I weighed in today after a week off and I've gained 1lb because I'm eating more again! A few weeks ago I wasn't too well for about a month so I wasn't eating much! I got down to 11st 1.8lb, now I'm 11st 2.8.
Losing weight is so difficult when you're tired, having the mind to eat properly etc.
Onward and hopefully downward some time before I reach 60!
xxxx
Source of information for this post: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/avocados/
This week I thought I'd talk a bit about avocados.
They are bumpy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Why avocados? I try to eat one for breakfast with 2 eggs because I find they keep me feel fuller for longer. Here is a breakdown of the nutritional value of Avocados:
A medium Avocado contains approximately:
240 Calories
13g Carbohydrates
3g Protein
22g Fat (15g monounsaturated; 4g polyunsaturated; 3g saturated)
10g Fibre (Fiber)
11 milligrams Sodium
0 Cholesterol
Although they are calorific they have really good nutritional benefits for heart, gut, eye and other health.
They are a really good source of fibre, great for low carb diets and are friendly to your heart as the fats in them do not increase cholesterol.
They contain the nutrient Potassium:
Potassium is
a mineral that your body needs to work properly. It is a type
of electrolyte. It helps your nerves to function and muscles to contract.
It helps your heartbeat stay regular. It also helps move nutrients into cells
and waste products out of cells. A diet rich in potassium helps to offset some
of sodium’s harmful effects on blood pressure.
source: https://medlineplus.gov/potassium.html
Avocados have a low Glycemic Index (GI) of about 40 and are less likely to cause blood glucose surges.
They also have Carotenoids (Lutein and Zeaxanthin) - plant chemicals which are found in the human eye and protect it from the sun's Ultraviolet Light.
The fibres (fibers) act as prebiotics - they can improve the diversity of microflora in the intestine
All in all they are healthy fruits and can be used in recipes or eaten as they are!
I will cut the avocado in half, removing the stone and then peeling it (this is a bit messy on the fingers) then I slice it and eat it with the eggs.
VEGETABLES
Artichoke
Beetroot
Beetroot Juice
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collards
Garlic
Kale
Leafy Greens
Mustard Greens
Onions
Peas
Radish
Sauerkraut
Spinach
FRUIT
Apples
Avocado
Bananas
Blueberries
Cherries
Cranberries
Figs
Grapefruit
Grapes
Lemons
Limes
Oranges
Papaya
Plums
Prickly Pear
Raspberries
Watermelon
GRAINS, RICE ETC
Almonds
Barley
Beans (Legumes)
Brazil Nuts
Brown Rice
Buckwheat
Bulgur
Chickpeas
Corn
Flaxseeds
Lentils
Millet
Oatmeal/Whole Oats
Pecan
Quinoa
Rye
Soybeans
Sunflower Seeds
Walnuts
Wholegrains
Wild Rice
FISH
Herring
Salmon
Sardines
OTHER
Cinnamon
Coffee
Cumin
Curry Powder
Green Tea
Milk Thistle
Olive Oil
Oregano
Rosemary
Sage
Tamarind
Tapioca
Tea
Turmeric
WATER
*Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional so if you do think you may have any health problems please see your GP or other medical professional for advice and/or help
As I've been ill for the past week, I haven't eaten a lot so I've lost 4lb - if only weight loss and health were that easy.
I really wasn't sure what to write about this week and a thought came to mind - why not have a look at diabetes. To confess, I haven't got around to reading about it (I'm not a medic, so all information would have to come from websites)!
My experience of diabetes comes from my late mum. I can't remember when she was diagnosed with it, but I reckon it was round about 2016. She didn't need to take insulin, but she was supposed to look after herself - eating healthily and trying to keep active. She had a blood monitor, where she would prick her finger with a lancet and put a drop of blood onto a tab and insert it into a machine where it would read her glucose levels.
In 2018 she fell downstairs, hit her head and shattered her hip socket joint so she had a hip replacement - up until that time, she walked everywhere - she was over weight but she did like walking. After the operation, she found she couldn't walk without a frame, which really frustrated her big time. She got by though.
Of course in 2020 there was lockdown and all of her activities finished - she loved going to the Salvation Army and helping out in their shop, she founded and ran their parents and toddler group for years, she went to their ladies meetings, Sunday meetings, she started and ran a CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) group for ladies and men - they had crafts and speakers etc, she loved going to the Trefoil Guild (this is the senior section of the Girl Guide Association (Girl Scouts in the USA). She would organise things with her Trefoil Guild ladies, they had craft meetings, lunches out, speakers etc. All of that stopped and my mum was trapped indoors (I say trapped, because there was nothing to go to), I believe she sank into depression (although that's another story).
In January 2021, my dad went into hospital because he wasn't well so I took a week off work to help my mum out. I remember getting the bus to the hospital and when we got off I saw my mum looking around confused - so I asked "What's wrong?" to which she replied "I'm looking for my daughter!" I said "Mum, I am your daughter!". She laughed it off, but after the fall down the stairs her writing changed - it went 'wobbly' (that's how I can describe it) and her memory started to go - she had a phenomenal memory for remembering all kinds of dates etc - she would even call me to remind me of appointments I had because she knew I'd forget them (that was in my younger days)!
In September 2021, my mum and dad were struggling a bit so I took a week off work and went to help them out. I'm so glad I did because I had the opportunity to say "Thank you!" to my mum for all the help she had given me (again, that's another story) and that was the last time I saw her.
Now to the diabetes part - while I was there in the September, I saw the machine and the tabs etc and asked my mum what they were for and she said they were for measuring her blood sugar levels and "I don't bother with it anymore!" She had given up. Hindsight is a 'good thing' people say sarcastically and I wish I'd asked her to show me how it worked, because I think her glucose was probably through the roof. I remember her eating so slowly and my dad saying that she always took ages to eat her food these days! She was failing! Around about 28th October 2021 she suffered a massive stroke (it didn't help that the ambulance took 5 hours to arrive and it was 24 hours before she got to the stroke ward)! She passed away on 1st November 2021 from complications due to diabetes and a stroke (I can't remember the exact wording - but those were basically the causes).
Why am I writing all this? I want to say to those who have diabetes - PLEASE do your blood tests, even if you don't feel like it &/or take your insulin. Those who have relatives and friends who have diabetes PLEASE keep an eye on them!
If you're in the UK and you are concerned that you or someone you know may have diabetes - click the link below for more information:
If you're in the USA:
If you're in Canada:
If you're in Australia
https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/
If you're in NZ
Have a really good week anybody reading this and keep an eye on your health!
xxxx
A bit late, I guess, but I thought I'd say that in November 2025, I decided not to eat crisps (potato chips if I have readers from the US) and for each day I didn't have crisps I donated £2 to the charity Guide Dogs for the Blind! I managed to do the whole month so donated £60! Some friends joined in and I managed to raise £140 - which is fantastic!
I feel that it's a worthwhile charity because blind people get the help they need. I've never been a dog owner, but I think they are amazing friends to humans - loyal and loving! I've always owned cats and although they are fabulous friends and company too, I couldn't imagine them being as good at helping out their human 'parents'. If you are reading this and you have some experience of a cat helping out - feel free to comment - it would be great to read your stories!
I'm off to work in a bit so take care readers and have a fabulous day
Xxxx
Started back in work after 13 days annual leave, yesterday and also thought I'd start cutting down on food so I had
2 egg omlette with cherry tomatoes for breakfast
Chicken and salad with a banana for dessert for lunch
Chicken curry and rice for dinner
Not a bad start, diet wise, but during the work day I started to feel ill. Fast forward to today and here I am in bed with a sore throat, headache and blocked nose!
I would love a new job because the one I have is becoming quite heavy going as I work in a big store café. Not sure what I could do because with an ADHD brain concentrating on a till is heavy going! Oh well! Onward and upwards!
Have a fab day
Xxxx
I forget to post or just don't think about it! it's been over 2 years since my last post!
I came across AuDHD a few weeks ago - as I understand it, it's ADHD with Autism and I think I am slightly autistic, but mainly ADHD!
In work they have transferred me to a different department (at my request) in my retail job. I had just come back from looking after an elderly parent who had been going through cancer treatment - I'd had 15 weeks off work! On my first or maybe second day back one of the members of staff criticised me and I flew off the deep end (self control is lacking if I'm feeling depressed, which I was). As I hadn't been trained to use the equipment it was rather unfair. Today I looked at the company's team page and there is glowing praise and adoration for someone else who is new there!
With AuDHD, because of feeling inadequate and I was bullied in school for being different (not sure if that's the case with every child who has AuDHD), suffering from depression I felt really hurt and then it came to me - I'm not in work to get patted on the back, I'm there to do a job and it doesn't matter if I don't get praise - I'm strange so people think I'm odd anyway! "Just go there and do your job," I thought! It doesn't matter if I get praise or not - so long as I get paid! 😂 It's a company where if your face fits, you do well - if you're one of the 'boys' (although I'm female) you're in with a chance of getting a prize. As I type it still kind of hurts because I'm thinking of someone else in work who suffers from depression and she's the loveliest, kindest person you could meet, yet she never gets praise and she's so helpful with the customers and other staff.
I have to admit that because of my childhood and trying my hardest at various competitions etc but never quite getting there - never winning prizes, I hate competitions where 'the best' one wins because I'm sure everybody has tried their hardest, it's the same in work - if your face fits...
I do tend to be blunt though as well, so I knock heads with the managers all the time therefore my face will never fit!
If anybody reads this (does anybody read my blog?) and you have AuDHD or another 'special need' don't despair if you don't get praise or adoration for jobs or if you enter competitions, exams etc and you don't quite 'get there' - we shouldn't be subject or build our lives around the praise of others, so long as we've tried, that's the main thing, and if others don't like it oh well, move on!
OK I've waffled on quite a bit and I won't promise anything but hopefully I'll post more often on here and if people read it and find it helpful, that's great!
Have a great day.
