Today is Day #29.
ONE MORE DAY TO GO.
This last week has been the hardest. I went from feeling amazing to feeling like I'm crawling thru mud. It's completely due to me not eating enough. Don't worry - that is all explained in the novel that is below.
But first -
What I ate:
Breakfast:
egg casserole: spinach, mushroom, onion, sausage, coconut milk (I generally made a variation of a breakfast casserole for each week)
Lunch/Dinner:
chicken pot pie soup: chicken, coconut milk, mushroom, peas, carrots, red pepper, onion, garlic, shallots, chicken broth
sirloin steak with mushroom gravy and sweet potato fries
bacon, lettuce and tomato wraps (in lettuce)
plain old scrambled eggs
salad, raw vegetables, chicken, oil and vinegar
apples (BONUS: apples taste like candy to me now. CANDY!)
And while I haven't officially completed my Whole30, I'm going to go ahead and give my thoughts on this whole process.
I'll be honest, it was both good and bad. For me, it was a seesaw of good and bad. Some days the bad outweighed the good. And some days it was worth it. And honestly, it still changes from day to day.
I'll go over the good first:
1. How can eating wholesome foods be bad? Short answer: it can't. So 30 days of eating a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and grassfed meat was pretty awesome.
2. You get a sort of pride when you eat healthfully. And when you're doing it 100% of the time for THIRTY days. Well, they should make a t-shirt for that because I think it's an amazing accomplishment.
3. In an effort to mix up my menu, I turned to foods I never have cooked before. Trying new vegetables is always a plus in my book. I tried kale, parsnips, and turnips to name a few. Some were more successful than others.
4. I learned a few things about my eating habits and how I can tweak my pre-Whole30 diet to be a little better.
5. Consciously cutting out sugar is a good idea. When you're mindful about not using it, you find that it's really not that big of a deal and you're really better off eating less of it.
6. My body shrunk.
And now, the bad:
1. It was, of course, hard.
2. I didn't feel I actually needed to do it once it was underway. In January of this year, I did my elimination diet and this was basically the same thing. EXCEPT, I only took out gluten. This took out the entire grains category. I already know I have problems with gluten, dairy, soy, and a little bit with corn (it makes me have crazy cravings). And after I learned all of my new food limitations I was already eating with those in mind. I rarely ate out, got fast food, or ate anything processed. I had been doing that for 6+ months and I had such a handle on it, this just felt redundant to me.
3. I felt deprived. Mainly because of #2. I already had my food problems identified and I knew how to manage them and eat around them. I read the book, I understood their reasons for taking out certain foods, but once I got about 3 weeks in, I really, REALLY felt like I didn't fully agree this process was right for me. I do agree that if I had been an individual who had been eating a Standard American Diet then this shock would be necessary, but I'm not that person.
4. If I didn't know how to cook and didn't have my previously learned knowledge about cooking dairy free and gluten free especially, I would have been screwed. I get why people quit. You HAVE to get creative to keep things interesting. Unless you're the type of person who likes to eat just a protein and veggie (and believe it or not some do), you'll get bored and you'll get cranky. Quick.
5. I also didn't agree with the not using Whole30 approved foods to make fan favorite dishes (you know, dessert, pizza, pancakes etc.). I feel the best thing I learned from my first elimination diet was just this. I taught myself how to make dishes that were "normal". In fact, I tried hard to modify my favorite dishes to keep them in the rotation. I often felt like an "outcast" because I couldn't eat normal foods. When people invited me over, I was happy I could bring something that looked and tasted normal - and little did they know it fit into the strict confines of my diet. Furthermore, this one thing is mainly the reason I have continued eating this way this whole year. If I want pizza, I have a great grain free crust that really hits the spot. It has 3 ingredients in it. And I top it with the best ingredients I can find. If I hadn't taught myself how to do this, I would rely on getting a gluten free pizza from a restaurant. And just because something is gluten free does NOT mean it's healthier. I'm sure it's laden with soybean oil, processed cheese, and all kinds of other not good stuff.
6. I did not eat enough. Plain and simple. This happened to both myself and my boyfriend. I don't know the science behind it but the last week my energy dropped like a brick. And I realized, I wasn't averaging enough calories to even have my body function normally. This is actually both good and bad. It's good because it shows you how hard it is to overeat on wholesome foods. They are so filling and much lower in calories than say, a Big Mac. But at the same time, it was bad because I found it hard to eat ENOUGH calories to even get me through my workouts. I'll admit this last point is driven by the deprivation I was feeling. I'm sure I could have stuffed my face with anything to get my calories up, but the bad thing was I didn't want to eat. At all. I just started to hate eating food.
and lastly ....
7. I think it sets you up for a binge. Especially because of reason #5. I'm actually afraid of this. I went to the forums to see how many people were dealing with this and guess what, there are TONS of posts about being afraid. And rightly so. Never before this year have I wanted to just throw caution to the wind and eat ... well ... everything. I've written before about how this year I've had such a handle on my eating. I don't feel that way right now. I feel like if I allowed myself, I could have 2 weeks solid of just eating. I've already made a firm plan for the upcoming weekend to help me with this. I'm allowing myself pizza. It's the one thing I think both of us really want so on Saturday (we finish tomorrow) we're having pizza. And yes, we're both afraid that it'll be like opening up pandora's box. However, we've agreed that no matter what happens, come Monday, we're starting back up again with our healthy eating habits.
CONCLUSION:
While it appears I had mostly negative things to say about this I'm happy I did it, although I probably won't be doing it ever again (as written). But I've been wanting to do it and I did it. And most importantly, I finished. So of course that makes me happy. I also learned a lot about how my body reacts to certain foods. What keeps me full longer and what doesn't. I learned about some new veggies which is awesome. On the down side, I kind of feel like I messed with a good thing. I was in a great place with my eating, weight loss and such. I had a handle on my cravings, on my food choices and my overall relationship with food. This was truly a learning experience. And in case you're wondering, yes, I would recommend people try it out. It may be the thing for you. And again I would like to stress, while at times it seemed it wasn't for me, I never would have known unless I tried it. Such a weird thing isn't it? I'm spouting that It made me unhappy but I'm supremely happy I did it and made it all the way through despite my personal findings. See what I mean? Seesaw.
I said I wouldn't be doing this again but only not as written. I have tried to read up on grains and there is validity to what they say about grains but I've also read the counterarguments. I, personally, don't think wheat is ever a good idea but there are other whole grains out there that I wouldn't be opposed to eating on occasion (basically rice). Cutting out gluten permanently for me was honestly not a big deal. The beans argument also isn't a big one for me. I actually rarely eat them, however, I won't purposefully not eat something tasty and healthy if it has beans in them. And dairy. I don't eat it every day or even once a week. It's one of those once in awhile things for me and it will continue to be that way for me. And alcohol, again, I'm not a big drinker but every now and then I like to have a hard apple cider or a glass of wine. And finally sugar. There is no argument from me. Sugar is not good and I definitely will try my best to keep it out as much as possible and choose my battles when it comes to indulging. As far as processed ingredients, they have been out and will stay out!
So there you have it.
Again, I encourage everyone to give it a try. And if you need ideas for recipes give me a shout. I have a ton.
Also I'll post my before/after pics and measurements once I'm officially done. Also I have some thoughts on the weight loss aspect of this program because I feel like most people do it for that ;)
Today's Menu:
B: egg casserole: spinach, mushroom, onion, sausage, coconut milk
L: chicken pot pie soup: chicken, coconut milk, mushroom, peas, carrots, red pepper, onion, garlic, shallots, chicken broth
D: maybe some sashimi!
Showing posts with label Food Intolerance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food Intolerance. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Vacation Plan Part 1: My Whole30
I haven't done one of these in awhile.
Behold!
My Vacation Plan. And this one is so fancy it's a two-parter :)
Now that I'm off of my "time off" and I'm feeling both great and gross (great because I took a break and gross because, well, I took a break), it's time.
It's time to shift things into high gear because I have a vacation looming in 8 short weeks.
This year my boyfriend and I are traveling back east to go on a beach vacation with some members of my family. And since it's a beach vacation, we want to try to look our best. Simple enough right? It's not my MAIN reason for wanting to lose weight it's just what I like to call a kicker. Just a little something in the not too distant future to give you motivation to gear up for whatever challenge you have in mind. You know, something to "kick" things into motion.
I like to think there are 2 main components to being healthy, getting in shape, looking good, losing weight - whatever you want to call it. Eating healthy and exercising. So today's portion of the vacation plan is going to center around what I believe to be the most important aspect of weight loss. Well, not just weight loss but in overall health.
FOOD.
I truly believe food is 80% of the equation of weight loss. Hell, I'd even agree that number could be even higher.
It's no secret that I think eating whole foods is the way to go. I've spent this whole year trying to eat only whole foods and heal my gut of some food intolerances I've discovered. I've actually been quite successful on that front. For instance, gluten no longer has an immediate detrimental effect on me. When I say immediate, I mean like in 20 minutes after exposure. Now it's more like 12 hours. Oh the effect is still detrimental, but still, it's progress and I'm very happy about it. It actually has opened up my social life quite a bit. I used to be scared to go to a restaurant with friends due to the fear of something sneaking into my meal. Now I feel a little more confident. Dairy also has gotten better. I can have it on occasion and within reason. Soy is still weird. I think it's more of an allergy but only in certain forms. I haven't narrowed this one down completely. I'm not sure I ever will unless I get tested. I'm not too concerned because I don't eat that much soy anyways. I really try to stay away from all that GMO madness.
That all being said, this past 4th of July weekend, my diet managed to include ALL of those things. I was able to eat them but not without side effects which included: insidious weight gain, bloating, indigestion, brain fog, gastrointestinal effects, and mild depression.
Yes, gluten actually makes me feel really really bad about myself. Weird right? Sometimes I don't even believe that it happens but trust me, it does.
THAT is why I think food is so important. If food can cause all of those crazy side effects imagine what can happen when you nourish yourself with nothing but the BEST of food.
Which brings me to my Vacation Plan Part 1: My Whole30.
What's a Whole30? A very, very short explanation is this: certain foods can make you feel bad and you shouldn't eat them. So the Whole30 is a 30 day challenge to eliminate those bad foods to see how awesome you can feel. For the real deal explanation, read this.
What can you eat? meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and good fat.
So basically if it isn't one of those things, you're not eating it.
Why am I doing this?
Months ago I bought a book called It Starts With Food . I like to read a lot about food and nutrition and for whatever reason this book resonated with me. It's written by the folks who created the Whole30. As I was reading the book, I was already on my elimination diet, but for whatever reason I kept putting off starting my own Whole30. I don't really have a reason other than I was scared.
I was already not eating so many foods the thought of eliminating more made me nervous.
It wasn't until I connected with some friends via Facebook who were participating in their own Whole30 challenges that I committed. In fact, I knew 2 months ago that today was going to be the day I started my Whole30. So this isn't some spur of the moment decision. I've actually been planning this for quite some time.
So for the next 30 days it's NO:
sugar (real or fake), dairy, legumes, grains (all including corn), alcohol, processed food of ANY kind, white potatoes, carrageenan, sulfites or MSG.
NOTE: (If this sounds like something you'd be interested in doing please note that there are some exceptions and specific food instructions so read the full explanation in the link above for clarification.)
There are also some other points to the plan that don't involve food. You're not supposed to weigh yourself or take your measurements. Some may disagree with me but I'm not going to follow the weigh-in rule. I really enjoy my weekly weigh-in blog posts. I like the weekly feedback so I will continue with my weekly Friday weigh-ins.
As for measurements, I'll post my starting measurements and pictures in part 2 and won't take them again til the end.
I will also continue to log all of my food in Weight Watchers and calculate my points.
After my 30 days are up, I still will have 24 days until I leave for vacation. While the Whole30 isn't meant to be a forever kind of plan, the literature suggests that it might take you longer than 30 days to see the effects of this new-found nutrition. What kind of effects? Well, tiger blood is mentioned in there somewhere.
For real.
Tiger blood just means that you're going to feel awesome: more energy, more stamina, great workouts, looser clothes, and cravings should be gone.
In fact, there is a written timeline of what you might experience during your 30 days.
So if in 30 days I'm not there yet, it's a definitely possibility that I might extend this challenge. But I don't want to make any sort of commitment just yet. I just want to get through the next 30 days.
And yes, in case you're wondering, while I'm very excited, determined and motivated for this particular challenge, I'm still scared.
Today's Menu:
B: quiche muffin (mushrooms, onion, tomato, sausage)
L: mushroom soup
D: broiled salmon + peach salsa
Behold!
My Vacation Plan. And this one is so fancy it's a two-parter :)
Now that I'm off of my "time off" and I'm feeling both great and gross (great because I took a break and gross because, well, I took a break), it's time.
It's time to shift things into high gear because I have a vacation looming in 8 short weeks.
This year my boyfriend and I are traveling back east to go on a beach vacation with some members of my family. And since it's a beach vacation, we want to try to look our best. Simple enough right? It's not my MAIN reason for wanting to lose weight it's just what I like to call a kicker. Just a little something in the not too distant future to give you motivation to gear up for whatever challenge you have in mind. You know, something to "kick" things into motion.
I like to think there are 2 main components to being healthy, getting in shape, looking good, losing weight - whatever you want to call it. Eating healthy and exercising. So today's portion of the vacation plan is going to center around what I believe to be the most important aspect of weight loss. Well, not just weight loss but in overall health.
FOOD.
I truly believe food is 80% of the equation of weight loss. Hell, I'd even agree that number could be even higher.
It's no secret that I think eating whole foods is the way to go. I've spent this whole year trying to eat only whole foods and heal my gut of some food intolerances I've discovered. I've actually been quite successful on that front. For instance, gluten no longer has an immediate detrimental effect on me. When I say immediate, I mean like in 20 minutes after exposure. Now it's more like 12 hours. Oh the effect is still detrimental, but still, it's progress and I'm very happy about it. It actually has opened up my social life quite a bit. I used to be scared to go to a restaurant with friends due to the fear of something sneaking into my meal. Now I feel a little more confident. Dairy also has gotten better. I can have it on occasion and within reason. Soy is still weird. I think it's more of an allergy but only in certain forms. I haven't narrowed this one down completely. I'm not sure I ever will unless I get tested. I'm not too concerned because I don't eat that much soy anyways. I really try to stay away from all that GMO madness.
That all being said, this past 4th of July weekend, my diet managed to include ALL of those things. I was able to eat them but not without side effects which included: insidious weight gain, bloating, indigestion, brain fog, gastrointestinal effects, and mild depression.
Yes, gluten actually makes me feel really really bad about myself. Weird right? Sometimes I don't even believe that it happens but trust me, it does.
THAT is why I think food is so important. If food can cause all of those crazy side effects imagine what can happen when you nourish yourself with nothing but the BEST of food.
Which brings me to my Vacation Plan Part 1: My Whole30.
What's a Whole30? A very, very short explanation is this: certain foods can make you feel bad and you shouldn't eat them. So the Whole30 is a 30 day challenge to eliminate those bad foods to see how awesome you can feel. For the real deal explanation, read this.
What can you eat? meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and good fat.
So basically if it isn't one of those things, you're not eating it.
Why am I doing this?
Months ago I bought a book called It Starts With Food . I like to read a lot about food and nutrition and for whatever reason this book resonated with me. It's written by the folks who created the Whole30. As I was reading the book, I was already on my elimination diet, but for whatever reason I kept putting off starting my own Whole30. I don't really have a reason other than I was scared.
I was already not eating so many foods the thought of eliminating more made me nervous.
It wasn't until I connected with some friends via Facebook who were participating in their own Whole30 challenges that I committed. In fact, I knew 2 months ago that today was going to be the day I started my Whole30. So this isn't some spur of the moment decision. I've actually been planning this for quite some time.
So for the next 30 days it's NO:
sugar (real or fake), dairy, legumes, grains (all including corn), alcohol, processed food of ANY kind, white potatoes, carrageenan, sulfites or MSG.
NOTE: (If this sounds like something you'd be interested in doing please note that there are some exceptions and specific food instructions so read the full explanation in the link above for clarification.)
There are also some other points to the plan that don't involve food. You're not supposed to weigh yourself or take your measurements. Some may disagree with me but I'm not going to follow the weigh-in rule. I really enjoy my weekly weigh-in blog posts. I like the weekly feedback so I will continue with my weekly Friday weigh-ins.
As for measurements, I'll post my starting measurements and pictures in part 2 and won't take them again til the end.
I will also continue to log all of my food in Weight Watchers and calculate my points.
After my 30 days are up, I still will have 24 days until I leave for vacation. While the Whole30 isn't meant to be a forever kind of plan, the literature suggests that it might take you longer than 30 days to see the effects of this new-found nutrition. What kind of effects? Well, tiger blood is mentioned in there somewhere.
For real.
Tiger blood just means that you're going to feel awesome: more energy, more stamina, great workouts, looser clothes, and cravings should be gone.
In fact, there is a written timeline of what you might experience during your 30 days.
So if in 30 days I'm not there yet, it's a definitely possibility that I might extend this challenge. But I don't want to make any sort of commitment just yet. I just want to get through the next 30 days.
And yes, in case you're wondering, while I'm very excited, determined and motivated for this particular challenge, I'm still scared.
Today's Menu:
B: quiche muffin (mushrooms, onion, tomato, sausage)
L: mushroom soup
D: broiled salmon + peach salsa
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Weight Watchers Weigh In: Week 39
WEIGH IN: +3.6 (from my weigh in on Friday the 14th)
Can someone say Yo-Yo?
Actually, I'm not in a yo-yo spin, I'm in a hormonal spin. That's all I can figure. As I said last week, I went off my hormonal birth control which can cause an array of side effects. The one I was most worried about was weight gain. I took to the internet to see how prominent it was and apparently it is quite common.
Here's the thing. I don't think I'm gaining weight just because I went off birth control. I am definitely gaining weight due to eating too much of the wrong things. My cravings have come out of nowhere and it's been a battle. And the only thing that has changed in my life is stopping my birth control. And while I'm not 100% sure, it makes the most sense to me. I mean, come on, it's hormones.
Since this year began and I changed my diet I've been so proud of how much control I've had over my eating. You guys all know that I have a rough time when it comes to food and food control and I've had clear control of it this whole year.
Until I went off birth control.
I now know why all of these women are on the message boards asking for help in losing weight. I seriously feel like I'm having PMS all the time.
Anyway, the point is, it's something I'm going to have to work on/figure out/battle. And battle I shall.
What I did this week:
1. I earned about 10 AP. I did three Ripped in 30 workouts. I'm continuing to aim for five per week.
2. I ate 231 points. My goal every week is around the 210 mark (+/- 5 points). While I didn't go over my given points for the week (daily + weekly), I did NOT eat the most wholesome foods. Wait for #4, you'll see what I mean.
3. Water = great!
4. What I ate. First the good: potato and leek soup, deviled eggs, apricot ham, sushi and homemade larabars. And the bad: went out to eat TWICE. I stuck to my allergen list and even split meals with my boyfriend. It was still just not in my best interest weight loss wise. We had Mexican (think chips and salsa) one night and then went to a regular Americana restaurant and split a chicken dish. Also these were regular restaurants and I know that allergens snuck into my dishes which isn't in MY best interest (I get inflamed, bloated, and sick when this happens). In addition, I found some gluten free, organic blah blah blah cheese puffs (NO NO NO). Note to self: you have no control over these things. What else? My cravings tended to be more carb related so I also made some Thai noodles and macaroni and cheese on two separate occasions. These are very heavy dishes. I think I literally weighed myself down this week by eating too many carbs. When I say too many carbs I mean too many carbs for me :)
And to give you a peak into the week we're in. It's still an on going battle. In fact, it's worse. I think that's why I've put off writing this post because I'm struggling. The current week we're in isn't going any better than last week. The scale keeps going up and the cravings continue. Part of me has been waiting for things to "regulate" and go away on their own. But I've now realized I will have to make a conscious effort to take control of things. So that's where I'm at right now.
But here's the thing.
Messing up doesn't mean I've messed everything up. It just means I've learned something new. It also means I'm human and sometimes it's nice to be reminded of that. I don't have to be perfect at this process because being perfect is impossible. I just have to be present at all times in order to make the best decisions for me.
And right now the best decision for me is to take my diet down to the basics. I'm going to be tightening up my food choices in an effort to try to help get my body back to normal. I really believe that food is one way I can help get my hormones back on track. And regardless of hormones, I just feel better when I'm eating crazy clean.
I'm going to continue to eat gluten, dairy and soy free but I need to tighten up the reigns on it. That means eating out needs to be at specific places (hello Hugo's) or not at all. I'm also going to cut out my beloved Kettle Chips. Just for a little bit. Just until I have a handle on things. I also am going to cut out sugar. I've allowed myself dark chocolate and dairy free ice cream on several occasions and I think with my cravings in full swing it's probably best to not "feed the beast" by eating unnecessary sugar. And lastly, carbs. I don't believe carbohydrates are the devil or that you shouldn't eat them. I just know I'm carb sensitive and need to watch my servings and so I'm going to go back to eating grains (gluten free pasta, rice, and any baked good I make like pizza) on the weekends only. Don't worry, during the week I allow myself plenty of carbs in the form of vegetables or fruit.
And that's the plan.
Wish me luck.
Can someone say Yo-Yo?
Actually, I'm not in a yo-yo spin, I'm in a hormonal spin. That's all I can figure. As I said last week, I went off my hormonal birth control which can cause an array of side effects. The one I was most worried about was weight gain. I took to the internet to see how prominent it was and apparently it is quite common.
Here's the thing. I don't think I'm gaining weight just because I went off birth control. I am definitely gaining weight due to eating too much of the wrong things. My cravings have come out of nowhere and it's been a battle. And the only thing that has changed in my life is stopping my birth control. And while I'm not 100% sure, it makes the most sense to me. I mean, come on, it's hormones.
Since this year began and I changed my diet I've been so proud of how much control I've had over my eating. You guys all know that I have a rough time when it comes to food and food control and I've had clear control of it this whole year.
Until I went off birth control.
I now know why all of these women are on the message boards asking for help in losing weight. I seriously feel like I'm having PMS all the time.
Anyway, the point is, it's something I'm going to have to work on/figure out/battle. And battle I shall.
What I did this week:
1. I earned about 10 AP. I did three Ripped in 30 workouts. I'm continuing to aim for five per week.
2. I ate 231 points. My goal every week is around the 210 mark (+/- 5 points). While I didn't go over my given points for the week (daily + weekly), I did NOT eat the most wholesome foods. Wait for #4, you'll see what I mean.
3. Water = great!
4. What I ate. First the good: potato and leek soup, deviled eggs, apricot ham, sushi and homemade larabars. And the bad: went out to eat TWICE. I stuck to my allergen list and even split meals with my boyfriend. It was still just not in my best interest weight loss wise. We had Mexican (think chips and salsa) one night and then went to a regular Americana restaurant and split a chicken dish. Also these were regular restaurants and I know that allergens snuck into my dishes which isn't in MY best interest (I get inflamed, bloated, and sick when this happens). In addition, I found some gluten free, organic blah blah blah cheese puffs (NO NO NO). Note to self: you have no control over these things. What else? My cravings tended to be more carb related so I also made some Thai noodles and macaroni and cheese on two separate occasions. These are very heavy dishes. I think I literally weighed myself down this week by eating too many carbs. When I say too many carbs I mean too many carbs for me :)
And to give you a peak into the week we're in. It's still an on going battle. In fact, it's worse. I think that's why I've put off writing this post because I'm struggling. The current week we're in isn't going any better than last week. The scale keeps going up and the cravings continue. Part of me has been waiting for things to "regulate" and go away on their own. But I've now realized I will have to make a conscious effort to take control of things. So that's where I'm at right now.
But here's the thing.
Messing up doesn't mean I've messed everything up. It just means I've learned something new. It also means I'm human and sometimes it's nice to be reminded of that. I don't have to be perfect at this process because being perfect is impossible. I just have to be present at all times in order to make the best decisions for me.
And right now the best decision for me is to take my diet down to the basics. I'm going to be tightening up my food choices in an effort to try to help get my body back to normal. I really believe that food is one way I can help get my hormones back on track. And regardless of hormones, I just feel better when I'm eating crazy clean.
I'm going to continue to eat gluten, dairy and soy free but I need to tighten up the reigns on it. That means eating out needs to be at specific places (hello Hugo's) or not at all. I'm also going to cut out my beloved Kettle Chips. Just for a little bit. Just until I have a handle on things. I also am going to cut out sugar. I've allowed myself dark chocolate and dairy free ice cream on several occasions and I think with my cravings in full swing it's probably best to not "feed the beast" by eating unnecessary sugar. And lastly, carbs. I don't believe carbohydrates are the devil or that you shouldn't eat them. I just know I'm carb sensitive and need to watch my servings and so I'm going to go back to eating grains (gluten free pasta, rice, and any baked good I make like pizza) on the weekends only. Don't worry, during the week I allow myself plenty of carbs in the form of vegetables or fruit.
And that's the plan.
Wish me luck.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Weight Watchers Weigh In: Week 34
Hey y'all.
Fun fact: I was born and raised in Virginia where the phrase y'all is used quite frequently, as you can imagine. I haven't lived there since 2000 and I still use y'all like it's going out of style.
And I probably always will.
It's been a long week. Nothing too stressful happened. It was more like time just seemed to move at a brutally slow pace. However, tis Friday and therefore I shall rejoice.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Weigh In: -1.2 lbs
Rejoice again I shall.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
If my math is right (and it always is- Tony Stark) since January 2nd, I have lost 13.8 pounds. That's huge! If memory serves, that's the most consistent weight loss I've ever had in my adult life with relative ease.
For years I have always either counted calories or points. I always stayed within what was the appropriate calorie deficit for my height and weight but I rarely lost consistent weight. And if I did, seeing more than a pound loss total per month was a joyous occasion for me. And I ALWAYS worked out. HARD. I ran, I lifted weights, I played sports, I did it all. Up until January 2013 that has always been my plan. I followed my points/calories, I worked out 5-6 days a week and I'd pray for the weight loss to happen. And I usually felt horrible. I was usually hungry, craving some sort of take-out/fast food item. Or counting the seconds til the weekend when I could have my "cheat day" and finally be satisfied. I also felt like I had no control over the situation. I felt like I had no control over what I was eating.
When I was younger, this sort of worked for me. I was able to keep serious weight gain at bay but never really got the results I wanted. But as I got older (especially in the last couple of years) it eventually became this cycle that wore me to the bone. Monday thru Friday I was diligent. I always stayed within my daily points/calories and I got in my workouts (intense hour plus long workouts). But I was either always hungry or always wishing I was eating something else. I didn't want to touch those Weekly Points because I wanted them for the weekend. And then the weekend would come and I would eat those "naughty" items. I wouldn't go over my points (most of the time) but I would relish every last one. And then come Monday morning, I'd weigh 5 pounds heavier due to my weekend splurges. And then during the work week, I'd be diligent again and slowly would lose those 5 pounds and if I was really, really lucky maybe an extra quarter pound would come off too. But then the weekend would come and I would do it over again.
And that made for some terribly slow weight loss. Or rather, it made for some non-existent weight loss.
From mid September 2012 to the end of December 2012 I had been on WW for 15 weeks. At the end of those 15 weeks I had lost 0.2 pounds total.
See what I mean? Vicious cycle.
And while I knew this was going on I still felt like something was wrong with me. Like there was nothing left for me to try to lose weight because it just wasn't working for me.
Then in January of this year I changed everything about the way I ate. And if I'm going to be honest, I was pretty scared to do it. I'd like to say I was so frustrated about my weight (and I was) that I was just hell-bent on changing everything to get results. But even knowing that change was necessary to get what I DESPERATELY wanted (weight-loss), I was afraid to give up eating certain foods.
It was my own Sophie's Choice. Did I want to be miserable in my body (because I was starting to become that way) but be able to eat whatever deliciousness I wanted OR did I want to try to make some dietary changes which would most definitely make me healthier and just might make me lose some weight?
I easily made the decision to change my diet but in the weeks leading up to my designated date (I chose January 2), I had all sorts of negative feelings about it. I was doubtful it would work, I was scared I would miss food too much, I was nervous that my life would be miserable because I couldn't eat whatever I wanted.
I seriously had that thought. That I would have a miserable existence because I was cutting unhealthy food out of my life. That's just not right.
There are people who CAN eat whatever they want and maintain a healthy life and weight. I am not one of those people.
I have NEVER been one of those people.
So after a couple months of preparation and because of other on-goings in my life, on January 2nd, I started a particular elimination diet that would eventually change my way of thinking. I cut out the processed food and other items and ended up learning that my body doesn't do well on certain foods. Apparently my body does not like gluten, dairy and to a small degree soy and eggs.
And from there, my world changed.
I lost weight even though I wasn't exercising. I taught myself that taking things out of your diet doesn't mean you have nothing left to eat, in fact, there are usually too many choices! I learned that certain foods have an excessive amount of control over me and when I stop eating them, I take back ALL control. And I learned that it's still hard work.
There is no band-aid people. No matter which path your body takes you on, there will always be hard work along the way.
None of these revelations were overnight. I still struggle with feelings of success and failure. I still have moments where I wish I were "normal". But they aren't as bad as they used to be. Thank God. But the best thing I've learned is that changing my diet did NOT make me miserable :)
What I did this week:
1. I earned probably around 15 AP. I did five 30 Day Shred workouts. I took an extra day off due to crazy muscle soreness. I don't know what it is about level 2 but it makes my hips and lower back hurt crazy bad. I think it's the last ab exercise, the plank while bringing your knee over. Whatever it is, it makes for some serious body soreness.
2. I ate 214 points for the week (I do not count AP towards my total)
3. Water = :)
4. What I ate. This past week I made my homemade Big Macs, chef salad, soup au pistou (fancy name for vegetable soup to which I added chicken), roasted chicken lettuce wraps, and chicken scampi. I also indulged in some larabars, peanut butter, and sushi. But not at the same time. (I'll be trying my hand at homemade larabars this weekend. If I'm successful I'll let you know)
Today's Menu:
B: Larabar
L: Chef Salad + Apple
D: Soup au Pistou ** and probably some sushi ;)
Fun fact: I was born and raised in Virginia where the phrase y'all is used quite frequently, as you can imagine. I haven't lived there since 2000 and I still use y'all like it's going out of style.
And I probably always will.
It's been a long week. Nothing too stressful happened. It was more like time just seemed to move at a brutally slow pace. However, tis Friday and therefore I shall rejoice.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Weigh In: -1.2 lbs
Rejoice again I shall.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
If my math is right (and it always is- Tony Stark) since January 2nd, I have lost 13.8 pounds. That's huge! If memory serves, that's the most consistent weight loss I've ever had in my adult life with relative ease.
For years I have always either counted calories or points. I always stayed within what was the appropriate calorie deficit for my height and weight but I rarely lost consistent weight. And if I did, seeing more than a pound loss total per month was a joyous occasion for me. And I ALWAYS worked out. HARD. I ran, I lifted weights, I played sports, I did it all. Up until January 2013 that has always been my plan. I followed my points/calories, I worked out 5-6 days a week and I'd pray for the weight loss to happen. And I usually felt horrible. I was usually hungry, craving some sort of take-out/fast food item. Or counting the seconds til the weekend when I could have my "cheat day" and finally be satisfied. I also felt like I had no control over the situation. I felt like I had no control over what I was eating.
When I was younger, this sort of worked for me. I was able to keep serious weight gain at bay but never really got the results I wanted. But as I got older (especially in the last couple of years) it eventually became this cycle that wore me to the bone. Monday thru Friday I was diligent. I always stayed within my daily points/calories and I got in my workouts (intense hour plus long workouts). But I was either always hungry or always wishing I was eating something else. I didn't want to touch those Weekly Points because I wanted them for the weekend. And then the weekend would come and I would eat those "naughty" items. I wouldn't go over my points (most of the time) but I would relish every last one. And then come Monday morning, I'd weigh 5 pounds heavier due to my weekend splurges. And then during the work week, I'd be diligent again and slowly would lose those 5 pounds and if I was really, really lucky maybe an extra quarter pound would come off too. But then the weekend would come and I would do it over again.
And that made for some terribly slow weight loss. Or rather, it made for some non-existent weight loss.
From mid September 2012 to the end of December 2012 I had been on WW for 15 weeks. At the end of those 15 weeks I had lost 0.2 pounds total.
See what I mean? Vicious cycle.
And while I knew this was going on I still felt like something was wrong with me. Like there was nothing left for me to try to lose weight because it just wasn't working for me.
Then in January of this year I changed everything about the way I ate. And if I'm going to be honest, I was pretty scared to do it. I'd like to say I was so frustrated about my weight (and I was) that I was just hell-bent on changing everything to get results. But even knowing that change was necessary to get what I DESPERATELY wanted (weight-loss), I was afraid to give up eating certain foods.
It was my own Sophie's Choice. Did I want to be miserable in my body (because I was starting to become that way) but be able to eat whatever deliciousness I wanted OR did I want to try to make some dietary changes which would most definitely make me healthier and just might make me lose some weight?
I easily made the decision to change my diet but in the weeks leading up to my designated date (I chose January 2), I had all sorts of negative feelings about it. I was doubtful it would work, I was scared I would miss food too much, I was nervous that my life would be miserable because I couldn't eat whatever I wanted.
I seriously had that thought. That I would have a miserable existence because I was cutting unhealthy food out of my life. That's just not right.
There are people who CAN eat whatever they want and maintain a healthy life and weight. I am not one of those people.
I have NEVER been one of those people.
So after a couple months of preparation and because of other on-goings in my life, on January 2nd, I started a particular elimination diet that would eventually change my way of thinking. I cut out the processed food and other items and ended up learning that my body doesn't do well on certain foods. Apparently my body does not like gluten, dairy and to a small degree soy and eggs.
And from there, my world changed.
I lost weight even though I wasn't exercising. I taught myself that taking things out of your diet doesn't mean you have nothing left to eat, in fact, there are usually too many choices! I learned that certain foods have an excessive amount of control over me and when I stop eating them, I take back ALL control. And I learned that it's still hard work.
There is no band-aid people. No matter which path your body takes you on, there will always be hard work along the way.
None of these revelations were overnight. I still struggle with feelings of success and failure. I still have moments where I wish I were "normal". But they aren't as bad as they used to be. Thank God. But the best thing I've learned is that changing my diet did NOT make me miserable :)
What I did this week:
1. I earned probably around 15 AP. I did five 30 Day Shred workouts. I took an extra day off due to crazy muscle soreness. I don't know what it is about level 2 but it makes my hips and lower back hurt crazy bad. I think it's the last ab exercise, the plank while bringing your knee over. Whatever it is, it makes for some serious body soreness.
2. I ate 214 points for the week (I do not count AP towards my total)
3. Water = :)
4. What I ate. This past week I made my homemade Big Macs, chef salad, soup au pistou (fancy name for vegetable soup to which I added chicken), roasted chicken lettuce wraps, and chicken scampi. I also indulged in some larabars, peanut butter, and sushi. But not at the same time. (I'll be trying my hand at homemade larabars this weekend. If I'm successful I'll let you know)
Today's Menu:
B: Larabar
L: Chef Salad + Apple
D: Soup au Pistou ** and probably some sushi ;)
Thursday, February 14, 2013
2013 Weight Update
It's Valentine's Day. I actually kind of forgot until I was driving to work and saw a delivery man carrying dozens of roses to someone's front door.
I have NEVER been a fan of Valentine's Day. Probably the only girl in the world to not care about this holiday. It's not that I don't take today to tell the bf how much I appreciate him, it's just that I'm lucky enough to not need one special day out of the year for this to happen. We're both really good at telling the other all the time all that stuff. I don't know why, but this holiday is just not my thing. I'll leave it at that.
It wasn't Valentine's Day that prompted me to write an update today but rather the fact that it's the 14th of February - the halfway mark of the month. Also, it's been 6 weeks since I made all of these dietary changes and I want to give a recap of all that's happened.
The following will be, in no particular order, everything I've experienced over the past 6 weeks.
I found out I couldn't eat gluten. In fact, it made me horribly sick. In all honesty, both my boyfriend and I had an inkling this would happen before we ever "tested" it. I usually get some weird reactions when I eat bread or wheat items so I wasn't shocked. I was, however, shocked at how horrendous it made me feel.
I'm walking a fine line with dairy. It didn't hit me as fast as the gluten but it still was a little rough. This also did not shock me because most of the women in my family have a hard time digesting dairy and it usually hits them in the latter half of their life. I do have hope for dairy in the future.
I can eat eggs! I'm really happy about that because they're nice little protein packed balls of goodness that are really versatile. Plus they taste good.
My skin still looks great. In fact, a co-worker told me a few weeks ago I was "glowing". He is fully aware of my diet change and he told me that not only was I glowing but I seemed happier. He said my demeanor had changed and he feels certain it's my diet. I agree.
My digestion is probably normal for the first time in years. I usually get crazy heartburn and I bloat and all of those other unpleasant things. It really has cut down considerably.
I have lost 10 pounds since January 2nd. Yeah, that's the most I've ever lost in 6 weeks. EVER. Also, I have had a loss 5 out of the 6 weeks. Not bad at all. In fact, my initial 6 weeks of Weight Watchers (I started back in September) I lost 5.2 pounds the first 6 weeks (I had a loss 4 out of 6 weeks). That involved me eating what I would consider a very normal diet. Lots of low calorie items. Plenty of fruits and vegetables and other good items. Having a lean cuisine here and there. You know using my points as best as possible. And of course, having a splurge on the weekends, and exercising 5-6 days a week. This time, I have not exercised a single day. I'm not bragging nor am I saying one does not need to workout. I emphatically believe in the goodness of working out. I'm just pointing out a fact. Due to my arm and back pain I did not do much. But I plan to start. Ugh. Friday. For real this time.
And I think the biggest change that has occurred in me is that when I started Weight Watchers back in September, I followed the program, I had some success but I never felt like I was in control. THAT is the main difference. For the past 6 weeks, I have felt in CONTROL. Food doesn't "yell" at me anymore. There are days where I'll think "wow, that WOULD taste good" but it's different. I can think it without some driving desire that makes me think I HAVE to have that food at that moment. I used to come home from work and tell my boyfriend "we're getting this or that and we're getting it now. I don't care if I don't have the points". That's a little embarrassing to admit but it's true.
And finally, I've come to a place where it just feels like it's normal. This is how I eat. I do wonder if one day I'll just throw my hands up in the air and go back to a "normal" diet. Or what will happen if I eat fast food. I wonder if I'll immediately go bonkers and binge on everything in site despite the chance I'll get ill. Will I gain weight overnight and never be able to get it off again. You know, I think about all these things.
The only answer I can come up with is that it's the quality of food that makes a difference. Taking out processed foods and eating everything in whole form is probably what your body wants. If you think about it, it makes sense.
So that's my update thus far. I have another weigh-in tomorrow and I'm going to start working out. Hopefully my body will cooperate and it'll be painless. I'm actually curious to see what happens with my weight loss once I start working out again. I'll be honest, I have this fear that it will stop. Or worse, that I'll gain. But I know it needs to be done. So tomorrow is the day.
Wish me luck.
Today's Menu:
B: coconut milk + pea rice protein (chocolate) + coffee
L: salmon + steamed veggies + quinoa tabouli
D: orange ginger chicken salad + soup au pistou
I have NEVER been a fan of Valentine's Day. Probably the only girl in the world to not care about this holiday. It's not that I don't take today to tell the bf how much I appreciate him, it's just that I'm lucky enough to not need one special day out of the year for this to happen. We're both really good at telling the other all the time all that stuff. I don't know why, but this holiday is just not my thing. I'll leave it at that.
It wasn't Valentine's Day that prompted me to write an update today but rather the fact that it's the 14th of February - the halfway mark of the month. Also, it's been 6 weeks since I made all of these dietary changes and I want to give a recap of all that's happened.
The following will be, in no particular order, everything I've experienced over the past 6 weeks.
I found out I couldn't eat gluten. In fact, it made me horribly sick. In all honesty, both my boyfriend and I had an inkling this would happen before we ever "tested" it. I usually get some weird reactions when I eat bread or wheat items so I wasn't shocked. I was, however, shocked at how horrendous it made me feel.
I'm walking a fine line with dairy. It didn't hit me as fast as the gluten but it still was a little rough. This also did not shock me because most of the women in my family have a hard time digesting dairy and it usually hits them in the latter half of their life. I do have hope for dairy in the future.
I can eat eggs! I'm really happy about that because they're nice little protein packed balls of goodness that are really versatile. Plus they taste good.
My skin still looks great. In fact, a co-worker told me a few weeks ago I was "glowing". He is fully aware of my diet change and he told me that not only was I glowing but I seemed happier. He said my demeanor had changed and he feels certain it's my diet. I agree.
My digestion is probably normal for the first time in years. I usually get crazy heartburn and I bloat and all of those other unpleasant things. It really has cut down considerably.
I have lost 10 pounds since January 2nd. Yeah, that's the most I've ever lost in 6 weeks. EVER. Also, I have had a loss 5 out of the 6 weeks. Not bad at all. In fact, my initial 6 weeks of Weight Watchers (I started back in September) I lost 5.2 pounds the first 6 weeks (I had a loss 4 out of 6 weeks). That involved me eating what I would consider a very normal diet. Lots of low calorie items. Plenty of fruits and vegetables and other good items. Having a lean cuisine here and there. You know using my points as best as possible. And of course, having a splurge on the weekends, and exercising 5-6 days a week. This time, I have not exercised a single day. I'm not bragging nor am I saying one does not need to workout. I emphatically believe in the goodness of working out. I'm just pointing out a fact. Due to my arm and back pain I did not do much. But I plan to start. Ugh. Friday. For real this time.
And I think the biggest change that has occurred in me is that when I started Weight Watchers back in September, I followed the program, I had some success but I never felt like I was in control. THAT is the main difference. For the past 6 weeks, I have felt in CONTROL. Food doesn't "yell" at me anymore. There are days where I'll think "wow, that WOULD taste good" but it's different. I can think it without some driving desire that makes me think I HAVE to have that food at that moment. I used to come home from work and tell my boyfriend "we're getting this or that and we're getting it now. I don't care if I don't have the points". That's a little embarrassing to admit but it's true.
And finally, I've come to a place where it just feels like it's normal. This is how I eat. I do wonder if one day I'll just throw my hands up in the air and go back to a "normal" diet. Or what will happen if I eat fast food. I wonder if I'll immediately go bonkers and binge on everything in site despite the chance I'll get ill. Will I gain weight overnight and never be able to get it off again. You know, I think about all these things.
The only answer I can come up with is that it's the quality of food that makes a difference. Taking out processed foods and eating everything in whole form is probably what your body wants. If you think about it, it makes sense.
So that's my update thus far. I have another weigh-in tomorrow and I'm going to start working out. Hopefully my body will cooperate and it'll be painless. I'm actually curious to see what happens with my weight loss once I start working out again. I'll be honest, I have this fear that it will stop. Or worse, that I'll gain. But I know it needs to be done. So tomorrow is the day.
Wish me luck.
Today's Menu:
B: coconut milk + pea rice protein (chocolate) + coffee
L: salmon + steamed veggies + quinoa tabouli
D: orange ginger chicken salad + soup au pistou
Monday, February 4, 2013
My New Way of Eating
Part of my dietary changes in the new year had a purpose. I've been eating whole foods, yes, but I've also been doing an elimination diet. I figure if I'm going to share this whole journey with you I might as well talk about my dietary changes completely.
Even though I hate doing it.
Please know that I am in no way telling anybody else what they should eat, I'm just telling you what I'm doing and how it's working for me. I'm a firm believer in individual plans for individual people. I've tried lots of plans. I've failed at lots of plans. Plans that have worked for millions of people but not for me. Which is why I'm still here posting about trying to lose weight. I don't know for sure, but I'm starting to believe that I've maybe stumbled upon the plan that might work for me. And good lord I pray that I have, because it's about time.
Ok, and with that disclaimer out of the way ....
For the first 3 weeks I took out Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, and Soy. I mean, I took them out completely. Not a trace of any one of those. Was it hard? Honestly, no. It was just time consuming. Reading labels, learning to cook new things and such. But getting the creative juices flowing in the kitchen is what I'm good at, so I didn't mind at all. I can, however, see how it could be a hard time.
You really can't eat out because you have to be SURE you're not eating something you're not supposed to. Same goes for packaged foods. If I don't know what a word means then I'm not going to eat it. That's probably a good rule of thumb anyways.
After those initial 3 weeks, I am adding each one back. One at a time. Very slowly.
The 4th week (last weekend), I added gluten back. I was supposed to add it to one meal each day for 4 days in a row and then take it back out for the remaining 3 days of the week. The first day I ate it, about an hour later I was ill. And then it just got worse. Long story short, I was in horrible shape. My stomach, my digestive system, my entire body was in pain. I wanted to cry. I didn't make it 4 days. I stopped after 2, took it back out again and slowly but surely by the end of the week I felt "normal" again. So what now? I'm not eating it. The theory is that if you take it back out for another 12 weeks, perhaps your body can heal itself and you'll be able to handle it. Until then, you couldn't pay me to eat it. For the next 12 weeks I will diligently keep it out because I don't want to go through that again. I'll "retest" and then we'll go from there.
The 5th (this past weekend), I added dairy back. Again, I was supposed to add it to one meal each day for the first 4 days of the week and then take it back out for the remaining three days. However, this time, I was scared. I did NOT want to go through what I did with gluten. But that's the whole point of this thing. To find out if you have a problem. So I did it. It wasn't as horrible as gluten but it wasn't perfect. I ate some cheese with my dinner and then it wasn't until the next morning that I had problems. I did a second day to make sure and again the same thing happened. Had it with dinner and then by the next morning I got sick. So I stopped after 2 days. It wasn't nearly as bad as the gluten reaction. I didn't want to cry this time but it still wasn't perfect.
Which brings us to today. Last night was my second day eating dairy. It's now back out of my diet and this Friday will be my 6th week and I'm trying EGGS!
Again, I'm scared. Scared because I love eggs and so I hope I have no reaction. And scared that I will have a reaction. Nobody likes getting sick.
My 7th week will be soy and then from there, I'll take my info and run with it. I already know I'm not going to change much about what I'm eating. Maybe I'll make a few tweaks to the menu. For instance, have eggs for breakfast or something but I really won't do anything crazy. I don't really eat soy in any form. I don't even like soy sauce with my sushi. I do know that that stuff is in EVERYTHING. I'll continue to read labels and just keep it out anyways.
Anyway, that's what has been going on. Even though I've taken gluten out, I'm still eating plenty of food. I traded brown rice pasta for the regular stuff for when I need it. I learned how to make a gluten free pizza crust for weekend treats and can I just say that it took about 7 tries but I made something that rivals the real stuff. I'm not making my own bread or anything even though I know I could. Instead, I chose to replace meals where gluten would be present with just more vegetables. For example, I eat hamburgers with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun but I also make some crazy good oven roasted potato fries to go with it so I don't feel like I'm missing much. I use coconut milk instead of cow's milk and I found daiya cheese. I pretty much only use it when I make us a pizza. Honestly it's good. There's a lot of tricks you can use - I have found the vegan and paleo blogs to be the most helpful. They're very creative! Really, there's a substitute for almost everything.
I've also taken out sugar and sugar substitutes. This one is tricky. I have mixed feelings on it. I don't drink sodas or drink mixes anymore. Just water. I just put coconut or almond milk in my coffee and over time it's amazing, but that's all I need now. If I want to add sweetener, I do have some xylitol on hand but it doesn't really work for everything. There are some recipes that call for sugar and usually it's a teaspoon or such and I'll do that because it's not a sugar based recipe (like cake or cookies). Again, I have mixed feelings. Lets just say I don't go looking for sugar. I haven't had a real craving or anything for it in quite some time so it hasn't been hard. Occasionally I'll want something to drink other than water but that's it.
It's been almost 6 weeks and I've made lots of great food. I haven't repeated anything yet and I am constantly coming up with new ideas. It's funny. In the weeks before we started, I was nervous. All I could think was "what am I going to eat? There's nothing left!". Now that I'm doing it, I don't feel that way at all. Sometimes there are too many choices.
I feel really, really great. I'm losing some weight sure. That's always nice. But it's the other stuff that really makes this worth it. I sleep better, I get up easier, my skin looks AMAZING, I don't have crazy cravings as often as I used to (read: all the time) which makes social events easier because the food doesn't "call to me" anymore. My digestive system is working pretty normal for the first time in years and I just feel great overall.
I've also continued to log on Weight Watchers during this whole thing. And that's even easier. I used to have to plan my meals, then figure out points and find out what fit and what didn't points wise. Now I just plan my menu and add it as I eat it because everything fits. If I eat too many points it's because I ate all of my planned meals and then just chose to eat some more.
And that's that.
I know it sounds like a lot of work but again, it's not. It's really just eating healthy. You know, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and such. Hopefully, if I continue to put a healthy foot foward and get back to working out then I'll continue to make progress. Because that's what I really want. To just lose weight, get healthy and be crazy happy.
Even though I hate doing it.
Please know that I am in no way telling anybody else what they should eat, I'm just telling you what I'm doing and how it's working for me. I'm a firm believer in individual plans for individual people. I've tried lots of plans. I've failed at lots of plans. Plans that have worked for millions of people but not for me. Which is why I'm still here posting about trying to lose weight. I don't know for sure, but I'm starting to believe that I've maybe stumbled upon the plan that might work for me. And good lord I pray that I have, because it's about time.
Ok, and with that disclaimer out of the way ....
For the first 3 weeks I took out Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, and Soy. I mean, I took them out completely. Not a trace of any one of those. Was it hard? Honestly, no. It was just time consuming. Reading labels, learning to cook new things and such. But getting the creative juices flowing in the kitchen is what I'm good at, so I didn't mind at all. I can, however, see how it could be a hard time.
You really can't eat out because you have to be SURE you're not eating something you're not supposed to. Same goes for packaged foods. If I don't know what a word means then I'm not going to eat it. That's probably a good rule of thumb anyways.
After those initial 3 weeks, I am adding each one back. One at a time. Very slowly.
The 4th week (last weekend), I added gluten back. I was supposed to add it to one meal each day for 4 days in a row and then take it back out for the remaining 3 days of the week. The first day I ate it, about an hour later I was ill. And then it just got worse. Long story short, I was in horrible shape. My stomach, my digestive system, my entire body was in pain. I wanted to cry. I didn't make it 4 days. I stopped after 2, took it back out again and slowly but surely by the end of the week I felt "normal" again. So what now? I'm not eating it. The theory is that if you take it back out for another 12 weeks, perhaps your body can heal itself and you'll be able to handle it. Until then, you couldn't pay me to eat it. For the next 12 weeks I will diligently keep it out because I don't want to go through that again. I'll "retest" and then we'll go from there.
The 5th (this past weekend), I added dairy back. Again, I was supposed to add it to one meal each day for the first 4 days of the week and then take it back out for the remaining three days. However, this time, I was scared. I did NOT want to go through what I did with gluten. But that's the whole point of this thing. To find out if you have a problem. So I did it. It wasn't as horrible as gluten but it wasn't perfect. I ate some cheese with my dinner and then it wasn't until the next morning that I had problems. I did a second day to make sure and again the same thing happened. Had it with dinner and then by the next morning I got sick. So I stopped after 2 days. It wasn't nearly as bad as the gluten reaction. I didn't want to cry this time but it still wasn't perfect.
Which brings us to today. Last night was my second day eating dairy. It's now back out of my diet and this Friday will be my 6th week and I'm trying EGGS!
Again, I'm scared. Scared because I love eggs and so I hope I have no reaction. And scared that I will have a reaction. Nobody likes getting sick.
My 7th week will be soy and then from there, I'll take my info and run with it. I already know I'm not going to change much about what I'm eating. Maybe I'll make a few tweaks to the menu. For instance, have eggs for breakfast or something but I really won't do anything crazy. I don't really eat soy in any form. I don't even like soy sauce with my sushi. I do know that that stuff is in EVERYTHING. I'll continue to read labels and just keep it out anyways.
Anyway, that's what has been going on. Even though I've taken gluten out, I'm still eating plenty of food. I traded brown rice pasta for the regular stuff for when I need it. I learned how to make a gluten free pizza crust for weekend treats and can I just say that it took about 7 tries but I made something that rivals the real stuff. I'm not making my own bread or anything even though I know I could. Instead, I chose to replace meals where gluten would be present with just more vegetables. For example, I eat hamburgers with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun but I also make some crazy good oven roasted potato fries to go with it so I don't feel like I'm missing much. I use coconut milk instead of cow's milk and I found daiya cheese. I pretty much only use it when I make us a pizza. Honestly it's good. There's a lot of tricks you can use - I have found the vegan and paleo blogs to be the most helpful. They're very creative! Really, there's a substitute for almost everything.
I've also taken out sugar and sugar substitutes. This one is tricky. I have mixed feelings on it. I don't drink sodas or drink mixes anymore. Just water. I just put coconut or almond milk in my coffee and over time it's amazing, but that's all I need now. If I want to add sweetener, I do have some xylitol on hand but it doesn't really work for everything. There are some recipes that call for sugar and usually it's a teaspoon or such and I'll do that because it's not a sugar based recipe (like cake or cookies). Again, I have mixed feelings. Lets just say I don't go looking for sugar. I haven't had a real craving or anything for it in quite some time so it hasn't been hard. Occasionally I'll want something to drink other than water but that's it.
It's been almost 6 weeks and I've made lots of great food. I haven't repeated anything yet and I am constantly coming up with new ideas. It's funny. In the weeks before we started, I was nervous. All I could think was "what am I going to eat? There's nothing left!". Now that I'm doing it, I don't feel that way at all. Sometimes there are too many choices.
I feel really, really great. I'm losing some weight sure. That's always nice. But it's the other stuff that really makes this worth it. I sleep better, I get up easier, my skin looks AMAZING, I don't have crazy cravings as often as I used to (read: all the time) which makes social events easier because the food doesn't "call to me" anymore. My digestive system is working pretty normal for the first time in years and I just feel great overall.
I've also continued to log on Weight Watchers during this whole thing. And that's even easier. I used to have to plan my meals, then figure out points and find out what fit and what didn't points wise. Now I just plan my menu and add it as I eat it because everything fits. If I eat too many points it's because I ate all of my planned meals and then just chose to eat some more.
And that's that.
I know it sounds like a lot of work but again, it's not. It's really just eating healthy. You know, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and such. Hopefully, if I continue to put a healthy foot foward and get back to working out then I'll continue to make progress. Because that's what I really want. To just lose weight, get healthy and be crazy happy.
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