Quote:
Originally Posted by Love&Toil
I used to use exercise to cope with my depression years ago before I had children. More recently I was working out too but changed to a different dept at work and can't workout at lunch time anymore. Major mood hit. I've had to come up with a new plan to sometimes kick my children off the TV or computer so I can do an exercise video/DVD/youtube or whatever. Up until now I haven't wanted to kick them off but what the heck, I'm important too! I am modelling healthy behaviour to my children as well by doing this.
Thanks for the reminder of being meticulous with diet for the purpose of mood moderation. I have been focusing on diet for my weight (had joined WW for a month and did great, then dropped off after that). What foods do you find really work for you? Probably fruit and veg. I see your list of supplements - did you learn about those through the book The Mood Cure by Dr. Julia Ross?
|
I've been taking walks in the morning as the exposure to sunlight and exercise helps me start the day in a better moid. Today I was a bit late getting out and ran across a neighbor with her three children, one in a stroller and the 4-6 yr olds on bikes. One complained of the cold to which she calmly replied, "use your muscles to keep warm." This brief encounter reminded me that while taking the time to exercise can sometimes be difficult there are a variety of ways to approach the problems which estrange us from basic self-care.
My diet is quite basic, and it's simplicity has helped when stress starts to skew apetite, or mood has made it almost impossible to make decisions of what to eat. I eat a whole foods diet consisting of brown rice, quinoa, vegatables, fruits, nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts), and sources of lean protein.
I eat basically the same thing every day as I then do not have to exert any effort finding something to eat. Specifically, breakfast is oatmeal with cinnamon, walnuts, honey, frozen berries or peaches, and protein isolates mixed in skim milk to drink. When in season I will occasionally use apple cider instead of water to cook the oatmeal. Lunch is brown rice with some soup I cook about once a week (basically whatever vegatables I feel like eating (lots of green ones) with spices, almonds, walnuts, and egg whites simmered for ~8 min). I store the cooked soup and brown rice (with cinnamon mixed in it) ready to eat in the fridge. Dish a portion, heat in microwave, and eat. Dinner is quinoa, with vegatables spiced and sautéed in coconut oil, alongside a lean protein source such as egg whites. I have some fresh fruit, nuts, or real fruit juice as snacks or with meals. I'm also fond of Greek yogurt. I occasionally eat a few squares of Lindt dark chocolate.
I started out slowly changing my diet and found something called the Zero Willpower Eating System which helped simplify what and how much to eat. Personally, I have found that after dropping processed foods, especially almost eliminating refined sugars, my apetite is easier to regulate and my preferences reflect my nutritional needs.
I have not read the book you mention. I learned about the supplements I am using through websites, forums, and research articles when trying to find a way to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms I have been experiencing throughout the year.