almonds
- have had cfs for 3 yrs + love your site thanks, ha ha just had to say I have been eating almonds now for 3 months my body seems to know whats best for it! am also veggi, wheat, and dairy free. I also have smoothies for a quick fix too there brilliant, keep up the good work every one Hilary UK
- —Guest hilary motterham
Eating healthy - sometimes a challenge
- I do my best when I eat to balance the FMS/arthritis/migraines/hypoglycemia. I absolutely feel my best when I eat: no nightshade vegetables, no grains (or small amounts of quinoa if really need some grains), cut out all sugar including most fruit (hypoglycemia) and cut out caffeine (no coffee, tea, chocolate) and cut out anything processed. I also need to eat some lean protein with each meal/snack or I get very tired. I do eat a TON of vegetables each day, mostly organic, and that makes me feel much, much better, and I am able to lose weight keeping to that, even with minimal exercise. I have found it very difficult to keep this up though through the last big flare up as I am at the office quite a bit, and I need to have a good day to prep the food for the week. However, it is so worth it, with how much better I feel, and much less foggy brained I am.
- —middle_tiddle
happy and healthy
- There are very few processed foods in my house; roasted nuts, some types of noodles, organic soup base, things of that nature. My fibro was so extreme that at 36yrs. my doctors thought I was termimal. I am 42yrs. now and and 25 pounds lighter. I do not drink alcohol or soda or processed things EVER. I excercise everyday, try Curves, it may change your life! I eat red meat, we raise our own cows, so it is lean & clean, but I eat alot of salads w/goat cheese and nuts or mozz. sticks. I am able to drink milk and eat organic yogurt too. My life is completely different now. No sugar.
- —Guest Jinx
New to it all
- I was just diagnosed with FMS two weeks ago. The doctor strongly urged me to go on an Elimination Diet which several of you have responded about. The transition seems overwhelming for me. My husband works graveyard and I'm retired. Our meals are often at odd times and not in sync with most peoples. To make it even more challenging the nearest store where I can find gluten free, organics etc is about 15 miles away and limited. I guess I sound like I'm whining and I guess I am but is hard. Between pain and fatigue I have a difficult time shopping and having what I need to eat on hand. I did cook up a large package of chicken drum sticks in the crock pot which took almost no effort on my part and then stripping the meat off the bones. I had what we needed for several meals which was helpful. I know changing my diet would help me tremendously its just the effort in time, energy and brain power and an off beat eating schedule has just really thrown me. I appreciate the suggestions.
- —Guest MaryLou
Eating with CFS/Fibro
- My husand gardens, so I have lots of organic produce-just not consistently. I cook meat once or twice a week, and keep it refrigerated to add to meals through the week. I cook meals early in the day while I still have energy. I have a vegetable chopper, and I chop whatever came in from the garden and saute it with an onion, celery and garlic. When they are soft, I add 1 lb of chopped meat. I season with either, cumin, curry, cajun or italian seasoning, depending on what went into it. If I use curry, I might add an apple or two and some raisins. I dump the whole thing in my crockpot and let it cook on low until someone gets hungry. I vary the meat(pork, beef or chicken) and sometimes add a potato or two. I get a large cabbage about once a month from the garden, so I add that to my mix for about a week. Homemade tomato sauce is also used a lot. It does become tiresome after a few months, then we eat burgers and frozen pizza for a few days. But it is delicious most days.
- —mindwing
healthy changes
- Even after eating healthy and carefully planning ahead I still felt awful, so I went to my nutritionist and we did a detox then elimination diet. No more gluten, corn or cow's milk for me! The fat fell off and I have only had mild flare ups when I do too much. Yes, this was hard at first, but completely worth it. My family has been very supportive and that helps too.
- —oldpianoteacher
Grocery Shopping
- If it's available in your area - do it online! It has been a godsend for me since splitting up with my husband, who'd done all the physical shopping (I just made the list.) I can manage a 2 week shop now. The 2 main sites I use both have favourite lists so you can easily find the things you regularly buy. One of them actually gives you a reminder when you check out - 'You often buy these things but haven't today...' It's so useful! Also - you're not confined to shopping during normal hours and can usually save your shopping cart so you can take your time, from the comfort of your sofa and even if you do forget something there's usually a cut off time that you can amend your order. It's been a lifesaver! It's much easier to find someone to help get them in the house and put away than it is to sort out someone doing it for you or accompanying you.
- —ilenea
How to improve your diet?
- I don't drink soft drinks any more. I come totally exhausted from work. I really enjoy veggies, salads, ans fruits. Come winter, the selection is diminished. Some times, I head striaght to bed without eating!
- —Guest Anne
Lots of Salad
- I eat a lot of salads and almost no meat. I get my protien from cheese and nuts. I eat yogurt every day. I don't eat anything that is fried and very little processed food. I have one cup of tea a day and rarely drink pop. I drink lots of water. I think most people don't drink enough water and the first thing to suffer is your brain.
- —Guest Donna
What helps re: eating
- Eliminating anything white: sugar, white flour, noodles, etc... I've had to get creative to find snacks and desserts that I enjoy and are healthy.
- —jadlady
Tea drinker!
- How timely! This is just what I needed and makes so much sense! I'm actually dealing with some hypoglycemia because I don't eat right. I would love to see an article about carb cravings when you're tired/in pain. Anyhow, yesterday, I managed to avoid evening munching by drinking some tea. It's something that works pretty consistently for me.
- —greybeh
Was eating pretty healthy before....
- Before being DX'd with FMS/CFS ..... I had become a vegetarian. I've been eating pretty healthy for the past 18 yrs. So~ I think that has helped me alot ! Have cut out caffeine in the past, & KNOW that I felt better without it ! Still have some every now & then, but know HOW to control flares, etc!
- —andreanixon1
health smoothies!
- I have been relying more and more on health smoothies when I don't have enough energy to cook. I keep a bag of frozen mixed berries in the freezer, mix it with non-dairy milk (usually rice milk) and some whole food powder. I blend it up and drink it. It tastes great and has lots of fibre and nutrition. It's so easy, I usually have at least one a day. I definitely recommend these if your single or need to fix something just for yourself :)
- —Guest perpetualspiral
No suggestions, just thanks
- Thank you so much for your suggestions. I have been having this same dilemma for so long its like permanent brain-fog!
- —Guest MissM007
couscous
- I agree, I have fibromyalgia & often just can't face cooking due to pain / fatigue but some meds work better with food.. my fallback is couscous, just spoon some into a small bowl / old margarine container shake on some dried herbs and add a knob of marge or spoon of olive oil, pour on some boiling water, stir with a fork, cover and leave for five minutes. Quick, simple, it's also easy to swallow for those zero-energy, uber-pain days.
- —Guest Libby
