I am often asked, when people hear I lots about 40kgs, if I follow a specific diet, or if I made major dietary changes. My spontaneous answer is no.
During my Walk for Life days, back in 2006/7, the branch manager helpfully enquired as to why I am not shedding weight. Looking back, I realise how lifelong bad eating habits had been the hinderance.
Lots of little things add up, bringing about change:
- In contrast to the past, I enjoy my coffee black, and without sugar
- Instead of ordinary cane sugar, we limit the use of sweeteners, and use nothing if food is naturally sweet, such as sweet potato or pumpkin. Furthermore, uses honey instead of sugar.
- Rather than sweetening, we prefer using spices and herbs.
- Prefer low glycaemic index (GI) bread and whole wheat flour and pasta
- We seldom eat red meat, and when we do, in small quantities. Mainly eat fatty fish, and chicken breasts, as well as small portions of cheese, including halloumi.
- Several vegetables (different colours) and several fresh fruits are major dietary components. Often some whole wheat pasta with several vegetables, supplemented with grated cheese for dinner, followed by a bowl of fruit and coffee. Alternatively, we enjoy our vegetables oven-roasted with limited extra virgin olive-oil.
- When buying groceries, I tend to select with the aim of to alternating what I cook, from what is available at the time. When cooking, I select from what is in the fridge.
- Having made a meal, a serving for each is dished up, and the remainder (as per general practitioner’s advice) put away — no second helpings! (Heaven forbit third helpings.)
- Largely replaced sweets, ice-creams and crisps with dates, other soft dried fruit and nuts.
- I limit my pre-run (usually three times a week) food intake to a small quantity, focusing on rehydration after, and concludes with small portion of preferably a mix of kefir/kephir (a cultured, fermented beverage, made by using “starter” grains—a combination of yeasts, milk proteins, and bacteria—and, for example milk, with a tart, creamy flavour, loaded with probiotic health benefits) and for example cereal.
- I’ve experimented with sports nutritional shakes, but settled for what we have at home.
- Eat a bowl of porridge, for example oats, for breakfast with no sugar, only fat-free milk added.
- Occasionally we treat ourselves to sakoulas (strained yogurt), muesli (healthier mixes) and honey.
- Tend to get hungry mid-morning, when enjoying a serving of previous night’s left-over (as per general practitioner’s advice) or low GI bread with peanut butter. Only a single serving of left-over, especially when having a night race scheduled — encountered intestinal cramps and discomfort in a number of cases when a larger quantity consumed had not been digested by the time of the race.
- My lunch-box furthermore includes at least one fruit, eaten about mid-day. Further I ensure that I hydrate adequately during the day.
- When eating out, we used to have a main course and desert. Nowadays we skip the desert and have Americanos instead.
Occasionally a slippage occurs resulting in pursuing the memory of some unhealthy treat. When it happens, the moment is enjoyed, where after reverting to better living.
Having taken stock, it appears we essentially embraced a Mediterranean-type diet.