Have to make some changes ...
 

Hi all

I'm not after a sympathy vote BUT ... my depression is starting to return (long term on/off) and I feel that my low carbness is not helping. My MH (as usual) got to a very low point before I realised what was going on, and I came off plan for a few days to regroup my mind.

I have had weetabix with milk, plenty more fruit, a few biscuits (:blush:), some icecream (home made but with sugar) etc, baked potatoes. Within a few days, I started to lift again and this now leaves me with a bit of a predicament.

I LOVE the low carb eating way but I have to be responsible for my mental health/fibro and take care of this too.

I was averaging anything between 40-80 carbs a day on my plan without any worry about counting numbers but with the odd check into fitplan every week or so.

Im in a quandary, what do I do now. I dont mind not losing any more weight at the moment but I dont want to put any on, just while I get myself well again.

I dont usually talk about my MH issues (comes with the lovely fibro I believe) but I wonder if anyone can advise / help on foods to eat or try, ways to alter my plan?

Thanks

Helen

I don't know what MH is, but if eating more carbs is helpful then try eating more carbs in the form of fresh fruits and vegetable. Berries are especially helpful for the mind and blueberries are the best for antioxidant properties.
I would avoid any starches and sugars that aren't natural.

I've been studying a raw food diet and after juicing (no food) for 5 days, I just feel so much better that I want to be healthy.

Anything with corn syrup or any food that is processed does add to depression--I know that from documentaries and reading studies and from my own personal experience.

You can make your own ice cream without sugar. You can use honey or agave. I prefer agave. You can make all kinds of fruit sorbets too with just a blender or food processor or even smash up the fruits by hand. Strawberry is great as is pineapple or orange or mango.

These are just my thoughs. More fresh fruits and fresh (uncooked) vegetables will help clear your mind and help the depression dissipate.

Hi Helen, sorry to hear you MH situation has taken a dip. Im not going to harp on about my own health issues, except to say that along with M.E I have Bipolar, and have been trying to manage both holistically for some time. I agree with Nigel, Diet is crucial and vitamin intake. You are doing the right think in adding a few foods to your diet at this time, until you feel stronger mentally, and maybe when you start low carbing again, do it with this little dip in mind. What I means sweetheart, is to tweek the daily eating to maximize how you feel rather than consentrate on 'sticking' to whats in the book. Maybe you have been doing that anyway. Yes, cutting out all suger (if possible, the horrible stuff seems to be in bloody everying!) and replacing in with a healthy alternative. I use Xyilotol at the moment if I need sweetness in say rhubarb, it as other health benifits too. With carbs, take Nigels advice. I find that a binge on biscuits and those kinda foods, actualy make matters worse with depression, so avoid them if you can.
The main thing, be kind to yourself. Sending a big HUG x

Hi Nigel and Lisa

Thanks very much for responses.

I had the weetabix again this morning, but by 11 am I had the shakes, felt sick, awful tummy ache and was very bloated! So that didnt help! As I have had no processed foods for 2 months I dont want to backwards ...

I already eat unlimited veg anyway, but I think I am now going to allow myself unlimited fruits of any type and see how that goes. Truth be told, maybe I havent eaten enough or often enough just lately and I am definately going to address that too.

The sweetener I have been using is sweetfreedom (havent used it much as I wasnt sure how this stood on the low carb diet - can anyone comment?)

I think I will make some sorbets and ices that are low carb as you say Nigel and Lisa I agree, reaching for the sugary stuff is not going to help.

I thank you both, I am keeping it together, the mind tricks are at bay and the uv lamp glows a lot haha.

Helen

I'm no expert, but I'm allergic to whole wheat and that is exactly what happens to me when I eat it. Does the weetabix contain whole wheat? If so, try eating something different with whole wheat in it and see if you have the same effects.

If you can juice your fruits and vegetables, then you can get in more nutrition without having to eat so much. If I didn't drink my V-8's, I'd never get in enough veggies.

I don't know anything about that particular sweetner.

Bananas contain a lot of potassium and will help you have more energy.

Peachy Ice Cream

1/2 cup cashew milk or cream (mine was like half and half)
1 cup frozen sliced peaches
1 small banana
1 t. DaVinci s/f vanilla syrup

I put all that in my Ninja, but you could use a food processor or a blender and it made instant ice cream that was pretty good...just a little banana flavor and more peachy tasting. You could use any sweetner, I just like the vanilla syrup stuff. This literally takes less than 5 minutes to make.

Hi

Sweet freedom is made entirely from apples, grapes and carob, nothing else, no additives or colourings. Its a syrup which is a little honey like tasting.

Weetabix is wholewheat yes, I guess I never realised it had that effect on me, I ate it everyday for years before I started lc. So I have decided to stick to my yoghurt , flax and almonds but maybe have fruit aswell at breakfast.

Well I have just googled Ninja and DaVinci's (what a learning curve) and my daughter is now checking out veg smoothie/juice recipes. I have never tried one before but am really liking the idea of increasing nutrients from raw foods ... I am going to do some research.

And the icecream recipe has gotta be a winner, we have blender and icecream maker side by side, and I have 2 willing daughters who love using them, no brainer!

Thanks, I feel encouraged and more optimistic :)

I really like the V-8 concoction.

I put 3-4 cups of tomatoes
1-2 cups of water
1/3 of a cucumber
10 leaves of spinach
-or- you can use a bell pepper instead
1 whole lemon
2 ribs of celery
about 10 sprigs of cilantro (you can use parsley)
salt and pepper and a dash of hot sauce

You can add in other veggies if you want and adjust to your taste.

I sometimes add more or less of any one thing. I guess it's a V-7 juice cuz I found the recipe online and tweaked it til I liked it.

There are lots of great fruit combos too. Some people add protein powder or cream cheese or even cottage cheese or ricotta to their smoothies to make them thicker and have more protein. I just like mine plain juice most of the time.

Im the same with 2 wheatabix if I have them on there own. If I have one crumbed up with lots of fresh fruite and soy milk then I seem to be ok.

I use to eat/drink alot of veg juices/smoothies and totally enjoy them, although I wasn't sure how low carb they were, and its something I have thought about doing again recently. Jason Vale (books) as some amazing receipes and one of his books is based on a detox/health plan. Yesterday, I picked up this book from my local library; Low- carb juices and smoothies by Amanda Cross, its give you all the nutritional value per drink, so well worth checking that out, and I will post my reveiws/reciepes as I try them.

Hope you are managing to get out into the fresh air, even sitting outside and soaking up the rays.

Hugs x :)

Here are some smoothie recipes...just know I haven't tried them...but I thought they might be helpful to you and others.

Always use purified water if you can.

Blend well:
6 leaves of red leaf lettuce
1/4 bunch of fresh basil
1/2 lime (juiced)
1/2 red onion
2 celery sticks
1/4 avocado
2 cups of water

Blend well:
5 kale leaves (green)
1/2 bunch of fresh dill
1/2 lime (juiced)
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes
2 cups of water

Recipe #1
2-3 cups of greens of your choice,
2 cups papaya,
2 oranges
No water necessary

Recipe #2
1 handful lettuce leaves
1 handful mint
3 bananas
2 cups water

Recipe #3
4-5 kale leaves
3 apples
1/2 lemon juiced
2 cups of water

Recipe #4
3-4 stalks celery
2 ripe persimmons
1 banana
1 -2 cups water

Recipe #5
1/2 head romaine lettuce,
1 cup pineapple,
1 large mango,
1-inch fresh ginger

Recipe #6
2 -3 cups of your favorite grapes
1 handful parsley
2 handfuls of baby Spinach
2 cups of water

Recipe #7
1 cup pineapple
1 banana
2 sticks of celery
1 handful of your favourite leafy greens

Recipe #8
1/2 avocado
1/2 capsicum
one small onion
2 cloves garlic
one chilli
2 handfuls black cabbage
2 cups water

Recipe #9
3 bananas
a cup of papaya
4 big handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water

Recipe #10
2 bananas
1 apple
1 pear
2 handfuls of parsley
2 big handfuls of kale
2 cups of water

Recipe #11
1 large dragon fruit
2 bananas
1 handful of parsley
1 small bunch of bok choy
2 cups of water

Recipe #12
3 bananas
3 huge handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water

Recipe #13
2 bananas
1 dragon fruit
2 huge handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water

Recipe #14
2 bananas
1 apple
1 pear
2 handfuls of parsley
2 big handfuls of kale
2 cups of water

Recipe #15
1 large dragon fruit
2 bananas
1 handful of parsley
1 small bunch of bok choy
2 cups of water

Recipe #16
4 large ripe bananas
2 large handfuls of kale
1 small handful of parsley
1 handful of baby spinach
2 cups of water

Recipe #17
1 apple
1 pear
2 bananas
1 1/2 cups of kale
1 stalk of celery
2 cups of water

Recipe #18
2 cups of papaya
1 banana
2 cups of leafy greens of your choice
2 cups of water

Recipe #19
3 cups of mango
1/2 medium sized romaine lettuce
1 cup of water

Recipe #20
1/2 pint rasberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 pint blueberries
2 bananas
3 big handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water

Recipe #21
1 apple
1 peach
1 nectarine
1 carrot
1/4 avocado
1 lemon (without peel or seeds)
Then filled the blender (Vita mix) with
parsley
romaine lettuce
chard
1 cup of water

Recipe #22
Handful each of
kale,
parsley,
mezclun
1 celery stick
pineapple
1 banana.
2 cups water

Recipe #23
1 cup papaya
1 orange
1/2 head romaine
1 big lovely bunch of red grapes.
two stalks of celery
2 cups water

Recipe #24
1 bunch coriander,
1 apple,
1"ginger
1 banana
1 cup water

Recipe #25
2 handfuls baby spinach,
1 celery stick,
1 handful parsley,
1 Granny Smith apple
1/4 tsp ginger powder
2 cups water

Recipe #26
3 handfuls baby spinach
2 celery stalks & leaves,
1 cup water,
1 green apple,
1 frozen lady finger banana
a quarter of fresh pineapple

Recipe #27
2 handfuls of carrot tops
2 stalks of celery
1 handful of sunflower sprouts
3 big red lettuce leafs
1 serving of aloe vera dried gel (from "Good Cause Wellness")
3 bananas
2 cups water

Recipe #28
2 handfuls of baby spinach
2 kale leaves
1 serving of aloe vera dried gel
1 Granny Smith apple
2 oranges
1 cup of water

Recipe #29
3 big green lettuce leaves
1 handful of sunflower sprouts
2 handfuls of baby spinach
1 serving of aloe vera
6-7 big strawberries
1 handful of blueberries
1 cup of water

Recipe #30
2 bananas
6-7 strawberries
1 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera
half a Cos lettuce
1 cup water

Recipe #31
4 large ripe bananas,
2 large handfuls of kale,
1 small handful of parsley,
1 handful of baby spinach and
2 cups of water

Recipe #32
1 apple
1 pear
2 bananas
1 1/2 cups of kale
1 stalk of celery
2 cups of water

Recipe #33
2 cups of papaya
1 banana
2 cups of leafy greens of your choice
2 cups of water

Recipe #34
3 cups of mango
1/2 medium sized romaine lettuce
1 cup of water

Recipe #35
1/2 pint rasberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 pint blueberries
2 bananas
3 big handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water

Recipe #36
3 bananas
3 huge handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water.

Recipe #37
2 bananas
1 dragon fruit
2 huge handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water.

Recipe #38
1 handfuldandelion greens
1 handful parsley,
1 handful spinach,
1 banana,
1 orange
1 cup frozen raspberries

Recipe #39
lots of kale
juice from several lemonades (or lemons if unavaiable)
1" square or ginger, finely choppped
big dollop of honey
generous slosh of sugar cane juice
1-3 tsp of coconut oil
bit of water

Recipe #40
3 bananas
1 cup of papaya,
4 big handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water

Recipe #41
1 cup spinach,
1/2 inch ginger,
1 lemon,
1 cucumber,
2 celery
2 pears
1 cup water

Recipe #42
1/2 avocado
1/2 capsicum
one small onion
2 cloves garlic
one chilli
2 handfuls black cabbage
2 cups water

Recipe #43
Half a head of green leaf lettuce
2 bananas
juice from 2 tangelos
1/2 a bag of frozen mangos
1 pear
1 cup of water

Recipe #44
1 banana
Handful of Strawberries
Large Handful of Spinach
Dab of Water

Recipe #45
3-4 celery sticks
50 cent piece of grated ginger
1-2 apple or banana or pear (varied to what felt right that day)
2 cups water

Recipe #46
1/2 cos lettuce,
1 apple
1 banana
1 cup dandelion greens
1 celery stick
1tablespoon of soaked chia seeds

Recipe #47
1 lime
1 celery stick
1 cucumber
1 apple
1/2 gingerginger
1 garlic clove
parsley
mint
comfrey
dandelion
spinach or mushroom plant
brahmi
bazil
coriander
asparagus
fenegreek sprouts
tummeric
water

Recipe #48
4 very ripe persimmons
1 stalk of celery
1 handful of baby spinach
1 hand ful of dill
2 cups of water

Recipe #49
1 Large Pear
1" ginger
4 leaves of Romaine
1/2 a frozen banana

Recipe #50
1/2 banana
1/2 pear
juice of half an orange
about a cup of parlsey

Recipe #51
2 large handfuls of spinach (organic)
2 large handfuls of mixed baby greens (organic)
.5 cup alfalfa sprouts
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp flax seeds
2 slices of whole pineapple
1 small banana
1 cup water

Recipe #52
2 bananas,
2 cups spinach,
a stalk of celery and
2 cups of water

Recipe #53
spinach--4 or 5 fists full
cucumber--1 big or 2 small
(frozen) green grapes--1 cup
water--1/2c to 1c

Recipe #54
3 bananas
1/2 a bunch of fresh dill
2 celery stalks
1/2 bunch of bok choy
2 cups water

Recipe #55
one-half bunch of the following:
dandelion
parsley
cilantro
kale
red russian kale
5 stalks of celery
1 mango
about 10 strawberry
1 pear
gel of whole aloe vera leaf
a pinch of homeade green powder
1/4 cup water
a few frozen grapes
garnished with
broccoli sprouts and bee pollen

Recipe #56
1 orange,
1/2 head romaine lettuce
1 bunch red grapes
two stalks of celery

Recipe #57
3 handfuls of mixed baby spinach and
celery stalks & leaves,
1 cup water, 1 green apple,
1 frozen lady finger banana
and about a quarter of fresh pineapple

Recipe #58
1 punnet of strawberries,
2 pears
3 small handfuls of baby spinach,
1 bunch of Chinese bok choy and
2 cups of water

Recipe #59
1 handful of spinach (organic)
1 handful of romaine (organic)
1/2 ounce of Mint leaves (organic) or more if you like it really minty
3/4 or 1 pound of strawberries (organic)
1 banana (organic)
1 cup of filtered water

Recipe #60
2 large glasses of water
2 large handfuls of baby spinach
bunch of parsley
little bit of kale
banana
pineapple
papaya
mango
plus 1 tsp flax oil

Recipe #61
1 apple
1 peach
1 nectarine
1 carrot
1/4 avocado
1 lemon (without peel or seeds)
Then filled the blender (Vita mix) with
parsley
romaine lettuce
chard
1 cup water

Recipe #62
Handful each of
kale, parsley,
mezclun
celery,
1 cup freshly squeezed pineapple juice,
1 banana.
1 cop water

Recipe #63
2 bananas
3 large spinach leaves
1/2 bunch mint
1 tsp maca
1 tsp soaked chia seeds
1 tsp goji berries (they give the smoothie lovely little pink flecks!)
1 date
1 cup water

Recipe #64
2 bananas
1/2 cup raspberries
1 pear
2 big handfuls baby spinach
1 tsp flax seed oil
1 cup water

Recipe #65
2 cups water
3-4 frozen or fresh bananas
3-4 yellow mangoes
1 cups raspberries
1 cup organic red grapes
5-6 or more kale leafs
some mint leafs
1 cup water

Recipe #66
2 oranges
1 lemon
1 bunch of fresh mint
1 bunch of a mixture of greens; spinach, parsley, kale
stevia to sweeten to taste.

Recipe #67
1 bunch bok choy,
1 banana,
1 pear,
6 strawberries,
celery
1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil
1 cup water

Recipe #68
Dandelion greens
Mango
2 bananas
8 romaine leaves
2 cups ice cold water
1 tablespoon raw cacao nibs

hey im back!

Just wanted to say thanks nigel for posting the recipes, havent been on here for a while but will definately be giving these a go!