BG Health: Eating Right Edition

[The Stig]

Regarding drinks, I used to drink soda (is that what you americans call fizzy drinks? I just say Coke usually lol) everyday. It felt nice in general. I also heavily drank stuff like Red Bull/Monster/equivalent.

I've since 3 odd months ago gave up drinking any of that, and switched to water, sparkling (fizzy) water and squash.

For meals, I would take some light squash, for everything else, I take water/sparkling water only. Water doesn't work for me for meals, so I need something flavoured.

At work only, during lunch, this local shop I've been going to have been selling 430ml bottles of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Juice-Sm...ds=naked+juice
along with a salad/sandwich and some sort of snack (as part of a deal). I've been having a bottle of these juices everyday. I'm aware of the high calories contained in them (just under 300 for a 430ml bottle), but the salad I get only has approximately 200, and the snack pot I get, which is usually fruit, only contains 50. Making my lunches just under 550 calories.

Aside from this bottle, and a cup of squash to go with my dinner, I believe I'm under my recommended daily allowance for sugar. This bottle is 50% alone, but that's the only sugar heavy drink I take. The rest is water.
It also makes me shit nicely, to be honest. All my shits come out nice and smooth. It really is an anti-toxidant. I've hardly ever been constipated or struggle to churn one out.

This, combined with some intelligent eating and my excercising (long walks every 2-3 days of approx 6-10 miles), is what is converting my body fat I think. While I can't seem to do anything more intensive yet, I'm building towards it slowly

[Manako]

For coffee I used to drink it with cream and sugar, now I've weaned myself and drink it black. Started by removing the sugar, then reduced the cream -- when I reduced my cream to zero I had some sugar in it for the transition. Now coffee with cream in it is weird, although I still sugar bad coffee.

During busy season I can drink 4-5 cups a day, when it slows down I reduce -- swapping for tea helps because really I like the taste and break

[RKenshin]

Yeah, if you have to have the caffeine, tea is a great substitute. It can taste bland initially depending on what you get, but it grows on you quick (and there's a ton of different varieties). It tends to be incredibly cheap too (far, far cheaper than coffee).

Only downside is it has about 1/4th the caffeine as a cup of coffee, so it's not a full replacement... but it's still something.

I never needed or drank coffee/tea, but forced myself into the habit of having tea for the health benefits. Been having 4-5 cups a day for the past 2 years, and love it.

[Tyrath]

I just went cold turkey on mountain dew this week. Been feeling tired and feel like I'm gonna be sick but haven't actually gotten sick. Think this is from the lack of caffeine? >_>

Edit: But then again, I've had periods where I've done without soda before. It comes and goes. I think I'm just actually getting sick lol.

[Brill Weave]

You're lucky you haven't started getting the withdrawal headaches.

[Tyrath]

I recently (past 3 months maybe) developed a 5 can a week routine but before then I'd only randomly drink soda when going out or something. Think its already been long enough for it to start getting to me? @_@

If this is whats making me feel like shit I'm definitely getting off this crap before it gets worse lol.

Though I have a sore throat and have been coughing so I think I might just be getting sick unrelated to the lack of caffeine.

[Milkster]

The best way to ween yourself off of unhealthy foods isn't to go cold turkey but to do it slowly. Also, have a cheat day once a week. It'll help with the cravings and won't cause you to falter in the beginning.

[Nirokun!]

I'm glad to hear my 6 cups of black tea a day is good for me. I just like it. o_o

Irish Breakfast tea (1lb bags only!):
http://www.adagio.com/black/irish_br...48650240b0feef

made in this~ (this is my 2nd one in 3? years after I broke the spout of the first because I'm a little clumsy)
http://www.adagio.com/teaware/personaliTEA_teapot.html

A pot before work (3 cups), and a pot after I come home. <3

[Tyrath]

Yeah i think I'm gonna cave and have some mountain dew today. Will make them my friday treats maybe and see how my body handles that.

[Cream Soda]

Just don't have too much (no circle K big gulp, do a can or something)

[Franzer]

I've stopped drinking soda for about 8 years now, but to this day, i don't see how people say it tastes terrible to them after they don't have it. Occasionally, maybe every couple months or so, i'll treat myself to a fountain Cherry Coke, i fucking love that stuff. Cherry Coke is nectar of the gods to me. Canned soda though, that shit tastes terrible.

[Cream Soda]

I just drink diet soda, not often though, since I don't like to pay for drinks, but if I'm at someone's house or a get together, donating blood etc. I'll just grab diet w/e

[Tyrath]

Just don't have too much (no circle K big gulp, do a can or something)

Yeah I'm gonna have a can. I was doing 5 a week (one at lunch at work everyday) and some random ones while out. Gonna stick to one a week for now.

[BaneTheBrawler]

I usually only drink soda when I go out to eat, and never caffeinated. I can't drink booze, I can't drink milk, I don't like the taste of plain water... so that doesn't leave a lot of options at restaurants. Sometimes I just bring a drink with me, especially if I'm feeling crappy. No one's ever called me on it, probably since it's never something they sell.

[Amiricle]

I was drinking about 2-3 liters of coke a day. I did end up quitting it cold turkey & felt like absolute shit for 2-3 days. 5th or 6th day was golden and that change alone made a huge difference in my energy level / health and gave me the wherewithal to cut out the rest of the shit I'd been consuming as well as stick with an exercise plan. In the last 5 months I've had maybe about 1L ginger ale & 1L coke total, pretty much just as mix when occasionally drinking certain whiskeys/rums/vodkas.
I do still drink 4 cups of chai (black tea) a day though.

[Velgadess]

For coffee I used to drink it with cream and sugar, now I've weaned myself and drink it black. Started by removing the sugar, then reduced the cream -- when I reduced my cream to zero I had some sugar in it for the transition. Now coffee with cream in it is weird, although I still sugar bad coffee.

During busy season I can drink 4-5 cups a day, when it slows down I reduce -- swapping for tea helps because really I like the taste and break

I work graveyard shift so coffee is a major thing for me. I used to put tons of cream and sugar. 4-6 cups a night. I started scaling back the cups to 1 a night now. Also I been experimenting with protein powders. I found vanilla flavored ones to be a great substitue for the cream and sugar part. I think it ends up being higher calorie content but it helps get my protein in. With my diet I am always lacking protein.

[Julian]

Guess I'll ask for some advice D:

How bad is coke zero? I know it's not as good as water, obviously, but in comparison to regular sodas? I usually drink 2 cans a day, sometimes 1, but usually 2. One at lunch, one at dinner. I'm considering dropping that down to just 1 a day, and eventually maybe one every other day, or whatever. I don't drink any coffee, or any alcoholic drinks. All I drink is water, milk, orange juice, apple juice, and coke zero. (And very rarely, if I go out to a place with no coke zero, I sometimes get a regular coke, but I usually just get water in those cases..)

As for my regular diet:

For breakfast I make some toast with butter, sometimes an egg, and a glass of milk. (I get the fat free milk at publix/walmart-- is that bad?)
For lunch, I've been starting to eat a portion of those lean cuisine/etc "healthy" frozen foods, with a little bit of parmesan cheese on top. With a coke zero it gets me through the work day easily.
Then at home, for dinner, I usually have some pasta (can't stand the taste of whole grain, but I'm throwing it in every so often to try to get used to it) I usually put just butter, grated cheese, and a little bit of oregano and garlic powder. Sometimes I use one of those pre-bought alfredo sauces from the store.
Other common options include half a frozen pizza, fish (like..those frozen fillets, that I just heat up in the oven), and I'm not sure exactly what, similar to the fish but it's chicken. I also eat those two with ketchup. <_<

That's pretty much my regular diet on most days, which I'll admit is terrible. The only vegetable I like is spinach, so I'm thinking of buying some spinach next time I go grocery shopping and mixing it in with my pasta when I go the sauce route. Any other advice? :/

[Amiricle]

Guess I'll ask for some advice D:

How bad is coke zero? I know it's not as good as water, obviously, but in comparison to regular sodas? I usually drink 2 cans a day, sometimes 1, but usually 2. One at lunch, one at dinner. I'm considering dropping that down to just 1 a day, and eventually maybe one every other day, or whatever. I don't drink any coffee, or any alcoholic drinks. All I drink is water, milk, orange juice, apple juice, and coke zero. (And very rarely, if I go out to a place with no coke zero, I sometimes get a regular coke, but I usually just get water in those cases..)

As for my regular diet:

For breakfast I make some toast with butter, sometimes an egg, and a glass of milk. (I get the fat free milk at publix/walmart-- is that bad?)
For lunch, I've been starting to eat a portion of those lean cuisine/etc "healthy" frozen foods, with a little bit of parmesan cheese on top. With a coke zero it gets me through the work day easily.
Then at home, for dinner, I usually have some pasta (can't stand the taste of whole grain, but I'm throwing it in every so often to try to get used to it) I usually put just butter, grated cheese, and a little bit of oregano and garlic powder. Sometimes I use one of those pre-bought alfredo sauces from the store.
Other common options include half a frozen pizza, fish (like..those frozen fillets, that I just heat up in the oven), and I'm not sure exactly what, similar to the fish but it's chicken. I also eat those two with ketchup. <_<

That's pretty much my regular diet on most days, which I'll admit is terrible. The only vegetable I like is spinach, so I'm thinking of buying some spinach next time I go grocery shopping and mixing it in with my pasta when I go the sauce route. Any other advice? :/

All soda pop is bad for you. Zero just has less calories but is equally destructive overall healthwise. Fruit juices are ok. Not bad, but not good either. Those lean cuisine meals aren't nearly as good as they'd like you to believe as the best of its nutrtional constituent parts are destroyed in processing or zapped away and then theres the preservatives & additives. Butter and cheese is fine unless you're fat, but the pre-made Alfredo depends on brand. Most are filled with nasty preservatives and chemicals or the deceptive 'modified milk ingredients'. Alfredo sauce is actually rediculously easy to make from scratch and would recommend that. As for the frozen pizza/fish/etc. the bad part is generally the preservatives and additives, otherwise not terrible.
Although you said no alcohol, with that diet I'd really recommend 1 glass of red wine a day.

[The Stig]

I think by not drinking coke zero or die/soda at all for the last 2-3 months has signifcantly improved my health/teeth. I used to think diet or coke zero was great, but it turned out to be the same.

Any one got any opinions on sparkling (soda) water? It's my soda substitute (but not everyday, every now and then), and I googled around but can't anything strictly negative.

I only drink soda now if I'm out in social situations. For example, Friday lunch times with work people or leaving parties.

[Julian]

All soda pop is bad for you. Zero just has less calories but is equally destructive overall healthwise. Fruit juices are ok. Not bad, but not good either. Those lean cuisine meals aren't nearly as good as they'd like you to believe as the best of its nutrtional constituent parts are destroyed in processing or zapped away and then theres the preservatives & additives. Butter and cheese is fine unless you're fat, but the pre-made Alfredo depends on brand. Most are filled with nasty preservatives and chemicals or the deceptive 'modified milk ingredients'. Alfredo sauce is actually rediculously easy to make from scratch and would recommend that. As for the frozen pizza/fish/etc. the bad part is generally the preservatives and additives, otherwise not terrible.
Although you said no alcohol, with that diet I'd really recommend 1 glass of red wine a day.

Yeah I figured coke zero was bad, but not as terribad as regular soda. Definitely going to try reducing to one can a day, and then work towards whatever feels appropriate from there.

I know the lean cuisine stuff isn't great, but in the past, I was basically eating the same thing for lunch that I would make for dinner, so I figured a smaller portion of something a little "healthier" would be better, no? Don't really know what else I could take to work for lunch. I'm a 3-4min walk from work so going home for lunch is always an option. (and what I used to do)

Any tips on making home-made sauce? Sometimes I try making some from a kinda-recipe I learned from my dad, butter+flour then milk. It usually comes out decently, but it's not that great, and sometimes feels like it takes too long to get all saucy-like. Definitely wanting to add some spinach onto that.

Thanks