1&l=80326118b5).
Also when I was in Canada, I tried sushi, made by a Vietnamese friend. Someday I will try to find original products (the rice and the seaweed) and I'll try to cook sushi.
To be honest, I wouldn't be able to perform at my best at your type of food. We eat a lot of fat, especially in winter. Every people has their own traditional food which is connected with the area they live. It will be unnatural to the Eskimos for examle to eat more bananas or oranges.
In Bulgaria we have a tradition to slaughter a pig at Christmas :o I know that this may sound a little barbarian but it's a really nice tradition with family gatherings and parties. We melt the fat, taken from the pig and we boil it to get pure white fat which people use for cooking. Well, not the contemporary people, but older people, living in villages.

[Owlie]

The only things I won't eat are peas, raisins, veal, and invertebrates. :D
Animal protein (meat or eggs--milk doesn't cut it) at least twice a day.

Everything (except the above) in moderation. Yes, I eat deep-fried things, giant hamburgers (by TE standards, anyway ;)) , cheesecake, mac and cheese, etc. I'm trying to add more veggies to my diet, but I've been finding out that I seem to have higher than average protein requirements, especially in winter. I experimented with partial chicken breasts (not the huge mutant ones) with brown rice and lots of veggies for dinner. I was ravenous afterward. I could not survive as a vegetarian. :o

[Pax]

Mostly whole foods, lots of veggies and fruit, a little meat now and then.

[lph]

I experimented with partial chicken breasts (not the huge mutant ones) with brown rice and lots of veggies for dinner. I was ravenous afterward. I could not survive as a vegetarian. :o

Hey Owlie, are you sure it's the protein and not the fat or total calories you're missing? This sounds like a typical dinner for me, but when it's lean chicken or fish I have to compensate with a "lot" of fat, like oil dressings. I don't worry about it much as long as it's healthy fat and I can burn it off.

I don't have any absolute rules, but try to eat somewhat ethically and eco-friendly, without going vegetarian. I don't like mushrooms or fungi, and would prefer to not eat anything with an exoskeleton or anything that looks at me off the plate ;) but in polite company I'll eat just about anything I'm served.

[Owlie]

Hey Owlie, are you sure it's the protein and not the fat or total calories you're missing? This sounds like a typical dinner for me, but when it's lean chicken or fish I have to compensate with a "lot" of fat, like oil dressings. I don't worry about it much as long as it's healthy fat and I can burn it off.

I don't have any absolute rules, but try to eat somewhat ethically and eco-friendly, without going vegetarian. I don't like mushrooms or fungi, and would prefer to not eat anything with an exoskeleton or anything that looks at me off the plate ;) but in polite company I'll eat just about anything I'm served.

I get "low protein" headaches, even if the calorie content is about the same.:/

[soprano]

I try to eat a wide variety of foods. The more colorful the better. Nothing is out of bounds, but everything in moderation.

I'm trending towards vegetarian, not necessarily due to health or ethical concerns, but because I enjoy the cuisine. I would go vegetarian but my husband is not on board, so we have a few nights a week with meat and a few nights without. When I buy meat I buy good, high-quality, lean meat. It is more expensive so I buy less. I would rather have 3 oz of something really good than 6 oz of something that is mediocre. I love fish and shellfish; again, quality over quantity here. I have stopped eating fish species that are known to have high mercury levels.

I keep a loose tab on calories long term, because I want to maintain my current weight long term. I can watch my waistline now or lose 50 pounds a few years down the road: it's my choice.

[spazzdog]

In the animal/vegetable category I eat what ever won't bite back... as long as it's not cauliflower, brussel sprouts or canned veggies (and sometimes there's an exception to that).

I don't seem to have the "gotta have chocolate" gene, but I'll fight you for gummi bears :)

spazz

[GLC1968]

I don't seem to have the "gotta have chocolate" gene, but I'll fight you for gummi bears :)



Mmm, I'll take that fight! (I'm not a chocoholic either but I love me some gummi bears!).

My diet is now paleo. I include full fat raw goats milk and raw cheese, but I do subscribe to the rest of the paleo principles. I've been eating this way since August and I love how it makes me feel.

[jessmarimba]

I eat whatever. Unfortunately, as of late "whatever" hasn't been particularly healthy because money has been pretty tight. Lots of pasta w/red sauce. Soup. Yogurt w/granola & frozen fruit for breakfast. Frozen veggies & frozen chicken that I stir fry. The occasional stop at taco bell after one of my 14-hour days. And one 6-pack of beer (my vice) every two weeks.

Obviously I don't really avoid carbs. I need more iron and protein but can't really afford good meat (I don't eat beef with hormones, I have enough acne problems as it is). And I decided to stop buying fresh fruit bc I never seem to eat it before it goes bad.

[indysteel]

In the animal/vegetable category I eat what ever won't bite back... as long as it's not cauliflower, brussel sprouts or canned veggies (and sometimes there's an exception to that).

I don't seem to have the "gotta have chocolate" gene, but I'll fight you for gummi bears :)

spazz

This sums me up pretty well. I do like brussel sprouts though. I could do without chocolate and gummy bears, but don't stand between me and ice cream.

I like most foods in moderation. We try to eat local and seasonal. We usually make one veg dish and one meat dish each week. This week it was a bean and tomato pasta sauce and grilled flank steak fajitas. We otherwise try to eat in moderation. I don't drink much juice, soda or alcohol.

[Reesha]

My general principal is whole foods, local foods and organic foods. That's it, which has been problematic. Sometimes I overeat, sometimes I eat too much of one macronutrient. My health is great, but my weight is about 20 lbs too high. Thus I've given myself over to the powers of a personal trainer who is also a nationally competitive cyclist. Here's the plan I'll be sticking to until cycling season in the spring to lose the 20 lbs:

100-150 g lean protein per day (fish, chicken, tofu, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, turkey)
Under 150 g carbohydrate (25 g of carb per meal)
Fats should come primarily from nuts, extra virgin oils, oily fish, seeds
5 300-400 calorie (kcal) meals or 3 400-500 calorie meals with 2 200-300 calorie snacks
NO JUNK. No refined sugars.
Minimal alcoholic beverages.
Tons of fresh vegetables and fruit.
No starchy carbohydrates after lunchtime if I can help it.

It's pretty tight, but I'm really committed to reaching my goal. 20 lbs lighter by April. The workout program is intense too!

[tealtreak]

Do you follow some long term diets? Like Paleo or The Zone or Intermittent Fasting or do you avoid some food combinations (separate diet)? Maybe some of you are vegetarians, vegans or even raw eaters.

I am omnivorous but my principles are not to eat carbs in the evening if I am not going to race in the morning. I also eat cottage cheese with some raw nuts before going to bed. I try (and most of the time succeed) not to eat sugar and also not to drink calories. I drink only milk or protein shakes but I do not drink juices or any other sweetened drinks. I avoid alcohol but I enjoy an occasional beer. I don't fry food: I boil, bake, grill or eat raw. I use only good fats: virgin olive oil, nuts and of course fat from animal products: fat meat (I like pork and lamb), whole milk, butter, eggs, cheese and sour cream. I eat bread once in a blue moon but when I eat it, it doesn't have to be whole grain.
afterthought to answering this post (:......are you being conversational? AWESOME (: looking to change/improve? just curious?

Depending on answer i may have 2 more cents worth! lol

[malkin]

I eat when I'm hungry, I drink when I'm dry
And if moonshine don't kill me I'll live 'til I die.



Eat good food, don't obsess about it.

[tealtreak]

I eat when I'm hungry, I drink when I'm dry
And if moonshine don't kill me I'll live 'til I die.



Eat good food, don't obsess about it.
lol!!!!!!!! Thanks for the reality check- I was in a Chardonnay vibe tonight (:

[shootingstar]

Every people has their own traditional food which is connected with the area they live. It will be unnatural to the Eskimos for examle to eat more bananas or oranges.
In Bulgaria we have a tradition to slaughter a pig at Christmas I know that this may sound a little barbarian but it's a really nice tradition with family gatherings and parties. We melt the fat, taken from the pig and we boil it to get pure white fat which people use for cooking. Well, not the contemporary people, but older people, living in villages.

Of course, one eats what might be available locally.

But anyone living north of California, eating white rice....that is not local grain at all. :)

The only rice grown in Canada is wild rice, which is technically a grass.

Most likely one of the Asian veggies, I named, can be grown in Bulgaria but probably there's not enough demand yet or people have not been shown that it can be grown.

The boy choy, gai lan, you choi, snow peas...is now grown in various parts of Canada and have been for quite a number of years/decades. No longer restricted to Asians growing these "peculiar" veggies. Here in Alberta, to me the bok choy look huge....I think it's because in the summer when there's lot of day light, right conditions (ie. not too rainy), the veggies tend to get kind of huge.

Ginger root and ginseng root is now grown in interior British Columbia in the wine country region where it is drier and hotter. Ginseng root has become a cash crop there.

[Crankin]

I eat a variety of foods. At this point, I have to be very careful about carbs (the bad ones), and when I eat certain ethnic foods, both of these things make me gain 2-3 lbs. in a second. I eat a good amount of protein, and try to limit my low glycemic carbs to 1-2 meals a day.
No fried foods, except my 1-2X a year overdose on onion rings and latkes on Hannukah, and I very rarely eat sweets or pastries. It has to be a special occasion.
I should eat more veggies, but a lot of them hurt my stomach. My weight is pretty consistent, but at this time of the year, I struggle to keep it where I want. The switch from outdoor riding 4-5 days a week to other activities messes up my metabolism. Truthfully, I am hungry all of the time and it's difficult. I eat plenty, I eat healthy food, but I could eat a lot more if I wasn't so concerned with my weight. Most of my social life revolves around going out to eat, or cooking, so if I didn't exercise, I would be huge. Really. When I was in my early 30s I weighed 92 pounds, and while I don't want to go there, either, I could gain 10 lbs. in like a second, if I wasn't vigilant.
Oh, and red wine and chocolate a few times a week. Seriously, that, with exercise has brought down my total cholesterol about 40 points.

[ehirsch83]

My food is pretty similar most days- focus similar to you though- on good fats.

breakfast: coffee with whole milk and raw sugar (or agave or honey) and 2 eggs with Ezekiel bread with either nut butter spread, or I create an egg sandwich.

lunch: soup

dinner: either salad (which has to have spinach, carrots, dried cherries, sunflower seeds walnuts and then whatever else wanted to add-avocado, cheese, other veggies,etc.+ protein)

salad dressings are all home made and include good for you fats- olive oil, coconut oil, ghee, mayo that has omega 3+6s,etc.

or for dinner steamed veggies with a homemade peanut sauce(includes amino acids and fish sauce).

I am big on my body working off of good fats and I have an extremely low carb intake.. I do eat out once or so a week, but end up sticking to protein and veggies- my body doesn't handle other food as well(I get really tired after I eat if it is carby,greasy,etc.)

[westtexas]

I eat Paleo too. Since mid-October. Never going back (well, that and I found out I actually have celiac disease). I follow it pretty closely, with a few exceptions for (very occasional) cheese, good red wine and 90% chocolate (can't eat anything else, I find 90% to be almost too sweet at this point). I eat a lot of pasture raised eggs, grass-fed meats, veggies and a few apples now and then (oh, and berries). On the days I eat too many carbs, I can definitely feel it. I also fast a lot - mostly on weekends. I have never felt better in my life. It's a bit more expensive this way but I feel like the money I invest in my health now will pay off later.

It's amazing how nutrition affects your health.

[Reesha]

Do you fast for full days? I used to do it when I could take loooonnng leisurely walks into the mountains in upstate NY, but in the city it's torture. I really need to find a way to fast. I used to do it at the first sign of illness and it always made me feel better.

[westtexas]

Do you fast for full days? I used to do it when I could take loooonnng leisurely walks into the mountains in upstate NY, but in the city it's torture. I really need to find a way to fast. I used to do it at the first sign of illness and it always made me feel better.

Typically I can't. I am always starving when I wake up in the morning, so I always eat breakfast. And since I work 6 days a week, I have to eat before I go to work or I just can't focus and get anything done. Usually on weekends (those I don't work), I skip lunch and often dinner. I just try to eat when I'm hungry. If I am not hungry, I don't eat. During the week I don't always have dinner because I'm not usually hungry after work. Seems to be working out well so far.

[shootingstar]

I have never thought of the word "fasting" as a means to cope with feeling ill.
I don't think of "fasting" in that way at all.

I just think of it as just eating less later, if I've eaten a large, nice lunch.

[Anelia]

afterthought to answering this post (:......are you being conversational? AWESOME (: looking to change/improve? just curious?

Depending on answer i may have 2 more cents worth! lol

Just conversational :)

In my experience with nutrition, training and supplements I noticed that no two people are the same. So, it's difficult to give 2 cents or even 2 bucks :)
When people say: "I like your body transformation, tell me your diet", I answer: "It's experimenting, learning and consistency."

[tealtreak]

Just conversational :)

In my experience with nutrition, training and supplements I noticed that no two people are the same. So, it's difficult to give 2 cents or even 2 bucks :)
When people say: "I like your body transformation, tell me your diet", I answer: "It's experimenting, learning and consistency."
It is so interesting how different foods/diets work for a given person, the only consistent thread seems to be whole food/nutrition versus junk gives better health and energy. The variations in that context are amazing (: (and make me wonder about trying it all!!!!!)

[azfiddle]

I try to eat a "balanced" diet- but I have a definite sweet tooth, which has gotten me into trouble with being overweight for most of my life.

I try to avoid most heavily processed foods, fried food, and don't usually eat pork. I try to eat a lot of fruit, vegetables, some cheese, chicken, fish and sometimes beef or lamb. Carbs are the main things that get me into trouble, and I eat more processed carbs than anything else. I have come to enjoy steel cut oats, but white rice, bagels, crackers, and bread from the French Bakery find their way into my diet a lot, although I have moved to whole wheat pasta most of the time.When I am too busy or tired though, I give in to the convenience of prepared foods like weightwatchers frozen meals or canned soup. Sadly, I am susceptible to the lure of cookies and chocolate.

I would not be happy on the paleo diet- those carbs are pretty central for me.

[shootingstar]

have come to enjoy steel cut oats, but white rice, bagels, crackers, and bread from the French Bakery find their way into my diet a lot

Azfiddle, I thought I would never see the day that I would not eat white rice since it was so central to my diet.

But it's been a move away from it where instead I substitute with several other different types of carb that taste good to me and it was so gradual that move for me.

I don't regularily buy egg-based pasta for home anymore. It's an eggless noodle...made from egg white. A little more expensive. I will have an egg-based pasta ....in a restaurant which amounts to only a few times per year.

My body has now been genuinely "trained" to want a lighter carb. I will eat sushi and sashimi several times annually but if it's too much white rice in it, then I don't feel fantastic, meaning it feels like a sugar crash for me.

I do love sushi and sashimi and will never give it up totally.
Unfortunately now I'm discovering that wine not only gets me "drunk" fast (which has been like that for decades), now I tip towards a sugar crash. Which results in me wanting to nap more quickly.

As for hard riding, which for me is long distance bike touring with my stuff, I can adjust temporarily if I have no choice to eat the foods I want when visiting an area. The amount of energy required during those rides, temper my body's reactions to high glycemic carbs.

[azfiddle]

Shooting Star, that's interesting about moving away from white rice. I think partly, it's easy and quick to cook and goes with so many other things.

I meant to say about carbs- that of the food that I do eat, the most processed items would be the bread/rice etc. It didn't sound exactly how I meant it.

[Crankin]

I gave up white rice long ago and I hardly ever eat pasta any more. When I do, it's usually in a very good Italian restaurant, and I will plan for that. It's really not that hard. I don't really like the taste of ww pasta, but I will eat it, if served.
I can't say I never eat white bread/flour, but again, it's rare, and usually in the context of eating out. I buy real whole wheat (not whole grain) small slice Pepperidge Farm bread, as well as raisin bread, and deli flats. I occasionally buy the whole wheat ciabattas or loaves at a good bakery near me, but not often, as I would eat it all in a short time. The only bagels I eat are whole wheat. I just cannot eat simple carbs much and maintain my weight. Same thing with Asian food cooked in soy sauce.
I probably eat too much fruit and not enough veggies. I eat different salad foods a lot, but don't have cooked veggies that often as a side dish, as my stomach just can't digest most of them. It's not that I can't stand eating them, but it's not worth the pain.
I was a vegetarian for awhile in my 20s when I had to lose 25 lbs. It worked, but I enjoy eating a variety of chicken, thin pork chops, fish, and beef or veal now. However, that got me off of junk food and eating right. I would say I have beef once every 7-10 days and I eat fish at least once a week, sometimes twice. I eat meatless meals at least once a week, too, as I love beans. Also, I have nuts every day as a snack.
I do eat 1-2 pieces of dark chocolate almost every day, but other than that, desserts are few and far between.
I really would like to tweak my diet a bit more, but it already feels kind of restrictive at times, given how much I eat out and cook. I am going to try adding more vegetables in slowly and see how my stomach does. I weigh pretty much what I did in HS, and since I am close to 60, I guess I should be happy.

[VeganBikeChick]

I'm vegan, so I stick to a dairy- and meat-free diet. I've finally discovered as an adult, though, that while I love carbs, my body hates them. I retain weight and get very bloaty with starchy carbs (bread, pasta, grains), so I've recently been eating a small serving protein (tempeh, tofu, or beans), with a half-plate full of veggies and some type of fruit for dessert.

Pastries (cookies, cakes, anything sugar-laden) is definitely another downfall, so I've had to jump off that bandwagon as well and try to stick to a piece of chocolate as my after dinner "treat".

[Reesha]

That reminds me... I'm so glad holiday baking is over-- I made cookies- one for each of my students last week and it was definitely something I didn't need while I was sick AND trying to stick to a new nutrition plan.

So far the lack of starches after noontime is working great-- I just made a chicken salad sandwich for DBF and just had chicken salad for me, but had it with apple slices, red pepper slices and some avocado. Hit the spot! This 5 300-400 calorie meal thing is really making my body happy :)

[Reesha]

I weigh pretty much what I did in HS, and since I am close to 60, I guess I should be happy.

That is quite an accomplishment! I don't think I could ever weigh that little again-- I feel like my hips grew a lot in the first year or so of college. I think I was 130 at my thinnest back then. I'm heavy boned though. When I'm not being careful about what I eat (that is, not trying to lose) my weight naturally hovers around 155. I'm shooting for the 140-145 range with mega bike muscles :)

[azfiddle]

It's interesting to read what approach to eating works for different people...

I am thinner than I was in high school- I was around 130 in high school and 117 now, but I'm only 5'1" and I would like to be around 110-112. (I'm 55). I have been in the 140-145 range most of my adult life, but was 149 when I went back to Weightwatchers in Jan 2009. It took over a year with WW and cycling to 112, and I maintained for about 6 months but it crept back up to where I am now. For me, it seems to be reducing sweets, portion control and tracking- I don't notice that specific foods make me gain weight, but salty foods make me gain water very quickly.

When my husband switched to a paleo diet, I couldn't imagine it for myself- I just don't crave that much meat and the restrictions would have caused such a drastic shift in eating that I had no desire to try it myself.

[Crankin]

Everyone is different. I am the same height as AZfiddle and I weigh 107. I weighed about 105 in HS, at times 100. I was thin, but not skinny, and definitely not muscular. The most I've ever weighed was about 125 and it was not pretty. I gain everything in my azz and hips and I just got wider and wider until one day my dad told me I looked like a "pig." He was right, though mean. I weighed 130 or so when I was 9 months pg with DS #1 and I didn't look as big then, because I was exercising.
When I weighed 125 I went on a vegetarian diet and started walking and doing calisthenics. Once I got down to about 105, I kept eating right and exercising. Besides being pregnant, the only other time I gained weight was in my mid forties, when I had gotten burned out on aerobics and sort of let my pre menopausal self think it was OK to just let my body get fat. But, I hated myself and it was during this time DH started riding. One day I went out and walked 5 miles up a huge 3 part hill, when it was about 90 degrees out, and I had no water. I was furious with myself for letting myself gain 15-20 lbs or so, and I cried the whole way. When I got back, DH told me if I could do that walk, I could ride. About 2 months later, he bought me shorts and a jersey and set up an old mt bike for me. I was 47. It took me 2 years to get down to where I am now, but I've never gone back. If my weight gets to 109, that's my danger zone and I make radical changes. In the summer, I don't have to worry. I always get down to 105 without trying.

[Reesha]

My danger zone is 160. I'm at 157 now. I really should have a lower danger zone :D

[shootingstar]

I should clarify the reason for my diet changes in the past few years:

After blood tests, I was advised by ...2 doctors that I should cut back on my white rice, white bread intake, etc. And continue to exercise regularily to keep my natural insulin production normal.

'Course means minimize wine intake, desserts (which I'm not doing well...), etc.

[westtexas]

I have never thought of the word "fasting" as a means to cope with feeling ill.
I don't think of "fasting" in that way at all.

I just think of it as just eating less later, if I've eaten a large, nice lunch.

I'm not sure if there is any research behind it, but Mark Sisson, the guy behind the Primal Blueprint (one of the major Paleo books) recommends fasting if you feel you are getting ill. It's supposed to increase your body's fat burn and is supposed to help ramp up defenses. I have found it to be very useful in this regard, actually. I guess the saying, "feed a cold, starve a fever" has some merit.

[Reesha]

I have never thought of the word "fasting" as a means to cope with feeling ill.
I don't think of "fasting" in that way at all.

I just think of it as just eating less later, if I've eaten a large, nice lunch.

A number of my students fast for religious reasons for full days or for 12 hours at a time. That's usually the first thing I think of when I think of fasting. I would drink water and tea and rest on the days I would fast. There's no real science behind what I did, other than that it worked for me. I would lay down, give my GI tract a rest, take nice slow walks, and feel better the next day. Working with children, there were a lot of weekends where I could feel something coming on that I was able to nip in the bud this way.

[bmccasland]

This has been an interesting read.

I'm an omnivore, with a weakness for bakery items, and dark chocolate. Much to my waistline's dismay.
But in general I try to eat whole grains, a reasonable amount of fruits and vegetables, leaner cuts of meat. I'll eat fried food out, but don't do it at home - too messy. I happen to dislike mushrooms (the texture) and eggs, so will avoid eating them if I'm out to the best that I can without looking like a spoiled picky eater. The only foods I must avoid eating is squid and octopus, don't need another ride to a hosipital by ambulance - anaphalytic shock.

Am borderline hypoglycemic, so I don't fast. I've learned that I have to have protein if I indulge myself in pancakes or waffles for breakfast, and go light on the syrup. Now I'm thinking about pecan waffles with a side of applesauce, and a piece of breakfast ham from Waffle House...:rolleyes:

[Lizzz]

I think, no matter what kind of diet you're doing, also keep in mind what's going on in the world. I love rice and wholegrain stuff, but have just recently read about the exploitation of the people working on the rice fields - I mean in a way we always know about it but it slips out of focus in everyday life, I think it's really a good thing if you buy fair trade products event though it might be more expensive. I found many information about food production here (http://www.statista.com/markets/12/topic/94/food-nutrition/).

[Reesha]

What's weird though is that we are such an abnormally healthy group. I don't think we're representative of Western food culture at all, which is too bad. :(

I can't believe some of the things people I know eat, but I hold my tongue. To each their own.

[skhill]

I'm so glad I don't weigh what I did in high school (or jr high). I was around 175 at graduation; now it's 125. Same as 6th grade, but I was a lot shorter back then.

These days, I try to eat seasonally and locally. And I cook from scratch. In the past 4+ years, I've purchased bread twice; I eat plenty of bread, but it's my homemade sourdough. I don't eat much meat, but plenty of dairy and eggs.

It's interesting seeing folk's different strategies-- thanks! But no doubt, we're a not very typical group.

[Lizzz]

yes, I agree we don't represent western food culture and we shouldn't take all the blame but still everyone's responsible somehow, and one shouldn't close the eyes in general.

[bmccasland]

I'm a closet junk food junkie :o

I just don't indulge myself very often.

[Anelia]

I like these two blog posts:
5 reasons you are not eating healthy (http://www.inspiredfitstrong.com/nutrition/5-reasons-you-are-not-eating-healthy/) and
9 ways to recognize real food (http://www.inspiredfitstrong.com/nutrition/nine-ways-to-recognize-real-food/)

[malkin]

The 'Real Food' article is a more complicated version of what I think of as "Food that looks like Food." If my grandfather would not have recognized it as food, then it probably isn't.

[jessmarimba]

Eh. I'm a healthy enough person; therefore, I consider what I eat to be my business only. I'm happy to be able to buy food on a regular basis.