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Any simple pleasures you refuse to give up?

maybe some day

Senior Member
Messages
775
Location
West coast
We sacrifce so much every day, every minute, especially when our health flares and gives us the middle finger. Is there anything that you do that brings contenment even though it may or may not affect your health?

For me, I probably shouldnt eat pasta, but being italian its hard to resist some olive oil and sauteed garlic.

I should go to bed at a consistent regular time, but I stomp my feet like a kid "no, Im staying up till midnight because I want to"

Alcohol isnt the best choice, but I would like one glass of wine.

I should bundle up more in the house, but no.. I turn the heat up to 72* becuase I want to feel compfortable.

I should avoid too much sugar, but I want a handful of chocolate chips

.......... why? because I earned it
 

PennyIA

Senior Member
Messages
728
Location
Iowa
My pepsi. I give up so much tied to diet, energy, lifestyle... doing things I don't want to do because I should. And avoiding things I want to do, but know it'll penalize me - so I don't.

But, I flat out refuse to give up my Pepsi. Don't care if it has corn syrup and artificial colors. It's my only caffeine and I am not willing to give it up, no how, no way.

That's my biggest thing, it really does.
 

Invisible Woman

Senior Member
Messages
1,267
Chocolate.

I was talking to my GP and we were discussing this:

Me: Apart from not being able to exercise I'm so clean living it would make you sick! I gave up fags years ago, can't have caffeine, no alcohol and an extremely low sugar diet with plenty of fresh veg. My only vice is chocolate! So if you're going to suggest I give that up too then save your breath.

Her: Gives me a long look, bursts out laughing and says: "Quite right! I couldn't agree more!"
 

Chocolove

Tournament of the Phoenix - Rise Again
Messages
548
Chocolate.

When I try to cut down on calories, I just use cocoa (no fat there) mixed with with stevia to sweeten and non-fat milk to moisten - a tiny bit to make candy, more milk for icing and the most for a cuppa hot chocolate.

Good book out there called, "Why Women Need Chocolate." My doctor agrees.
 

purrsian

Senior Member
Messages
344
Frozen meals. And I don't necessarily mean pre-made frozen meals, I mean things like frozen fish, chicken tenders, frozen chips, pizza, frozen veggies. I know they don't have as much nutrition as if I ate the same thing but fresh, but I just don't have the energy or inclination to be prepare food, or to be aware enough to know what's close to expiring. Most dinners are just putting things in the oven or air fryer and waiting. My doctor isn't totally okay with this, but I figure at least I'm eating a decent amount, which I otherwise may not be!
 

purrsian

Senior Member
Messages
344
I started saying no matter what I would never give up :( bread, pasta, chocolate.....) As years pass, and I get more sick and tired of cfs, I have given everything up. Even chocolate if that says anything.
I know how you feel, I wasn't going to give up alcohol because it was fun and made socialising easier. But then my body decided that alcohol now makes me feel truly horrible :( It was hard to accept at first, because I kept thinking "just another thing that CFS has ruined for me". I keep thinking I should try giving up gluten to see how it goes, but that seems like too much effort at this stage. Life is too much effort most of the time lol
 

Seven7

Seven
Messages
3,444
Location
USA
I know how you feel, I wasn't going to give up alcohol because it was fun and made socialising easier. But then my body decided that alcohol now makes me feel truly horrible :( It was hard to accept at first, because I kept thinking "just another thing that CFS has ruined for me". I keep thinking I should try giving up gluten to see how it goes, but that seems like too much effort at this stage. Life is too much effort most of the time lol
To be honest gluten is not so hard if you find good tasting substitute. Sample: I am an oatmeal kinda gal, so I started w oats waffles. I would not change it for the glutten they were so good. Then I found a great bread ( three bakers white bread) and so on. So it is not hard if you find something better that you really like.
 

maybe some day

Senior Member
Messages
775
Location
West coast
To be honest gluten is not so hard if you find good tasting substitute. Sample: I am an oatmeal kinda gal, so I started w oats waffles. I would not change it for the glutten they were so good. Then I found a great bread ( three bakers white bread) and so on. So it is not hard if you find something better that you really like.
I agree, it does get a bit easier the more you stick with it. Much more food choices these days. My wife who is gluten free refuses to eat a few items because they just taste awful.
 

Alvin2

The good news is patients don't die the bad news..
Messages
2,997
Trying to figure out the etiology and treatment for CFS even though my cognitive capacity has diminished by over 90%
Even though Dr Davis and 3 Nobel prize winners with the most advanced technology are on the case i am just not able to give up putting my limited brain power on it.
I solve problems, medical, psychological, social, technological, its in my nature to fix things and to not fail
 
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belize44

Senior Member
Messages
1,662
At first I tried to avoid gluten and dairy, but now allow it at different times. This way I can bake, which I love to do when I have the energy and am not in too much pain. It's a simple pleasure that I have enjoyed since childhood, and I will not give it up. So there. :D I know that I would probably feel better if I gave it up but darn I have given up so much it hardly matters anymore.
 
Messages
1,478
We seem to be programmed to punish ourselves further as a way of feeling better about ourselves.....I blame the medieval power system.....this seems to have leached into popular beliefs about food which are way off beam Imo.

Let's be a little more kind to ourselves! yes we should reduce our carbs a bit, yes we should eat a bit more vegetables, yes we should moderate alcohol. We don't need to give anything up completely unless we want to.

It's not like giving up dairy and gluten is going to cure anyone here.

However for those wanting to flog themselves for being ill ...crack on!

Just off to have my carb free breakfast.....with my allocated caffeine dose for the day
 

erin

Senior Member
Messages
885
Given up everything, all mentioned above.
Though I was told to give up or at least reduce swimming, I am resisting to this, I live abroad more than half of the year just for this. I won't give up swimming. If I can't swim I'll float. The sea is important to me. It gives me energy.
 
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