Thursday, December 4, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
LAST day and on to a NEW START
Well I made it ... almost perfectly. I told the dietician today that the worst day (ending up in a binge) was the day I transitioned from 2 scoops x 3 to 1 scoop x 2. I told her it was the first time in three weeks that I was hungry and when I walked through the door at night I hit the kitchen and didn't leave until it was bedtime. She is going to do some research on the available protein shakes and recommend one for me to have as my afternoon snack on the way home from work. Just getting rid of that afternoon hunger will work wonders.
So we got started on real eating today. It was only a half-hour meeting so we didn't go into depth (I have a 2 1-hour meetings coming up and we will go into more depth). The highlight of it is to count carbs for starchy vegetables, fruits, and any non-gluten grains that I might eat. 20g for each meal and 10g for each snack. Of everything I have ever counted in my life carbs has not been one of them so it something totally new for me. Also fruits are limited to two a day, and the carbs are so limited all in an effort to get my glucose lower. It was 112 at last testing and the doctor said they look for 75 (yikes! I have never seen that number!). She said it would also be great to have at least 18g protein at each meal.
I am also going to experiment bringing the following into my eating: eggs (YAY!), beef, pork and cashews. The dairy she wants to put off for at least another 60-90 days. Surprisingly enough I am not sensitive to ALL cow's milk dairy. I can handle Swiss cheese of all things. She said that in addition to the dairy sensitivity that I do have that dairy causes inflammation. On the way home I shopped for goat cheese, sheep's milk pecorino and organic cheddar. I am not going to go overboard on any of them but a little bit goes a long way just a small addition to a salad. Alas, my cappuccinos must wait BUT she told me of a way to make a latte that I am going to try. Oh - I bought an egg replacement powder that I am going to use with my morning muffins. If it works well I actually won't be in any rush to add bak the eggs. AND I can use ghee as long as it is casein free - got that too.
I was concerned that I would have to count carbs in green vegetables but I don't so that will make cooking easy and I can get back to my creative Paleo ways.
So all in all, a good experiene. My goal was to blog throughout the detox and I have and now I am going to take a break while I figure things out. I will be back periodically to update my experience (maybe) - thank you for thoseo who have followed along up to now and for offering your encouragement.
Thank you!
Miriam
So we got started on real eating today. It was only a half-hour meeting so we didn't go into depth (I have a 2 1-hour meetings coming up and we will go into more depth). The highlight of it is to count carbs for starchy vegetables, fruits, and any non-gluten grains that I might eat. 20g for each meal and 10g for each snack. Of everything I have ever counted in my life carbs has not been one of them so it something totally new for me. Also fruits are limited to two a day, and the carbs are so limited all in an effort to get my glucose lower. It was 112 at last testing and the doctor said they look for 75 (yikes! I have never seen that number!). She said it would also be great to have at least 18g protein at each meal.
I am also going to experiment bringing the following into my eating: eggs (YAY!), beef, pork and cashews. The dairy she wants to put off for at least another 60-90 days. Surprisingly enough I am not sensitive to ALL cow's milk dairy. I can handle Swiss cheese of all things. She said that in addition to the dairy sensitivity that I do have that dairy causes inflammation. On the way home I shopped for goat cheese, sheep's milk pecorino and organic cheddar. I am not going to go overboard on any of them but a little bit goes a long way just a small addition to a salad. Alas, my cappuccinos must wait BUT she told me of a way to make a latte that I am going to try. Oh - I bought an egg replacement powder that I am going to use with my morning muffins. If it works well I actually won't be in any rush to add bak the eggs. AND I can use ghee as long as it is casein free - got that too.
I was concerned that I would have to count carbs in green vegetables but I don't so that will make cooking easy and I can get back to my creative Paleo ways.
So all in all, a good experiene. My goal was to blog throughout the detox and I have and now I am going to take a break while I figure things out. I will be back periodically to update my experience (maybe) - thank you for thoseo who have followed along up to now and for offering your encouragement.
Thank you!
Miriam
Monday, April 14, 2014
Where did the time go? I am at day 27
Almost finished! I think I must have miscounted somewhere along the way because I am at day 27 today and tomorrow is THE END.
I had one near miss, one collision and one fatality this weekend.
The near miss was that yesterday was Sunday morning, I was so desperate for my relaxation "ritual" so I poured a cup of coffee, added my creamer, Splenda and Starbucks flavoring. I put it to my lips and took a small sip. I looked at it and said - what would be the point... and poured it down the sink.
The collision was that yesterday was our Passover Seder. I made a chicken dish that I couldn't eat (because there was sesame and sugar in the sauce). With all the recipes and cooking I do you would think I would have made something "safe" but all I could think about was how I was going to have my cousin's wonderful brisket. I don't know how many of you are familiar with the goings-on at a Passover seder but from appetizers to desserts probably no less than two dozen different foods hit the table. I had NOTHING but the steamed string beans that I brought (I did have a shake on the way there so I was sure to not be hungry!) and two pieces of brisket. As I raised the fork to my mouth my husband quietly said, "I thought you are not supposed to be eating beef." I didn't even THINK of that ... all that was on my mind was NOT eating the chicken! Let's just say I savored every single bite of that brisket - guilt free, knowing that there probably was little damage done since I had eaten NOTHING else from the meal. (Side note: I was extremely gassy all night which has not happened since starting the detox... which either means that the beef FINALLY got things going or that my stomach was complaining about having it added back... the two might be one and the same! I will ask the dietitian tomorrow.)
The fatality was those darn cookies after I was already ready for bed. However, I did not have a huge binge. Just a few. But I also had a small amount (I swear) of chocolate covered raisins. In one of the programs I have worked with this past year, the teacher says "Of course you eat at night. You are so exhausted from being good all day." You would think after being good all day I would have stopped myself. But I just had a little bit (HONEST) and didn't feel bad about myself. I wonder what the dietitian will say tomorrow - if she follows the 80/20 rule - or even 90/10. If I had outright allergies I would be stupid to put myself in harms way, but I am curious whether there will be a little leeway once I get started on normal eating.
The thing of it is, once I am off detox and can go back to my full Paleo cooking I am pretty sure that I won't be having (too many) lapses into sugar and flour because I will be so much more satisfied during the day. I won't be fighting to stay on a restricted program. I am actually very proud of myself. I can count on one hand the number of times I went off the program (three being yesterday and a fourth when I had that horrible binge last week). Other than that I have been true to the program - even way better than the 90/10 rule would be. I had someone compliment me today on sticking to the program. I am happy to say I basked in the compliment of the 90% instead of bringing up the 10% and hanging my head! That in itself is an accomplishment.
Tonight I am going to take out some of my favorite Paleo cookbooks and bring them to my appointment. I am hoping that I can go back to full Paleo eating, with restrictions only on the worse of the offenders (eggs and honey... unfortunately very important...). I am sure I will have to restrict the full sensitivity food list but I am hoping that we are talking moderation and not total cutting out. We shall see...
Miriam
I had one near miss, one collision and one fatality this weekend.
The near miss was that yesterday was Sunday morning, I was so desperate for my relaxation "ritual" so I poured a cup of coffee, added my creamer, Splenda and Starbucks flavoring. I put it to my lips and took a small sip. I looked at it and said - what would be the point... and poured it down the sink.
The collision was that yesterday was our Passover Seder. I made a chicken dish that I couldn't eat (because there was sesame and sugar in the sauce). With all the recipes and cooking I do you would think I would have made something "safe" but all I could think about was how I was going to have my cousin's wonderful brisket. I don't know how many of you are familiar with the goings-on at a Passover seder but from appetizers to desserts probably no less than two dozen different foods hit the table. I had NOTHING but the steamed string beans that I brought (I did have a shake on the way there so I was sure to not be hungry!) and two pieces of brisket. As I raised the fork to my mouth my husband quietly said, "I thought you are not supposed to be eating beef." I didn't even THINK of that ... all that was on my mind was NOT eating the chicken! Let's just say I savored every single bite of that brisket - guilt free, knowing that there probably was little damage done since I had eaten NOTHING else from the meal. (Side note: I was extremely gassy all night which has not happened since starting the detox... which either means that the beef FINALLY got things going or that my stomach was complaining about having it added back... the two might be one and the same! I will ask the dietitian tomorrow.)
The fatality was those darn cookies after I was already ready for bed. However, I did not have a huge binge. Just a few. But I also had a small amount (I swear) of chocolate covered raisins. In one of the programs I have worked with this past year, the teacher says "Of course you eat at night. You are so exhausted from being good all day." You would think after being good all day I would have stopped myself. But I just had a little bit (HONEST) and didn't feel bad about myself. I wonder what the dietitian will say tomorrow - if she follows the 80/20 rule - or even 90/10. If I had outright allergies I would be stupid to put myself in harms way, but I am curious whether there will be a little leeway once I get started on normal eating.
The thing of it is, once I am off detox and can go back to my full Paleo cooking I am pretty sure that I won't be having (too many) lapses into sugar and flour because I will be so much more satisfied during the day. I won't be fighting to stay on a restricted program. I am actually very proud of myself. I can count on one hand the number of times I went off the program (three being yesterday and a fourth when I had that horrible binge last week). Other than that I have been true to the program - even way better than the 90/10 rule would be. I had someone compliment me today on sticking to the program. I am happy to say I basked in the compliment of the 90% instead of bringing up the 10% and hanging my head! That in itself is an accomplishment.
Tonight I am going to take out some of my favorite Paleo cookbooks and bring them to my appointment. I am hoping that I can go back to full Paleo eating, with restrictions only on the worse of the offenders (eggs and honey... unfortunately very important...). I am sure I will have to restrict the full sensitivity food list but I am hoping that we are talking moderation and not total cutting out. We shall see...
Miriam
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Day 22
I had a FABULOUS visit this morning with my new primary care
– she went over all my results and OMG… so much going on.
I think the most important thing is that she is giving my
thyroid medication that I will start tomorrow. Even though the numbers
are in the “normal” range and that is why the endocrinologist said everything
is fine, in fact, the number is NOT fine. She will retest that in a
couple of months. Then she definitively diagnosed metabolic syndrome which
is why my glucose, insulin, adrenals, etc. are all out of whack. She did
prescribe supplements for that and when I am retested again for the thyroid
hopefully she will find that maybe that all sorted itself out. ALL of
this is why I am so weight loss resistant – and even though I won’t be dropping
gobs of weight, straightening out all these numbers will have a big effect.
The most worrisome part of the testing was the particle size
of my LDL which are small and dense – the kind that burrow into the arteries
and are very dangerous. HOWEVER, she said that this can be changed, but
movement is the most important fact to do so. I am glad I got my Fitbit
and starting TODAY I am going to institute a serious and dedicated walking
program and go back to using my bike daily. No fooling around. All
these years I said I needed some sort of wake-up call – I have known these
numbers and facts for ages – I think the difference is that she believes in me
and believes I CAN turn things around. (So much for the “oh well” attitude
I have had all these years.) I feel energized and excited to make a
change.
In terms of turning things around she believes that
EVERYTHING can be turned around – even my autoimmune issues (Hashimotos).
My autoimmune antibodies which should be under 1 are in the thousands – so lots
of room to improve there!
She is doing two more tests that involve
macro-nutrients. One was a blood test and one is a stool sample (yikes –
sending poop through the mail… will wonders never cease??). One is
partially covered by insurance, one is not, but I told her that I want to go
all the way with this, so I am not going to argue (at this point at least)
about the cost. Well worth it if I can bring down my blood glucose,
reverse my Hashimotos, get off the new thyroid medication, and change the
dangerous size of my LDL.. wouldn’t you say? LOL
Anyway – I have to read all the material I have and absorb
it some more, but I am very excited.
I have the appointment with the dietitian on Tuesday.
Turns out that one of the ingredients in the shake is something that turned up
on my food sensitivity list, so she said that might be what was causing the
constipation problems I was having – everything should have been smooth sailing
(so to speak) during the detox and it wasn’t. I am going to be about 2
days short on the shakes but I did not pick up another container. If
there is something in there I shouldn’t have then I don’t want to be stuck with
another big bottle of it. I will continue to eat the way I am supposed to
but won’t do the shakes the last couple of days.
I am so excited – can you tell?????
M
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Day 21
Just so you don't think I'm so wonderful and this is all wine and roses... I had a horrible eating experience last night. I should have just HALTED and had my second shake but instead I went for cookies and then, just for the heck of it, I had a handful of popcorn. For some reason it was important for me to totally smack this program in the face. Of course I am the one who fell down on my rump, not the program, but that's okay - I am fine this morning and ready to see through the last week.
What was going on? I have come so far with emotional eating, but this is a reminder that it is waiting in the wings for me. As much as I can list what was going on in my mind to drive me to cookies, I cannot fathom why I didn't care enough about myself to stop it. I think, as with any emotional eating, it was a distraction - if I am busy being mad at myself for straying, then I won't be busy facing what was bothering me:
I am glad I wrote this all out. It makes me hate my cookie episode less, and instead I understand it more. Although I still do not entirely understand why I just did not have my second shake of the day (I landed up skipping it). I am not even entirely sure I would stop myself if this happened again.
But I looked at the calendar and realized that I almost made it through 21 full days without touching a morsel that was not on the program. I can do it one more week!
Miriam
What was going on? I have come so far with emotional eating, but this is a reminder that it is waiting in the wings for me. As much as I can list what was going on in my mind to drive me to cookies, I cannot fathom why I didn't care enough about myself to stop it. I think, as with any emotional eating, it was a distraction - if I am busy being mad at myself for straying, then I won't be busy facing what was bothering me:
- I was in incredible pain all day - my leg, my back and my shoulder. I started researching the lumbar facet joint injections again and am just so conflicted about them. Part of me just wants relief but I think the part of me that drove me to cookies is the part that knows that if I was vigilant about the home exercises and actually did more of those and walking, the problem might be greatly alleviated without the injections. So I think I was hating myself for not helping myself, more than I was trying to distract myself from the pain.
- I was in a sibling email loop which addressed my mother's weight gain. She had been losing too much weight even with supplements and the nursing home was at a loss as to what to do and did not want to get into feeding-tube territory. So I had the idea to bring in all her favorite snacks - which I did, and she gained weight. So yesterday the nursing home said we could withdraw the snacks now, as she had successfully gained 5 pounds (took three months of snaking to do it!). Two of my siblings (the long-distance ones who know NOTHING about anything and who don't deal with this personally day in and day out) said yes, they thought it was a good idea too because she wasn't eating her regular meals, and what about her health with all the sugar and crap I was allowing her to eat. OMG - she is 98 years old and not on a single health-related medication. But no, THEY knew it was unhealthy to give her all those snacks and it was a good thing the nursing home finally put an end to it. I was angry. Eating the cookies helped me forget those emails.
- I was constipated again. Some cookies and popcorn surely would upset my stomach enough to get things moving. But also eating those things got my mind off the fact that my mind is starting to wander into the realm of wondering if this detox is good for anything, really, and if I am on the right path.
- I was mad that I haven't lost weight - so what the hell - I might as well have cookies. Besides, cookies were a way to beat up the program and kick it to the curb. See? I can eat cookies and not drop dead.
- I was SO HUNGRY on the way home from work. It reminded me of how I used to be before going on the program. Going to one scoop/two shakes (from 2 scoops/three shakes) really threw me for a loop. I stopped at the supermarket and got two cooked skinless chicken breasts with some sort of bruschetta sauce on them. I was feeling bad about doing that (not pasture-raised, no control over the ingredients). I might as well have gone to get a Big Mac with an extra-large fries for the guilt that chicken caused me. I felt myself spiraling into the diet mentality that I have worked so hard to break free from - guilt over eating something not "on program" and the black and white, all or nothing thinking - well I ate that, I might as well binge on cookies.....
I am glad I wrote this all out. It makes me hate my cookie episode less, and instead I understand it more. Although I still do not entirely understand why I just did not have my second shake of the day (I landed up skipping it). I am not even entirely sure I would stop myself if this happened again.
But I looked at the calendar and realized that I almost made it through 21 full days without touching a morsel that was not on the program. I can do it one more week!
Miriam
Monday, April 7, 2014
Days 18, 19, and 20 (weekend + today)
HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Starting tomorrow I am back to normal (well as far as normal goes for this program) and I can reintroduce chicken, lamb, nuts and seeds. Never thought I would be so grateful to eat a piece of chicken!
I weathered the weekend very well - including dinner at my daughter's house. I brought cod and made a wonderful warm tapinade (olives, capers, shallots and cherry tomatoes), with rice pilaf (white rice made in vegetable broth, with sauteed onions, peppers, celery and black beans) and steamed vegetables (broccoli and carrots). The only thing I forgot was my Bengal Spice tea, so while everyone was finishing the meal with coffee I cleaned the kitchen!
On Sunday I actually only had one meal. I woke up famished and had a plate of rice pilaf ((I wanted FOOD not a shake!) then later through the day I had a shake at lunch, then one midday so was not hungry for dinner; in the evening I had another shake. In between I had some of the roasted veggies I had made that afternoon for the week. I couldn't face another piece of fish, although I sure did enjoy it today for lunch! I don't know yet what I will have for dinner. I miscounted and thought tonight could be lamb chops but I need one more night of the fish/legume options. Sigh.. maybe I won't have dinner... Maybe I will stop by Whole Foods and pick up a mixed-melon salad - that would be a wonderful treat to celebrate the last night of the most difficult phase. Oh... maybe some almond nut butter in celery for the side! LOL - tonight's dinner is looking better and better!
That is another change coming up: As of today I need only two shakes and starting tomorrow I need only two shakes using one scoop each (instead of 2). I made it to the final stretch - I am so proud of myself!
I am contact with the dietitian over the log jam (yes, again) and she suggested adding flaxmeal - something I had every day when I was making my breakfast muffins. I will add a TBS to each shake from here on - extra berries to balance the flavor. The other things she suggested are already being done: magnesium, probiotic, lots of liquids. I also told her that lemon juice instead of vinegar just doesn't do it for me so I haven't been eating ANY salads at all during this phase. I am eating a ton of cooked and raw vegetables and there is no law that I have to eat salad, but I bet that might have something to do with it.
Anyway - I am happy as a clam to be almost done with this, and as Babs pointed out - no need to worry about a future that isn't here yet. And in the spirit of Elaine's advice I am embracing the moment (hence that wonderful dinner at my daughter's house).
Putting lamb shanks in the crock pot tonight :)
Miriam
Starting tomorrow I am back to normal (well as far as normal goes for this program) and I can reintroduce chicken, lamb, nuts and seeds. Never thought I would be so grateful to eat a piece of chicken!
I weathered the weekend very well - including dinner at my daughter's house. I brought cod and made a wonderful warm tapinade (olives, capers, shallots and cherry tomatoes), with rice pilaf (white rice made in vegetable broth, with sauteed onions, peppers, celery and black beans) and steamed vegetables (broccoli and carrots). The only thing I forgot was my Bengal Spice tea, so while everyone was finishing the meal with coffee I cleaned the kitchen!
On Sunday I actually only had one meal. I woke up famished and had a plate of rice pilaf ((I wanted FOOD not a shake!) then later through the day I had a shake at lunch, then one midday so was not hungry for dinner; in the evening I had another shake. In between I had some of the roasted veggies I had made that afternoon for the week. I couldn't face another piece of fish, although I sure did enjoy it today for lunch! I don't know yet what I will have for dinner. I miscounted and thought tonight could be lamb chops but I need one more night of the fish/legume options. Sigh.. maybe I won't have dinner... Maybe I will stop by Whole Foods and pick up a mixed-melon salad - that would be a wonderful treat to celebrate the last night of the most difficult phase. Oh... maybe some almond nut butter in celery for the side! LOL - tonight's dinner is looking better and better!
That is another change coming up: As of today I need only two shakes and starting tomorrow I need only two shakes using one scoop each (instead of 2). I made it to the final stretch - I am so proud of myself!
I am contact with the dietitian over the log jam (yes, again) and she suggested adding flaxmeal - something I had every day when I was making my breakfast muffins. I will add a TBS to each shake from here on - extra berries to balance the flavor. The other things she suggested are already being done: magnesium, probiotic, lots of liquids. I also told her that lemon juice instead of vinegar just doesn't do it for me so I haven't been eating ANY salads at all during this phase. I am eating a ton of cooked and raw vegetables and there is no law that I have to eat salad, but I bet that might have something to do with it.
Anyway - I am happy as a clam to be almost done with this, and as Babs pointed out - no need to worry about a future that isn't here yet. And in the spirit of Elaine's advice I am embracing the moment (hence that wonderful dinner at my daughter's house).
Putting lamb shanks in the crock pot tonight :)
Miriam
Friday, April 4, 2014
Days 16 and 17 (today)
Well, it killed me to do it because I have been eating Paleo for so many months now, but I made a wonderful white rice and black bean pilaf to have last night. I had my fish soup (absolutely wonderful) with a little rice for dinner but about 8 I was looking for something else and didn't want my shake just yet. So I went ahead and made the pilaf.
I have three concerns at this point:
1) This is throwing me into a diet mentality which I tried so hard to break out of. Even though the point of the detox is not weight loss (and this was quite freeing at the beginning) I have started to think about things - like "Should I really be having this rice?" "How many extra calories is it when I could have just done without it?" "The nutritional information on the shakes says it is only 145 calories... but is it?"
2) I am starting to covet things that I have learned to walk away from... the chips, the bagels, the candy, the bread. The deprivation mindset is seeping in.
3) My friend last night said I am doing so well because I have my eye on the prize. But right now I am thinking, "What prize?" For all this limited eating I have NOT lost weight, I do not feel miraculous changes like boundless energy or no aches and pains. I know that the healing is internal and I might not be feeling anything on the outside. I understand that.
I am not getting discouraged (I had nothing to look forward to in a concrete way so there is nothing to be disappointed about). And, since I have come this far it would be just plain stupid not to see it through. I am not even blue about it as I was in the earlier phase. I don't know how I feel about it, actually. If I had dropped 10 pounds then I would tell anyone to go for it! But because the benefits are not yet showing themselves it is hard for me to answer anything but "Okay" when someone asks "How's it going?".
I am constipated again. Sort of begs the question of how this is supposed to cleanse you if everything is jammed up? I am eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, but probably still not as many as I would eat if I were not doing this. I had already cut out grains but at least I was having seeds and nuts and nut flours and flax seed meal before. So I know there has been a dip in fiber.
Anyway - just to honestly report: The gun-ho exhilaration has passed but I am no where giving up on it. Sort of like the exhilaration of falling in love and making a wedding... then the drudgery of marriage sets in. Not bad, but not the falling-in-love phase either! LOL No reason to give up on that... or this!
Miriam
I have three concerns at this point:
1) This is throwing me into a diet mentality which I tried so hard to break out of. Even though the point of the detox is not weight loss (and this was quite freeing at the beginning) I have started to think about things - like "Should I really be having this rice?" "How many extra calories is it when I could have just done without it?" "The nutritional information on the shakes says it is only 145 calories... but is it?"
2) I am starting to covet things that I have learned to walk away from... the chips, the bagels, the candy, the bread. The deprivation mindset is seeping in.
3) My friend last night said I am doing so well because I have my eye on the prize. But right now I am thinking, "What prize?" For all this limited eating I have NOT lost weight, I do not feel miraculous changes like boundless energy or no aches and pains. I know that the healing is internal and I might not be feeling anything on the outside. I understand that.
I am not getting discouraged (I had nothing to look forward to in a concrete way so there is nothing to be disappointed about). And, since I have come this far it would be just plain stupid not to see it through. I am not even blue about it as I was in the earlier phase. I don't know how I feel about it, actually. If I had dropped 10 pounds then I would tell anyone to go for it! But because the benefits are not yet showing themselves it is hard for me to answer anything but "Okay" when someone asks "How's it going?".
I am constipated again. Sort of begs the question of how this is supposed to cleanse you if everything is jammed up? I am eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, but probably still not as many as I would eat if I were not doing this. I had already cut out grains but at least I was having seeds and nuts and nut flours and flax seed meal before. So I know there has been a dip in fiber.
Anyway - just to honestly report: The gun-ho exhilaration has passed but I am no where giving up on it. Sort of like the exhilaration of falling in love and making a wedding... then the drudgery of marriage sets in. Not bad, but not the falling-in-love phase either! LOL No reason to give up on that... or this!
Miriam
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Days 14 (continued) and 15
First of all, I am so hungry. I can eat as often as I want and as much as I want from the list of approved foods, but I am just hungry... I just finished a box of blackberries and am going to move on to melon. My husband is making me boiled white rice (which I can add back) but that isn't until I get home. Maybe for lunch I will hit a Chinese restaurant and get an order of rice. I am starting to have food on the brain. I have to admit... I am getting tired of the shakes, as yummy as they are....
So why I have a continuation of yesterday is that I wanted to report back on dinner. I spoke to the waitress and told her my concerns - that if at all possible I did not want butter, although I could have oil if the cook didn't want to dry cook things and I did order the seasoned salmon that came with steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus and grilled tomato. I have to say it was one of the nicest restaurant dinners (for that level of restaurant) that I have had and enjoyed every single morsel. The victory for me was that I did not look at the menu. Often I decide in advance, from an on-line menu, what I am having then once I get there I look at everything else and get distracted by fries, burgers and the like. I was glad to have what I ordered and was very happy and satisfied with it.
I got home, had my third shake for the day, and called it a night. I don't think I am getting tired of the limited list so much as I am tired of the shakes. Or maybe it's not that I am tired of the shakes but that I am tired of the limited list. Oh... whatever....
This morning I was already saying to myself that the FIRST thing I am going to do when this is over with is to have my morning cup of coffee. Then have a REAL breakfast. But, alas, I am sure my dietitian has plans for me with regard to how to reintroduce foods... at what pace, in what quantity and choices. Unfortunately right now my follow-up appointment is over two weeks after I finish this program so at the end of next week I will call to be put on a cancellation list to go sooner.
I liked Babs' comment yesterday though, about how if I am taking this one day at a time, why worry about the future? So true. I just have to shake the thoughts of coffee, cappuccino and eggs out of my head.
However, to put this all in perspective, it is with a heavy heart that I say prayers today for my friend's daughter-in-law who has gone into premature labor. She is due just a week later than my own daughter, in June, so it is very early and very worrisome. Sort of makes shakes and limited food lists pale in comparison compared to real life and death issues. Prayers are with her and her family.
Miriam
ADDENDUM: I couldn't wait till getting home and got a small white rice for lunch and ate only that (and some melon) for lunch. A bit nauseous - but I don't think it was the rice - I think it was that I ate quickly and ate it ALL.
Also - heard from my friend - her daughter-in-law delivered a three pound baby girl by C-section and so far they are both doing well, although the baby is in the NICU. I told her that three pounds is a GOOD thing, and wish them all well.
So why I have a continuation of yesterday is that I wanted to report back on dinner. I spoke to the waitress and told her my concerns - that if at all possible I did not want butter, although I could have oil if the cook didn't want to dry cook things and I did order the seasoned salmon that came with steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus and grilled tomato. I have to say it was one of the nicest restaurant dinners (for that level of restaurant) that I have had and enjoyed every single morsel. The victory for me was that I did not look at the menu. Often I decide in advance, from an on-line menu, what I am having then once I get there I look at everything else and get distracted by fries, burgers and the like. I was glad to have what I ordered and was very happy and satisfied with it.
I got home, had my third shake for the day, and called it a night. I don't think I am getting tired of the limited list so much as I am tired of the shakes. Or maybe it's not that I am tired of the shakes but that I am tired of the limited list. Oh... whatever....
This morning I was already saying to myself that the FIRST thing I am going to do when this is over with is to have my morning cup of coffee. Then have a REAL breakfast. But, alas, I am sure my dietitian has plans for me with regard to how to reintroduce foods... at what pace, in what quantity and choices. Unfortunately right now my follow-up appointment is over two weeks after I finish this program so at the end of next week I will call to be put on a cancellation list to go sooner.
I liked Babs' comment yesterday though, about how if I am taking this one day at a time, why worry about the future? So true. I just have to shake the thoughts of coffee, cappuccino and eggs out of my head.
However, to put this all in perspective, it is with a heavy heart that I say prayers today for my friend's daughter-in-law who has gone into premature labor. She is due just a week later than my own daughter, in June, so it is very early and very worrisome. Sort of makes shakes and limited food lists pale in comparison compared to real life and death issues. Prayers are with her and her family.
Miriam
ADDENDUM: I couldn't wait till getting home and got a small white rice for lunch and ate only that (and some melon) for lunch. A bit nauseous - but I don't think it was the rice - I think it was that I ate quickly and ate it ALL.
Also - heard from my friend - her daughter-in-law delivered a three pound baby girl by C-section and so far they are both doing well, although the baby is in the NICU. I told her that three pounds is a GOOD thing, and wish them all well.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Days 13 and 14
Well yesterday was my last day (13)of the REALLY strict phase - I made it!!! Not a morsel passed my lips that was not on the list, and I am now on Day 14, the start of the reintroduction. Now before I get too excited I have to remind myself that this only means that now I can have all fruits and vegetables (not just what is on the "core" list) and I can add white rice if I want. This reintroduction phase goes in several steps so I am here for three days.
This is a good thing because:
I had to set out a seminar luncheon today and there was a Greek salad to die for. Before the participants came in I took a paper cup and took off (carefully rearranging so no one would notice) peppers, tomatoes and red onions. I was not so careful about taking off the flecks of feta cheese, which I think probably, in total, amounted to about 1/2 tsp. I got out of there, though, before I was tempted to snitch a sandwich!
Tonight I am meeting with my daughter's mother-in-law to go shopping for shower invitations and to discuss the menu. We are meeting at the 99 Restaurant. I checked the menu before suggesting that - they have a grilled salmon with side vegetables (all of which I can eat as of today). However, I know these chain restaurants get their food already prepared (no matter HOW healthy it looks with their fancy marketing) so I am going to go early as not to embarrass the other woman, and ask them to rinse off the salmon and all the vegetables before cooking them for me. If this is not possible, I will just do my best and call it a day. I am not outright eating anything I shouldn't be, and the worst will be if there is some butter on the various items. (Even if you ask for "no butter" that stuff comes frozen like drop-in boil bags already seasoned and buttered, just FYI.) I am not going to stress about it. I will just order what looks to be the healthiest meal on the menu.
I cannot believe I am so far into the program. Hmm... let me rephrase - I cannot believe I am already into the reintroduction phase, yet it seems like I have been doing this forever, yet only started yesterday. LOL...
I am already starting to stress over what/how I will eat when this program is over. Like today at the luncheon - I could have inhaled the entire salad and eaten four sandwiches (well I think I could... maybe not...). And this isn't just because I am on a restricted program - I could eat like this ALL the time. I think what has been easy about following this program is that there are such strict boundaries. Eat this. Don't eat that. Eat this. Don't eat that. I hate micromanaging - meaning I don't like things with strict meal plans directing every morsel. But I do like macromanaging - meaning I am okay with general larger boundaries (no gluten, no dairy, etc.). So my stress is arising from worrying that I will be given TOO much freedom. I am meeting with the dietitian within a few days of finishing the program so I am sure she will work with me to slowly reintroduce things so I won't be overhwhelmed. I am also hoping that I will have enough of a jump start with a little bit of weight loss and that I will be motivated to keep on keepin' on.
Well I won't worry now what might be at the end of April. Let me get through tonight's dinner first!
Miriam
ADDENDUM TO POST: About an hour after lunch I got such bloating and discomfort in my upper abdomen. I don't know whether it was the tomatoes, peppers or the bit of dairy I had (I know it wasn't the onions, I had even less of that than the cheese). And now I have the burpees. Oh well... I am pretty sure it is the green pepper, but I will also have tomatoes on day that I don't have the pepper and see if those could be the culprit too. Interesting development ....
This is a good thing because:
I had to set out a seminar luncheon today and there was a Greek salad to die for. Before the participants came in I took a paper cup and took off (carefully rearranging so no one would notice) peppers, tomatoes and red onions. I was not so careful about taking off the flecks of feta cheese, which I think probably, in total, amounted to about 1/2 tsp. I got out of there, though, before I was tempted to snitch a sandwich!
Tonight I am meeting with my daughter's mother-in-law to go shopping for shower invitations and to discuss the menu. We are meeting at the 99 Restaurant. I checked the menu before suggesting that - they have a grilled salmon with side vegetables (all of which I can eat as of today). However, I know these chain restaurants get their food already prepared (no matter HOW healthy it looks with their fancy marketing) so I am going to go early as not to embarrass the other woman, and ask them to rinse off the salmon and all the vegetables before cooking them for me. If this is not possible, I will just do my best and call it a day. I am not outright eating anything I shouldn't be, and the worst will be if there is some butter on the various items. (Even if you ask for "no butter" that stuff comes frozen like drop-in boil bags already seasoned and buttered, just FYI.) I am not going to stress about it. I will just order what looks to be the healthiest meal on the menu.
I cannot believe I am so far into the program. Hmm... let me rephrase - I cannot believe I am already into the reintroduction phase, yet it seems like I have been doing this forever, yet only started yesterday. LOL...
I am already starting to stress over what/how I will eat when this program is over. Like today at the luncheon - I could have inhaled the entire salad and eaten four sandwiches (well I think I could... maybe not...). And this isn't just because I am on a restricted program - I could eat like this ALL the time. I think what has been easy about following this program is that there are such strict boundaries. Eat this. Don't eat that. Eat this. Don't eat that. I hate micromanaging - meaning I don't like things with strict meal plans directing every morsel. But I do like macromanaging - meaning I am okay with general larger boundaries (no gluten, no dairy, etc.). So my stress is arising from worrying that I will be given TOO much freedom. I am meeting with the dietitian within a few days of finishing the program so I am sure she will work with me to slowly reintroduce things so I won't be overhwhelmed. I am also hoping that I will have enough of a jump start with a little bit of weight loss and that I will be motivated to keep on keepin' on.
Well I won't worry now what might be at the end of April. Let me get through tonight's dinner first!
Miriam
ADDENDUM TO POST: About an hour after lunch I got such bloating and discomfort in my upper abdomen. I don't know whether it was the tomatoes, peppers or the bit of dairy I had (I know it wasn't the onions, I had even less of that than the cheese). And now I have the burpees. Oh well... I am pretty sure it is the green pepper, but I will also have tomatoes on day that I don't have the pepper and see if those could be the culprit too. Interesting development ....
Monday, March 31, 2014
Days 11 and 12 - the weekend!
Had an interesting weekend. I don't know whether it was easier or harder to be home with this plan. I was fine on Saturday - except that I didn't have my third shake of the day. I had gone to visit my daughter and by the time I got home and in bed it was late and I was tired and was NOT hungry. I actually brought dinner to make at her house and it was wonderful: We had Chilean sea bass and haddock, a vegetable dish (carrots, celery, chard, zucchini) and something else that I don't remember now (lol) - might have been sweet potato. She thought everything was delicious, as did I. I drank a shake in the car on my way to her house so I wasn't that hungry to begin with, and certainly not hungry when I got home.
Sunday morning I was having a mini pity-party...oh how I miss my coffee and "normal" breakfast. My friend was quick to point out that normal is a changing situation, and now my normal is a shake - deal with it! LOL Once I got through the disappointment of my new normal, I was fine. As a matter of fact, I did some of my NORMAL Sunday afternoon cooking for the week, that I had been missing:
Fish chowder
Sockeye salmon
Butternut squash
Sweet potatoes
Roasted brussels sprouts with apples
Baked apples
Roasted cabbage
That sort of does me for the week. I made up three lunches-to-go of salmon, sweet potatoes, roasted cabbage and brussels sprouts. I made an extra big pot of the fish chowder because I actually thoroughly enjoyed that last week when I made it, so that will be dinner with butternut squash and baked apples.
Actually this strict phase (the metabolic cleanse) is almost done and I made it! On Wednesday I get to add back in ALL vegetables, ALL fruits and white rice. The chicken/turkey/lamb and other grains do not make it back in until the last week of this.
My husband said that it looks like I have lost weight but I don't want to be a slave to the scale through this, so don't know what is doing in terms of numbers.
What *I* notice is that I have much more energy (except this morning... must have to do with being Monday and having to use my alarm clock this morning!) AND I had a pesky rash under my belly that has gone away without any ointment. I think it was something yeasty - so that has totally cleared up! So far so good...
Miriam
Sunday morning I was having a mini pity-party...oh how I miss my coffee and "normal" breakfast. My friend was quick to point out that normal is a changing situation, and now my normal is a shake - deal with it! LOL Once I got through the disappointment of my new normal, I was fine. As a matter of fact, I did some of my NORMAL Sunday afternoon cooking for the week, that I had been missing:
Fish chowder
Sockeye salmon
Butternut squash
Sweet potatoes
Roasted brussels sprouts with apples
Baked apples
Roasted cabbage
That sort of does me for the week. I made up three lunches-to-go of salmon, sweet potatoes, roasted cabbage and brussels sprouts. I made an extra big pot of the fish chowder because I actually thoroughly enjoyed that last week when I made it, so that will be dinner with butternut squash and baked apples.
Actually this strict phase (the metabolic cleanse) is almost done and I made it! On Wednesday I get to add back in ALL vegetables, ALL fruits and white rice. The chicken/turkey/lamb and other grains do not make it back in until the last week of this.
My husband said that it looks like I have lost weight but I don't want to be a slave to the scale through this, so don't know what is doing in terms of numbers.
What *I* notice is that I have much more energy (except this morning... must have to do with being Monday and having to use my alarm clock this morning!) AND I had a pesky rash under my belly that has gone away without any ointment. I think it was something yeasty - so that has totally cleared up! So far so good...
Miriam
Friday, March 28, 2014
Day 9 (Continued) and Day 10
A lot less blue today! Last night after work I stopped at the mall and got some walking in - by the time I got home I had over 6,000 steps. My moderate goal is 5,000 a day for now (I actually will increase to 6,000 next week) so it was nice to receive an "atta girl" from Fitbit when I synced the device when I got home. Unfortunately I did some shopping too! I had to go out to my car to get my wallet, as I walk with just my iPod and keys. Mall walking can be very dangerous. I used to go before the stores opened in the mornings (they open at 6AM for walking while stores open at 10AM - except for places like Dunkin Donuts and Au Bon Pain - smart to open early to catch the walkers) so I didn't have a shopping problem.
I had a shake on my way home from work and wasn't hungry until I got home around 8. I was thinking while I was walking how nice it is to not be famished on the way home from work. I know I complained yesterday that I miss being hungry - yes and no. I don't miss being famished and making a beeline for the fridge, but I miss an appetite. I eat because it is time to eat. HOWEVER, not so right now as I am finishing up my lunch. I didn't have any fruit and a tea as a mid-morning snack because I was visiting my mother so I actually was very hungry for lunch and now that it is finished I am still a bit hungry. Maybe my body just needs some time to adjust to the new routine and new calorie content. Also, with increased activity maybe I can expect to be a little more hungry. I actually hope that I don't go back to being really hungry, but a little bit is okay.
My husband has some sort of a wonderful dinner waiting for me. He got some wild-caught haddock and he is marinating it in lemon and olive oil. I am sure it is delicious but seriously? ENOUGH FISH ALREADY! LOL I am just really resistant to eating legumes which are allowed at this time. I have been eating Paleo for so long and have absorbed all their reasoning and now I just don't want to go back to legumes. I was so happy when I read that I could eat legumes, but now when faced with them I just don't want to. So... fish it is! Actually, each shake has 23g protein so I could technically not even have the fish if I wanted an all vegetable meal. By the time I figure this all out my 28 days will be up anyway! LOL
So I am eating according to the rules, drinking the water required, and moving more. So now I have to move on to sleep. I have been doing very well but I am finding lately that I am very tired in the morning and dread getting out of bed. I am going to make an effort to shut everything off by 10:30, moving it up little by little, for a solid bedtime of 10. I usually fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, so if I sleep 10-7 I'm good. I don't sleep uninterrupted (at least once up to go to the bathroom). I would eventually like to get up earlier than 7, as I am at my best in the morning, but right now I will tackle going to bed earlier not just waking up earlier.
Looking forward to the weekend!
Miriam
I had a shake on my way home from work and wasn't hungry until I got home around 8. I was thinking while I was walking how nice it is to not be famished on the way home from work. I know I complained yesterday that I miss being hungry - yes and no. I don't miss being famished and making a beeline for the fridge, but I miss an appetite. I eat because it is time to eat. HOWEVER, not so right now as I am finishing up my lunch. I didn't have any fruit and a tea as a mid-morning snack because I was visiting my mother so I actually was very hungry for lunch and now that it is finished I am still a bit hungry. Maybe my body just needs some time to adjust to the new routine and new calorie content. Also, with increased activity maybe I can expect to be a little more hungry. I actually hope that I don't go back to being really hungry, but a little bit is okay.
My husband has some sort of a wonderful dinner waiting for me. He got some wild-caught haddock and he is marinating it in lemon and olive oil. I am sure it is delicious but seriously? ENOUGH FISH ALREADY! LOL I am just really resistant to eating legumes which are allowed at this time. I have been eating Paleo for so long and have absorbed all their reasoning and now I just don't want to go back to legumes. I was so happy when I read that I could eat legumes, but now when faced with them I just don't want to. So... fish it is! Actually, each shake has 23g protein so I could technically not even have the fish if I wanted an all vegetable meal. By the time I figure this all out my 28 days will be up anyway! LOL
So I am eating according to the rules, drinking the water required, and moving more. So now I have to move on to sleep. I have been doing very well but I am finding lately that I am very tired in the morning and dread getting out of bed. I am going to make an effort to shut everything off by 10:30, moving it up little by little, for a solid bedtime of 10. I usually fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, so if I sleep 10-7 I'm good. I don't sleep uninterrupted (at least once up to go to the bathroom). I would eventually like to get up earlier than 7, as I am at my best in the morning, but right now I will tackle going to bed earlier not just waking up earlier.
Looking forward to the weekend!
Miriam
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Day 8 (continued) and Day 9
So last night I was REALLY blue and feeling sorry for myself. I told myself that I would have to share that with you today so you don't think it's all roses with this detox. I was missing my coffee and my soda. I was missing my beef and onions and tomatoes and vinegar so that I can enjoy salads - lemon juice just doesn't do it for me I really tried....(vinegar is allowed but the doctor wants to balance out the PH of my body so none allowed during this period). Nothing that I could eat appealed to me for dinner. I treated myself to a sea bass, and although the fish guy did take off the head, tail and scales and took out the guts, he left the fish relatively whole. I thought it would be fileted so that I could enjoy it with the stuffing I made. I did bake the fish, then threw it out. I was afraid that I would never want to eat again. (LOL - Poor me poor me...) I thought about people who are so hopeful and excited about getting gastric bypass surgery, and how depressed they really must feel when they no longer can eat what they love in quantities they enjoy.
So blue....
I don't think my pity-party had to do with my food limitations. I think it had to do with lack of hunger. I have never really experienced that before. Even when I got home from surgery (several times in the past decade) I couldn't wait to eat - no pain or pain medication stopped my appetite. I was always ready to eat. Yesterday I had my shake after PT (around 5) and I got home with absolutely no appetite or hunger feelings at all (that probably had more to do with my throwing the fish out than the fact that I was disappointed it was not fileted).
So that ended Day 8.
Today is a new day! I had my shake for breakfast on the way to work, along with some avocado and my supplements. I was worried there is not enough fat in the shake for the fat soluble vitamins I take. About 11 I had an apple. At 12:30 I had my fish chowder - which is actually VERY good! - and also some roast cauliflower and 1/2 of a sweet potato. I will have fruit and a second shake in the late afternoon, then maybe the third shake for dinner. I don't even want anything until 7 or 8. If I am hungry later I will have fruit again.
I like having a "big" lunch (haha - what I just described was BIG? not by olden-day standards! LOL) and don't mind not having dinner. I think tonight I will make a soup - maybe escarole and white bean or maybe something with lentils for tomorrow's lunch. It's not that I am fished out, but I need some better variety.
I am feeling less blue today. Last night's mood came out of nowhere. (I am sure it had a source in something but I am ready to let it go.) I will drink more tea, think about coffee less. Today I took a hot to-go cup of tea with me in the car... that sort of helped.
Looking at the calendar I can see I am almost a third of the way through this. It really isn't bad in terms of what I can eat and how much I can eat if I wanted... it is just an adjustment to not being hungry (if I were even that darned fish would have looked good last night!).
How am I feeling? I noticed that I don't want to go to sleep at night instead of praying for it to be 10PM soon. (If I sleep any earlier I wake up after an hour and then am up for several.) Instead I look and I have to force myself to stop what I am doing and go to sleep so I will have enough ZZZs to get me through the next day. So I suppose I can say I notice I have more energy. That's good! It's a start!
Miriam
So blue....
I don't think my pity-party had to do with my food limitations. I think it had to do with lack of hunger. I have never really experienced that before. Even when I got home from surgery (several times in the past decade) I couldn't wait to eat - no pain or pain medication stopped my appetite. I was always ready to eat. Yesterday I had my shake after PT (around 5) and I got home with absolutely no appetite or hunger feelings at all (that probably had more to do with my throwing the fish out than the fact that I was disappointed it was not fileted).
So that ended Day 8.
Today is a new day! I had my shake for breakfast on the way to work, along with some avocado and my supplements. I was worried there is not enough fat in the shake for the fat soluble vitamins I take. About 11 I had an apple. At 12:30 I had my fish chowder - which is actually VERY good! - and also some roast cauliflower and 1/2 of a sweet potato. I will have fruit and a second shake in the late afternoon, then maybe the third shake for dinner. I don't even want anything until 7 or 8. If I am hungry later I will have fruit again.
I like having a "big" lunch (haha - what I just described was BIG? not by olden-day standards! LOL) and don't mind not having dinner. I think tonight I will make a soup - maybe escarole and white bean or maybe something with lentils for tomorrow's lunch. It's not that I am fished out, but I need some better variety.
I am feeling less blue today. Last night's mood came out of nowhere. (I am sure it had a source in something but I am ready to let it go.) I will drink more tea, think about coffee less. Today I took a hot to-go cup of tea with me in the car... that sort of helped.
Looking at the calendar I can see I am almost a third of the way through this. It really isn't bad in terms of what I can eat and how much I can eat if I wanted... it is just an adjustment to not being hungry (if I were even that darned fish would have looked good last night!).
How am I feeling? I noticed that I don't want to go to sleep at night instead of praying for it to be 10PM soon. (If I sleep any earlier I wake up after an hour and then am up for several.) Instead I look and I have to force myself to stop what I am doing and go to sleep so I will have enough ZZZs to get me through the next day. So I suppose I can say I notice I have more energy. That's good! It's a start!
Miriam
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Day 7 (continued) and Day 8
So I figured it was time to get creative in the kitchen so I wouldn't get sick of fish. I spent the evening cooking (Day 7) and with some GREAT success! Thanks to my friend Elaine who was on Facebook with me to advise about seasonings, I made two fantastic dishes:
First, I made a vegetable stuffing for a whole striped bass: Sauteed carrots, celery, zucchini, rainbow chard stems and leaves seasoned with paprika and chives.
Then, I made a clear fish chowder with carrots, celery, chard and cod seasoned with thyme, basil, Old Bay, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
I was looking forward to coming home and having the chowder for dinner, but now that I am writing this out I remember that I have the bass! So much fish - so little time. The chowder will keep so I will make the bass tonight while it is fresh.
I am finding an abundance of wild caught fish and it is hard to keep my purchases to just one or two things at a time - I would rather buy fresh and cook, than freeze, but it is so hard not to buy one of everything!.
Today for lunch I am having wild caught coho salmon, sweet potato, beets, and roast cauliflower. I have been buying cut up melon from Whole Foods - they have a lovely mixture of cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew - and everything is perfectly ripe and sweet. Honestly - when people ask me, "Then what can you eat?" I have to answer that I have never shopped or cooked more healthfully in my life - and believe me, I was already cooking fresh and healthy! This is not to say that I might not be able to look at fish for a month after this, but so far, so good.
Last night I didn't time my shakes right and so landed up having a shake for dinner and one later in the evening. Today I am going to make sure to have a shake on the way home from work so that I will be able to have dinner, then save the third shake for the evening. I think replacing breakfast with a shake is enough of a meal replacement - I don't want to do more than that (nor do I have to).
Today I added "Intuitive Eating" to my labels because with this plan, I find that I am really tuning into my hunger, fullness, desires, tastes, etc., and it is a much more natural way of eating - more so than any excursion I have made in the past into Intuitive Eating. Granted my available foods are not endless (which is one concept of IE), but I find that within the boundaries of what I am allowed to eat, I am picking and choosing most naturally. I like that the dietitian said that this period is not about losing weight, it is just about getting healthy. That instruction has freed me from monitoring every bite that goes into my mouth (other than being sure it is on the allowed list).
I am so excited that yesterday I almost met my step goal on Fitbit and the day before I exceeded it. I find that I am moving more with it. For instance, I took stairs up and down at work yesterday where I might normally have taken the elevator. It is so much more fun than a pedometer - I enjoy reading all the tallies at the end of the day and seeing what my friends are doing too.
Anyway - Day 8 and doing good!
Miriam
First, I made a vegetable stuffing for a whole striped bass: Sauteed carrots, celery, zucchini, rainbow chard stems and leaves seasoned with paprika and chives.
Then, I made a clear fish chowder with carrots, celery, chard and cod seasoned with thyme, basil, Old Bay, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
I was looking forward to coming home and having the chowder for dinner, but now that I am writing this out I remember that I have the bass! So much fish - so little time. The chowder will keep so I will make the bass tonight while it is fresh.
I am finding an abundance of wild caught fish and it is hard to keep my purchases to just one or two things at a time - I would rather buy fresh and cook, than freeze, but it is so hard not to buy one of everything!.
Today for lunch I am having wild caught coho salmon, sweet potato, beets, and roast cauliflower. I have been buying cut up melon from Whole Foods - they have a lovely mixture of cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew - and everything is perfectly ripe and sweet. Honestly - when people ask me, "Then what can you eat?" I have to answer that I have never shopped or cooked more healthfully in my life - and believe me, I was already cooking fresh and healthy! This is not to say that I might not be able to look at fish for a month after this, but so far, so good.
Last night I didn't time my shakes right and so landed up having a shake for dinner and one later in the evening. Today I am going to make sure to have a shake on the way home from work so that I will be able to have dinner, then save the third shake for the evening. I think replacing breakfast with a shake is enough of a meal replacement - I don't want to do more than that (nor do I have to).
Today I added "Intuitive Eating" to my labels because with this plan, I find that I am really tuning into my hunger, fullness, desires, tastes, etc., and it is a much more natural way of eating - more so than any excursion I have made in the past into Intuitive Eating. Granted my available foods are not endless (which is one concept of IE), but I find that within the boundaries of what I am allowed to eat, I am picking and choosing most naturally. I like that the dietitian said that this period is not about losing weight, it is just about getting healthy. That instruction has freed me from monitoring every bite that goes into my mouth (other than being sure it is on the allowed list).
I am so excited that yesterday I almost met my step goal on Fitbit and the day before I exceeded it. I find that I am moving more with it. For instance, I took stairs up and down at work yesterday where I might normally have taken the elevator. It is so much more fun than a pedometer - I enjoy reading all the tallies at the end of the day and seeing what my friends are doing too.
Anyway - Day 8 and doing good!
Miriam
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Days 6 & 7
So today (day 7) starts the really restrictive portion of the food plan. From here on my sources of protein are only wild-caught fish and legumes. I am sort of iffy on the legumes because I cut them all out as part of the auto-immune protocol of the Paleo diet, but since I am so limited I might gently add them to some dishes, or go full force to make a nice lentil soup - however I am also missing my onions this week and I have never cooked without onions! My sources of starchy carbs are sweet potatoes and yams, beets and winter squash. ALL my favorites so no problem there.
I am up to three shakes a day and have started to have one for breakfast. I cannot have my frozen berries which made the shakes so delicious but I am allowed peaches, so I threw some frozen peaches in this morning, and although not as yummy, still quite tasty. I read the calorie count for the shakes and although each one has 23 grams of protein, it only has 145 calories so I am convinced (although I already knew it) that these shakes are not intended as meal replacements. My plan today is to have a regular lunch (I have wild caught salmon -- that I sauteed up at 7:30 this morning -- sweet potatoes and beets, roasted cauliflower, and a huge container of a variety of sliced melons. I will make a shake before going home. Then for dinner I am going to stop by Legal Seafood and if I can get some wild caught trout that is what I have a hankering for, but if they don't have it I will have the rest of the salmon and sautee up some Swiss chard that is itching to be cooked (again no onions - which is what I usually sautee it with).
Everyone is asking me how I feel. Well ... I feel the same! I think the detox is working on me internally at cell level, which is what it is intended to do. Except for the eggs I had already cut out a lot of the foods that I am sensitive to and would have been culprits with any stomach upsets. Anyway, today is day 7. Yesterday, which was Day 6 I had a nice surprise which I suppose does have to do with "how do you feel?" I noticed at about 10PM I wasn't even tired. I think I have more energy. I suppose that counts. AND, on the way home from work, even though I hadn't had a shake in the afternoon AND had a grueling one hour PT session, I wasn't famished as I drove home from work. As a matter of fact I stopped to grocery shop and I didn't get home for dinner until 7.
Hmm... more energy and not hungry.... I guess I AM feeling a difference! How about that?
Miriam
I am up to three shakes a day and have started to have one for breakfast. I cannot have my frozen berries which made the shakes so delicious but I am allowed peaches, so I threw some frozen peaches in this morning, and although not as yummy, still quite tasty. I read the calorie count for the shakes and although each one has 23 grams of protein, it only has 145 calories so I am convinced (although I already knew it) that these shakes are not intended as meal replacements. My plan today is to have a regular lunch (I have wild caught salmon -- that I sauteed up at 7:30 this morning -- sweet potatoes and beets, roasted cauliflower, and a huge container of a variety of sliced melons. I will make a shake before going home. Then for dinner I am going to stop by Legal Seafood and if I can get some wild caught trout that is what I have a hankering for, but if they don't have it I will have the rest of the salmon and sautee up some Swiss chard that is itching to be cooked (again no onions - which is what I usually sautee it with).
Everyone is asking me how I feel. Well ... I feel the same! I think the detox is working on me internally at cell level, which is what it is intended to do. Except for the eggs I had already cut out a lot of the foods that I am sensitive to and would have been culprits with any stomach upsets. Anyway, today is day 7. Yesterday, which was Day 6 I had a nice surprise which I suppose does have to do with "how do you feel?" I noticed at about 10PM I wasn't even tired. I think I have more energy. I suppose that counts. AND, on the way home from work, even though I hadn't had a shake in the afternoon AND had a grueling one hour PT session, I wasn't famished as I drove home from work. As a matter of fact I stopped to grocery shop and I didn't get home for dinner until 7.
Hmm... more energy and not hungry.... I guess I AM feeling a difference! How about that?
Miriam
Monday, March 24, 2014
Day 5
Forlorn yet a party....
So this morning I was rather sad. I think not so much because I missed my coffee and usual breakfast but because I missed the routine of it. I actually got back into bed after I got up and slept another 2 hours. I was not tired. I think I was depressed. I am not making the most of all I have to eat - I can be just as creative with what I have available to me but I just don't feel the love. Then I missed my Sunday morning coffee in bed more than you can imagine. Tea just isn't the same.
After a long while feeling sorry for myself, I got dressed and sat at the kitchen table with my detox literature and made a list of everything that I can eat starting Tuesday, which is day 7. I still have a list of "core" fruits and veggies (while avoiding others), fish, legumes, oils, herbs and spices. That's about it. I am being so silly. I can create lovely dishes with everything available to me. But the other part of this puzzle is that I am just not hungry. And on Day 7 I go up to three shakes a day. I just do not know how I am going to do that and eat. Right now I am planning to do a shake for breakfast, a substantial "real food" lunch, a shake for dinner and my third one in the evening. Or maybe not. I am also upping my activity (with a Fitbit that I got on Friday) so I might land up being hungrier than I would think.
In any case... so last night I went to a party where it was all appetizers. We brought some and the other two couples brought some, all keeping in mind my food limitations. Let me just say that I enjoyed every morsel, did not miss a bite, and was too full when I got home to have my second shake of the day. We brought hommos (which I could not eat because of my sensitivity to sesame seeds which is what tahini is made out of), foul M'dammas (which is fava beans and which was absolutely wonderful), spinach pie (which I did not eat), guacamole (which I could eat), and babaghanoush without the tahini (so grilled eggplant with lemon and garlic). Other things that I could eat were grilled chicken legs, crudites, and a wonderful paleo risotto made with cauliflower, and fresh strawberries and pineapple. There were only a few things that I could not eat.
What is the harm in having "just one"? I had a nice long running conversation with myself and said I would only be fooling or hurting myself to go off the list of allowed foods. Like, why bother if I am not going to do this right. Then I thought of my granddaughter, who is making her appearance in June, and said not only am I doing this for myself, but for my children and grandchildren. And that stopped the pouting.
.... That and the fact that I am already almost at the end of week one, with ONLY three more weeks to go. The worst of it is the following 10 days when the list of allowable food is really pared down, but I am determined to see this through.
Miriam
So this morning I was rather sad. I think not so much because I missed my coffee and usual breakfast but because I missed the routine of it. I actually got back into bed after I got up and slept another 2 hours. I was not tired. I think I was depressed. I am not making the most of all I have to eat - I can be just as creative with what I have available to me but I just don't feel the love. Then I missed my Sunday morning coffee in bed more than you can imagine. Tea just isn't the same.
After a long while feeling sorry for myself, I got dressed and sat at the kitchen table with my detox literature and made a list of everything that I can eat starting Tuesday, which is day 7. I still have a list of "core" fruits and veggies (while avoiding others), fish, legumes, oils, herbs and spices. That's about it. I am being so silly. I can create lovely dishes with everything available to me. But the other part of this puzzle is that I am just not hungry. And on Day 7 I go up to three shakes a day. I just do not know how I am going to do that and eat. Right now I am planning to do a shake for breakfast, a substantial "real food" lunch, a shake for dinner and my third one in the evening. Or maybe not. I am also upping my activity (with a Fitbit that I got on Friday) so I might land up being hungrier than I would think.
In any case... so last night I went to a party where it was all appetizers. We brought some and the other two couples brought some, all keeping in mind my food limitations. Let me just say that I enjoyed every morsel, did not miss a bite, and was too full when I got home to have my second shake of the day. We brought hommos (which I could not eat because of my sensitivity to sesame seeds which is what tahini is made out of), foul M'dammas (which is fava beans and which was absolutely wonderful), spinach pie (which I did not eat), guacamole (which I could eat), and babaghanoush without the tahini (so grilled eggplant with lemon and garlic). Other things that I could eat were grilled chicken legs, crudites, and a wonderful paleo risotto made with cauliflower, and fresh strawberries and pineapple. There were only a few things that I could not eat.
What is the harm in having "just one"? I had a nice long running conversation with myself and said I would only be fooling or hurting myself to go off the list of allowed foods. Like, why bother if I am not going to do this right. Then I thought of my granddaughter, who is making her appearance in June, and said not only am I doing this for myself, but for my children and grandchildren. And that stopped the pouting.
.... That and the fact that I am already almost at the end of week one, with ONLY three more weeks to go. The worst of it is the following 10 days when the list of allowable food is really pared down, but I am determined to see this through.
Miriam
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Day 4
So I was worried about constipation? Not an issue. 'nuff said lol.
I have had no appetite beyond having the shakes - as I scraped my lunch into the trash I was thinking that this is what gastric bypass patients must feel like. Not a problem but I worry what will become of my life without my total focus on food! LOL Since this is just a month long I don't think I have to worry about it forever, but it really has caused me to think about people who just don't think about food. Worse yet are the people you see who just push the food around on their plates without eating. I look upon them like they are aliens.
I am an alien.
Miriam
I have had no appetite beyond having the shakes - as I scraped my lunch into the trash I was thinking that this is what gastric bypass patients must feel like. Not a problem but I worry what will become of my life without my total focus on food! LOL Since this is just a month long I don't think I have to worry about it forever, but it really has caused me to think about people who just don't think about food. Worse yet are the people you see who just push the food around on their plates without eating. I look upon them like they are aliens.
I am an alien.
Miriam
Friday, March 21, 2014
Day 3
Hooray - no headache today! A bit tired and draggy but without the headache I feel very hopeful that I will start to have more energy as my body adjusts to no caffeine. I had a shake for breakfast on the way work today. It satisfied my habit of having something hand to mouth in the car - since I am not even having morning coffee... I know a lot of people do not allow food in the car, but with such a LONG boring commute, I find it helpful to have breakfast - or at least coffee - in the car. Anyway - the great part about the shake for breakfast was that I went to my PT appointment at 1 and didn't have my lunch until 2! I did have a couple of pieces of fruit and plenty of water during the morning but I was shocked that I wasn't hungry!
I have been drinking a lot of water and other than a brief moment last night when I almost cried because I missed my coffee/soda, I have been okay during the day. I also did a first! I gave up bottled salad dressings more years ago than I can even remember but I never liked my salad with lemon. I have been instructed not to use vinegar because the dietitian wants my body to become more Ph Balanced so I can use lemon but not vinegar. The dietitian said that I would be going to the bathroom (poop!) a lot but so far nada - so I thought maybe it was because I haven't had any salad in three days, so I bit the bullet and had it today with lemon. Not bad! I tossed in the olive oil first, then added a small spoon of freshly squeezed lemon. I think I am going to NOT miss vinegar!
So it is 3:30 and I just finished lunch - last night I didn't even have dinner - I had a small bowl of tossed almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds and coconut. Probably no more or less calories than if I had a "real" dinner, but it was what I wanted and craved (I am thinking I needed some fats) and then around 9 I had my second shake. My husband roasted some chicken for me for dinner (I was lucky enough to find pasture raised chicken yesterday) but if I don't want it I will have it for lunch or breakfast tomorrow and just have my second shake for dinner tonight. I am up to two scoops of the powder so it really is filling. I think tomorrow I "graduate" to 2 scoops THREE times a day. I can't imagine that I am going to want to eat much even though these are not technically meal substitutes and are not meant to be.
But, the best part is that today I spoke to my physical therapist about the possibility of doing a 5K race in May. She said WHY NOT??? And then I realized that although I want to get better (in a vague sort of way) I have neglected to give myself any concrete goals. So I am officially in training for a race! Heck I will be happy to go at a slow stroll and finish -- but that is a valid goal, too, since I can barely walk 1/2 mile without back pain!
Color me hopeful today! :)
Miriam
I have been drinking a lot of water and other than a brief moment last night when I almost cried because I missed my coffee/soda, I have been okay during the day. I also did a first! I gave up bottled salad dressings more years ago than I can even remember but I never liked my salad with lemon. I have been instructed not to use vinegar because the dietitian wants my body to become more Ph Balanced so I can use lemon but not vinegar. The dietitian said that I would be going to the bathroom (poop!) a lot but so far nada - so I thought maybe it was because I haven't had any salad in three days, so I bit the bullet and had it today with lemon. Not bad! I tossed in the olive oil first, then added a small spoon of freshly squeezed lemon. I think I am going to NOT miss vinegar!
So it is 3:30 and I just finished lunch - last night I didn't even have dinner - I had a small bowl of tossed almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds and coconut. Probably no more or less calories than if I had a "real" dinner, but it was what I wanted and craved (I am thinking I needed some fats) and then around 9 I had my second shake. My husband roasted some chicken for me for dinner (I was lucky enough to find pasture raised chicken yesterday) but if I don't want it I will have it for lunch or breakfast tomorrow and just have my second shake for dinner tonight. I am up to two scoops of the powder so it really is filling. I think tomorrow I "graduate" to 2 scoops THREE times a day. I can't imagine that I am going to want to eat much even though these are not technically meal substitutes and are not meant to be.
But, the best part is that today I spoke to my physical therapist about the possibility of doing a 5K race in May. She said WHY NOT??? And then I realized that although I want to get better (in a vague sort of way) I have neglected to give myself any concrete goals. So I am officially in training for a race! Heck I will be happy to go at a slow stroll and finish -- but that is a valid goal, too, since I can barely walk 1/2 mile without back pain!
Color me hopeful today! :)
Miriam
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Day 2
Well so far so good - lol - but seriously, lately I haven't lasted 24 hours on a directed (what I mean by directed is someone else telling me what I can and cannot eat!) eating plan. I am so happy that I had already made the switch to gluten-free then to Paleo over the past several months because it makes this adventure a breeze. I'm not asked to give up anything I already don't eat. I don't want to worry about Day 7, when my meat options for protein are off the books, and I have to turn to fish only (and legumes if I so choose).
For breakfast I had kafta wrapped up in lettuce leaves and some pineapple slices. 32 oz of water on my way to work. What is so miraculous is that I didn't even have the urge to pee until I get to work - which is such a new experience (and yesterday too). When I am having my coffee and/or diet cola I have to stop 2-3 times before I get to work and then I still barely make it to the bathroom in time. All these years I have known that caffeine is the major culprit with my problem but I never forced myself to totally cut it out. Having said that, I'm still not sure that I will stay off caffeine once this detox is done. Maybe after 30 days of freedom I might change my mind.
I was hungry mid-morning but I wanted to save my two shakes for afternoon and evening snacks so I had some cut pineapple and one of the chicken legs that I packed for lunch. I was smart today and packed two! So for lunch I had a chicken leg, sweet potato, Swiss chard and more water. I also had a couple of mugs of the herbal tea that I discovered yesterday.
Regarding the shakes - I stopped at Trader Joe's on the way in to buy some frozen berries to add to it this afternoon like I had it last night. I cannot begin to say how delicious this shake is and I can't wait till day 9 when they go up to 3 a day! Right now I am making it with unsweetened almond milk but when that is cut out at day 7 I will make it with water. However, I don't expect much of a change because it is the shake itself that is so good, not the almond milk.
This evening I am going to stop by Whole Foods to pick up some fish for dinner tonight and tomorrow. If the sole is still on sale I will get that, as the fish I bought Tuesday I already have portioned out and frozen for breakfasts. I don't absolutely love salmon but if they have a nice wild caught selection I will get it. Every time I am at Whole Foods I look for wild caught trout. That is a rare find - I had it a couple of times and really it is wonderful. I also want to make another batch of Swiss chard so will get that too.
I woke up without the headache but it is sort of nagging now, but much less than yesterday. My hubby keeps asking how I am feeling - I don't know how I am going to feel having gone through this - I never really have gastro-intestinal problems so I am not looking for those to subside, my skin is nice (IMHO) so that isn't something that is going to improve, etc. But I have no doubt that the changes will be things that I may or may not feel - however, maybe I only think I feel okay because the way I am is the only way I know! I have seen pictures, though, of people who have gone through a detox like this and there are perceptible changes in their looks (not all of them have to do with weight loss!) and they all say they FEEL great!
So I am not questioning this - just trusting the process. Meanwhile, after (or rather during) Day 2 I have no complaints except the caffeine withdrawal headache - but that even points out the fact that I really was drinking WAY too much and it is a good idea to cut it down and/or out anyway - detox or not.
Looking forward to my shakes!
Miriam
For breakfast I had kafta wrapped up in lettuce leaves and some pineapple slices. 32 oz of water on my way to work. What is so miraculous is that I didn't even have the urge to pee until I get to work - which is such a new experience (and yesterday too). When I am having my coffee and/or diet cola I have to stop 2-3 times before I get to work and then I still barely make it to the bathroom in time. All these years I have known that caffeine is the major culprit with my problem but I never forced myself to totally cut it out. Having said that, I'm still not sure that I will stay off caffeine once this detox is done. Maybe after 30 days of freedom I might change my mind.
I was hungry mid-morning but I wanted to save my two shakes for afternoon and evening snacks so I had some cut pineapple and one of the chicken legs that I packed for lunch. I was smart today and packed two! So for lunch I had a chicken leg, sweet potato, Swiss chard and more water. I also had a couple of mugs of the herbal tea that I discovered yesterday.
Regarding the shakes - I stopped at Trader Joe's on the way in to buy some frozen berries to add to it this afternoon like I had it last night. I cannot begin to say how delicious this shake is and I can't wait till day 9 when they go up to 3 a day! Right now I am making it with unsweetened almond milk but when that is cut out at day 7 I will make it with water. However, I don't expect much of a change because it is the shake itself that is so good, not the almond milk.
This evening I am going to stop by Whole Foods to pick up some fish for dinner tonight and tomorrow. If the sole is still on sale I will get that, as the fish I bought Tuesday I already have portioned out and frozen for breakfasts. I don't absolutely love salmon but if they have a nice wild caught selection I will get it. Every time I am at Whole Foods I look for wild caught trout. That is a rare find - I had it a couple of times and really it is wonderful. I also want to make another batch of Swiss chard so will get that too.
I woke up without the headache but it is sort of nagging now, but much less than yesterday. My hubby keeps asking how I am feeling - I don't know how I am going to feel having gone through this - I never really have gastro-intestinal problems so I am not looking for those to subside, my skin is nice (IMHO) so that isn't something that is going to improve, etc. But I have no doubt that the changes will be things that I may or may not feel - however, maybe I only think I feel okay because the way I am is the only way I know! I have seen pictures, though, of people who have gone through a detox like this and there are perceptible changes in their looks (not all of them have to do with weight loss!) and they all say they FEEL great!
So I am not questioning this - just trusting the process. Meanwhile, after (or rather during) Day 2 I have no complaints except the caffeine withdrawal headache - but that even points out the fact that I really was drinking WAY too much and it is a good idea to cut it down and/or out anyway - detox or not.
Looking forward to my shakes!
Miriam
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Ending the day with a headache...
Well in all fairness, I am also struggling with a pair of eyeglasses that have not been right since I got them last June. This is the second time they have been done and they are still wrong. I did a lot of reading today. I think the headache is mostly that. However, when I got up this morning, the first words out of my mouth were "Damn it - no coffee today." So maybe that's a little bit of it too.
Last night before coming home I did a major shopping trip to Whole Foods. Right now my protein choices besides wild caught fish include free roaming (i.e., grass fed, pasture raised,etc.) lamb, chicken, turkey and game (which I am not fond of). They had all sorts of grass fed lamb so I got ground lamb and lamb shanks and chicken legs. Then went to the fish counter and got wild caught sole. TONS of vegetables and beautiful fruit - I even treated myself to some peaches - out of season so I didn't hold up much hope but it was so sweet and juicy I am glad I treated myself. When I got home I cooked up a storm so I would have plenty available today.
My food choices were so delicious today. Some of you may turn up your nose but this morning I had sole and a wonderful Swiss chard recipe that I made last night so it would be ready this morning. Then for lunch I had baked chicken legs, sweet potato and another serving of chard and fresh watermelon. Mid-day I had my first shake -- not too bad actually! When I walked through the door after work I was hungry so headed for fruit that my husband prepared for me - fresh pineapple and melon. He also prepared kafta for me (ground lamb with all sorts of goodness in it - fresh parsley, onions, pecans, spices) so I had that with another chicken leg and some fruit. I was too tired and too hungry to cook some broccoli and cauliflower that I also could have had for dinner. So as you can see, I had plenty to eat today. Tomorrow I will plan a little better so I won't be so hungry when coming home. Maybe I will make a shake to have in the car on the way home (yes, I have a blender in the office lol).
While I was waiting for my computer to update just now I made another shake - this time with some frozen fruit. OMG it is so delicious I am actually looking forward to having it tomorrow! The gal who was in charge of the Visions apothecary said she actually has one every morning - and nothing to do with detox. I was reading the ingredients myself and I if I have this every day I can throw out my multivitamins! Right now I am building up on the shakes but once they are full 2-scoop servings I might have one for breakfast instead of for a snack... we'll see.
I did pack away my espresso machine and milk aerator so that I wouldn't be tempted to make cappuccino. Much to my surprise I found an herbal tea that is so spicy that it needs no sweetener at all. All these years I had never found an herbal tea that I could drink without sweetener - and even with sweetener I wouldn't like it - and so I was just delighted - it is "Bengal Spice" by Bigelow. I think I had better take out stock in the company and then start buying it! I am not saying that I will never unpack my coffee supplies, but I think this is going to be more smooth sailing once I get going (and get rid of this headache!).
I spent some more time looking at the program booklet. I have a pretty wide range of foods for days 1-6. On day 7 I have less choice, mostly in the protein department, but I think I will do okay. I had cut out legumes (lentils and beans) while doing the Whole 30/Paleo, but they are encouraged as a protein source on this program. Plus, my food sensitivity tests showed a sensitivity only to lima beans (!) and not other legume choices, so I will add them in slowly as needed for protein sources. Surprisingly white rice is also allowed. I asked about that since the nutritional wisdom is that white rice is not a preferred grain, but the dietitian said that for this detox they are trying to stick with things that are gentle on the digestive system. Meanwhile you don't have to eat everything that is allowed, so I am not sure about the rice. We'll see. I still have free will even though it is a program! LOL
So Day 1 has been a success even with the headache. She told me to expect the headache at the beginning (DUH... I've given up caffeine before so I was not surprised!) so I am not concerned by it.
Can't believe I am going to bed looking forward to my shakes tomorrow!
Nite!
Miriam
Last night before coming home I did a major shopping trip to Whole Foods. Right now my protein choices besides wild caught fish include free roaming (i.e., grass fed, pasture raised,etc.) lamb, chicken, turkey and game (which I am not fond of). They had all sorts of grass fed lamb so I got ground lamb and lamb shanks and chicken legs. Then went to the fish counter and got wild caught sole. TONS of vegetables and beautiful fruit - I even treated myself to some peaches - out of season so I didn't hold up much hope but it was so sweet and juicy I am glad I treated myself. When I got home I cooked up a storm so I would have plenty available today.
My food choices were so delicious today. Some of you may turn up your nose but this morning I had sole and a wonderful Swiss chard recipe that I made last night so it would be ready this morning. Then for lunch I had baked chicken legs, sweet potato and another serving of chard and fresh watermelon. Mid-day I had my first shake -- not too bad actually! When I walked through the door after work I was hungry so headed for fruit that my husband prepared for me - fresh pineapple and melon. He also prepared kafta for me (ground lamb with all sorts of goodness in it - fresh parsley, onions, pecans, spices) so I had that with another chicken leg and some fruit. I was too tired and too hungry to cook some broccoli and cauliflower that I also could have had for dinner. So as you can see, I had plenty to eat today. Tomorrow I will plan a little better so I won't be so hungry when coming home. Maybe I will make a shake to have in the car on the way home (yes, I have a blender in the office lol).
While I was waiting for my computer to update just now I made another shake - this time with some frozen fruit. OMG it is so delicious I am actually looking forward to having it tomorrow! The gal who was in charge of the Visions apothecary said she actually has one every morning - and nothing to do with detox. I was reading the ingredients myself and I if I have this every day I can throw out my multivitamins! Right now I am building up on the shakes but once they are full 2-scoop servings I might have one for breakfast instead of for a snack... we'll see.
I did pack away my espresso machine and milk aerator so that I wouldn't be tempted to make cappuccino. Much to my surprise I found an herbal tea that is so spicy that it needs no sweetener at all. All these years I had never found an herbal tea that I could drink without sweetener - and even with sweetener I wouldn't like it - and so I was just delighted - it is "Bengal Spice" by Bigelow. I think I had better take out stock in the company and then start buying it! I am not saying that I will never unpack my coffee supplies, but I think this is going to be more smooth sailing once I get going (and get rid of this headache!).
I spent some more time looking at the program booklet. I have a pretty wide range of foods for days 1-6. On day 7 I have less choice, mostly in the protein department, but I think I will do okay. I had cut out legumes (lentils and beans) while doing the Whole 30/Paleo, but they are encouraged as a protein source on this program. Plus, my food sensitivity tests showed a sensitivity only to lima beans (!) and not other legume choices, so I will add them in slowly as needed for protein sources. Surprisingly white rice is also allowed. I asked about that since the nutritional wisdom is that white rice is not a preferred grain, but the dietitian said that for this detox they are trying to stick with things that are gentle on the digestive system. Meanwhile you don't have to eat everything that is allowed, so I am not sure about the rice. We'll see. I still have free will even though it is a program! LOL
So Day 1 has been a success even with the headache. She told me to expect the headache at the beginning (DUH... I've given up caffeine before so I was not surprised!) so I am not concerned by it.
Can't believe I am going to bed looking forward to my shakes tomorrow!
Nite!
Miriam
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
oh my oh my oh my
Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.
- Joanne Kathleen
- Joanne Kathleen
Just got back from the dietitian and wanted to report things as
clearly as I remember them.
First of all, some - but
not all - foods that I have already eliminated because of Paleo eating were on
the sensitivity list. Most (except gluten and corn, I think) can be
slowly reintroduced somewhere down the line. She said she can work with
me on a "modified Paleo" food plan - but that is WAY down the
line. Other foods that I did not expect on the sensitivity list were
dairy, mushrooms, cottage cheese (which for some reason is a separate category from dairy!), cashews, and many others. Not all were in the
same category so I guess the ones lower down can be reintroduced earlier or
eaten not every day. Case in point: Avocado is a category 1 (while corn
is a category 3) and it is something I eat EVERYDAY. I can still have it
but maybe only a 2-3 times during the week. Other foods (such as certain
fruits) I do not have a sensitivity to but they are really bad for my glucose
situation. And, speaking of which, even though I have not had gluten or
sugar in ages, my triglycerides are still close to 200 which she said
absolutely baffles her, leading her to think that some of my out-of-whack
numbers may very well be genetic.
Right now she wants me
to start on a 28-day detox diet. It will be shakes in addition to eating
certain foods. It seems as though it can be complicated (i.e., certain foods
allowed on days 1-6, others only on 7-10, etc,) but I am spending the afternoon
sorting it all out. The way she puts it is to think of the detox as
scrubbing bubbles for me cells. Once the fat cells are cleaned out they
can then be collapsed by dieting. I will always have them, but cleaning
them out first will make me way less weight-loss resistant as I have thought I
am. (But the dieting and fat cells are beside the point - because of my
levels of inflammation markers such a detox will also start to remove the
toxins that are causing such high inflammation.)
The foods I can eat
during this period is a HUGE list and I am sure I will not feel deprived at all
- except since I cannot have dairy or sweeteners, I am sad to say I will have
to say goodbye to my coffee since I do not drink it black. (I will have one last farewell cappuccino this afternoon...) I also have to
drink 70-80 oz of "legal" liquid a day. I'll manage - that is
really just 3 24 oz bottles of water which is practically nothing in a
day. I just will miss my coffee and soda.
She also said that she
thinks I am not eating enough !!!! Once the detox period is over we will
sit and actually talk about meal plans in terms of quantity and what it is I am
eating. Right now the next 30 days are not about weight loss - just
detoxing and eating healthy and not being hungry. She said though that it is
not unusual for her patients to lose anywhere from 5 pounds to 30 pounds
(hopefully I am in the latter category!).
Joe went with me, which
I am very grateful for, as this would have been WAY too much for me to
explain. Plus, I think it helped him to accept the detox phase instead of
poo-pooing it as nonsense. It did make him sad, though, that many of my
favorite foods are off the list - but she is Lebanese herself and gave him
great ideas for making things like tabouli, hommos, falafel, etc. safe for me
to eat. That was another reason I wanted him to go - to get good Lebanese
cooking advice that would help me out. He is thrilled, though, that fish
is the number one protein during this period - I always hate when he bring home
fish for dinner instead of a big juicy rib eye! LOL
Anyway - I am going to
try to blog about my experience daily - mostly so I can look back on it for my
own reference. But also, so it will help anyone else out who is taking this
route. (http://newkneenewme.blogspot.com)
So that's the story!
Miriam
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