Okay, it has been forever since I have written. I am about half way through the year and learned so much about food and mostly me. I'm failing miserably at eating the Word of Wisdom way. I just don't seem to be able to commit to it. By that I mean keeping it vegetarian. And yes, I know the Word of Wisdom is not totally about being a vegetarian, on the contrary. But I believe it IS about making meat more of a condiment than a main course. I am eating much, much less meat and have a higher consciousness of NOT eating meat. I think I've done well with that. But I have learned so much about me through this journey and that has been the best part so far. We are all works in progress and I'm still trying to figure it all out.
Talk to you soon.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Day 54 - March 6, 2010
It's been a long time since I've written. I'm still at it. In fact it seems like old news. I haven't noticed any real benefits because I can't seem to keep at it without slipping here or there, just a wee bit, from time to time.
A week ago, I had company, and trying to use up the meat in my freezer, I made a weekend full of meat meals. I only had a little bit. I never really "pigged" (ha) out on any of the meaty stuff, but I did have a little.
It is interesting to me when I look back on my life. For so many years, eating nutritionally meant having a good serving of meat, a salad, a cooked vegetable and a serving of fruit. I thought I was being a good wife and mother if I served my family a meal like that. And I was a really good provider if I made a dessert each night. I fed my family that way day after day and year after year for a very long time. I still find myself reverting back to those habits from time to time. At least my thoughts wander over that way.
To eat the way I am eating now would have seemed so far out there. It would have been so extreme. But it seems so common sense and such an obvious choice to me now. I guess I have come a long way.
A week ago, I had company, and trying to use up the meat in my freezer, I made a weekend full of meat meals. I only had a little bit. I never really "pigged" (ha) out on any of the meaty stuff, but I did have a little.
It is interesting to me when I look back on my life. For so many years, eating nutritionally meant having a good serving of meat, a salad, a cooked vegetable and a serving of fruit. I thought I was being a good wife and mother if I served my family a meal like that. And I was a really good provider if I made a dessert each night. I fed my family that way day after day and year after year for a very long time. I still find myself reverting back to those habits from time to time. At least my thoughts wander over that way.
To eat the way I am eating now would have seemed so far out there. It would have been so extreme. But it seems so common sense and such an obvious choice to me now. I guess I have come a long way.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Days 38-41 - Feb. 18-21, 2010
I went out of town. I stayed with my daughter and I did pretty well. I ate with them and tried not to over indulge. I did make one huge blunder. I went to a fast food drive through and caved when I was really hungry. I didn't suffer any major reprecussions other than emotionally feeling like I let myself down.
Yesterday, I started again in earnest. I'm feeling better than ever!
Yesterday, I started again in earnest. I'm feeling better than ever!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Day 37 - Feb. 17, 2010
I know this is so boring. I wish I hadn't told anyone I was journeling about this. Today, I had the turkey dinner leftovers (I sent all the rest of the leftovers home with my family, but kept one plateful). I couldn't finish it. It made me kind of sick. So I threw most of it away. Even the stuffing just didn't do it for me. So I had something much more healthier, a hot dog. Ack! And meanwhile two bags of salad are rotting in the frig. What is up with that? Sometimes, somedays, I just feel kind of hopeless.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Days 33-36 - Feb.13 - 16, 2010
I've been pretty busy lately. I haven't written in awhile. I made a big turkey dinner for Valentine's Day. It seemed appropriate. I loved the smell in the house and it reminded me of many happy times feasting around a table with loved ones, laughing and talking...
My granddaughter said it was sad that a turkey had to die for us to have it for dinner. I thought she was really right about that. What used to be my favorite meal was not such a pleasure this time. All I tasted was grease and all I could think of was that poor turkey living in some dark barn somewhere, never having any life at all so I could cook him up someday. I felt heavy and weighed down. I felt kind of sick after indulging in that meal although I really only took just a little meat.
In the beginning when I contemplated becoming a vegetarian or vegan, I always considered it the healthiest way to eat. I didn't care so much about the suffering of animals. I didn't think about that at all. But now, when I want to eat meat, I see all that suffering and cruelty and think I really don't want to be a part of that anymore. Not only is it not healthy to eat meat, I believe, it just isn't morally right either.
My granddaughter said it was sad that a turkey had to die for us to have it for dinner. I thought she was really right about that. What used to be my favorite meal was not such a pleasure this time. All I tasted was grease and all I could think of was that poor turkey living in some dark barn somewhere, never having any life at all so I could cook him up someday. I felt heavy and weighed down. I felt kind of sick after indulging in that meal although I really only took just a little meat.
In the beginning when I contemplated becoming a vegetarian or vegan, I always considered it the healthiest way to eat. I didn't care so much about the suffering of animals. I didn't think about that at all. But now, when I want to eat meat, I see all that suffering and cruelty and think I really don't want to be a part of that anymore. Not only is it not healthy to eat meat, I believe, it just isn't morally right either.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Day 32 - Feb. 12, 2010
Okay, so I had some meat today. Horrors! I had company and had to use up my turkey in the freezer. So I chopped it up really fine and mixed it in a gravy. I definitely can say I ate the meat sparingly so that was good. That meal was a real comfort food kind of meal. I don't really care anymore if I go without meat. I haven't craved a big juicy hamburger for quite a while. (ever since I started making my own veggie burgers, that is a blessing) Mashed potatoes with turkey and gravy is a real tastebud pleasing meal but I just felt bloated and uncomfortable afterwards. That is one thing, when I eat mostly fruits and veggies I never have that weighed down feeling. I always have more energy and feel lighter...all over.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Day 31 - Feb. 11, 2010
One of the things that impresses me about the Word of Wisdom is the use of the word "thanksgiving."
D&C 89 : 11 states, ..."all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."
D&C 89:12 says, ..."I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving..."
We must always remember to give thanks.
When I am in a group of people and it is time to eat, I always make sure we say a prayer. But when I am alone, I forget...a lot. That is so sad and I need to do better about that. Clearly it has been commanded that we eat with thanksgiving. Always, always we need to remember exactly where all this wonderful food came from and who is responsible for giving it to us. It is a very important part of eating.
D&C 89 : 11 states, ..."all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."
D&C 89:12 says, ..."I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving..."
We must always remember to give thanks.
When I am in a group of people and it is time to eat, I always make sure we say a prayer. But when I am alone, I forget...a lot. That is so sad and I need to do better about that. Clearly it has been commanded that we eat with thanksgiving. Always, always we need to remember exactly where all this wonderful food came from and who is responsible for giving it to us. It is a very important part of eating.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Day 30 - Feb. 10, 2010
Well, my water stopped coming. I was washing dishes and it just fizzled to nothing. Oops! Kind of scary. Yep, and that left me in a rather down mood. After ranting and raving (sorry Caitlyn) for just a little while I finally settled my brain on what to do with the matter and resolved myself to let happen what will happen. There were some positives about that. My pump had been abnormal for awhile and needed some attention anyway. It happened early enough in the week that I can hopefully get it taken care of by the weekend. And next week my income tax return comes so I can actually pay for it. Not exactly where I wanted my money to go right now, but at least I have some to pay for it. Whew!
Despite the immediate trial, I was pretty good to myself. I had my monthly visiting teaching get together and served some of the chocolate chip cookies I had made for Mon. night. I didn't eat any of them. The rest sat on the counter and stared at me all day. I was really tempted. I should have put them away but I was just a little rebellious and so I did the stare-down with those cookies all day. And my common sense won out for once. I did not partake of them, not a crumb, although the battle raged on all day. They are still sitting there waiting for my grandchildren.
I tried really hard not to let my emotions effect my eating. I did better than I expected. I ate an apple with peanut butter late in the evening which I had decided was a no-no for me. But it wasn't something so terribly bad for me. (I had gotten rid of that stuff earlier this week - Ha!)
I finished some things that needed to be done, that didn't take water. I got my new library book and just tried to relax and go with the flow, well, lack of flow. (:
Despite the immediate trial, I was pretty good to myself. I had my monthly visiting teaching get together and served some of the chocolate chip cookies I had made for Mon. night. I didn't eat any of them. The rest sat on the counter and stared at me all day. I was really tempted. I should have put them away but I was just a little rebellious and so I did the stare-down with those cookies all day. And my common sense won out for once. I did not partake of them, not a crumb, although the battle raged on all day. They are still sitting there waiting for my grandchildren.
I tried really hard not to let my emotions effect my eating. I did better than I expected. I ate an apple with peanut butter late in the evening which I had decided was a no-no for me. But it wasn't something so terribly bad for me. (I had gotten rid of that stuff earlier this week - Ha!)
I finished some things that needed to be done, that didn't take water. I got my new library book and just tried to relax and go with the flow, well, lack of flow. (:
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Day 29 - Feb. 9, 2010
Something in me snapped today. I don't know why. I got up early and started with a small amount of oatmeal that boiled over and made a mess on the stove. It was a job to clean it up and I was short on time. That kind of set the tone for the day, unfortunately...maybe? I went to volunteer at the art park again. I did some dorky stuff there which she said helped her out enormously. Well, that would be nice, if it did. I came home in another snow storm, but it wasn't bad. I missed the sunshine though and felt a kind of heaviness. I was starved when I got home and reached for the bread sticks I had made earlier this week, dipping them in the leftover pizza sauce. They tasted so yummy and it was downhill from there. I don't know why this day brought on the never ending eating but for some reason it just did. I went to bed after discovering that I had no water (I think my pump died) and with an extremely full tummy. Yup, I finished off the cheesecake. It was just too good and I was too selfish to leave it for the company coming this weekend. ARGH!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Day 28 - Feb. 8, 2010
So 28 days makes four weeks which makes, technically speaking, one month. Yay, for me! I am patting myself on the back because I am so much happier eating this way. I feel better although I do not see any HUGE differences. My weight is not coming down very fast but we all know why that is. Too much intake. (And I'm still eating fats, like butter and cheese.)
When I contemplated eating this way a long time ago, I was so discouraged about never having sweets again. (I love sweets and I know that is NOT a part of the WoW, letter of the law-wise) I just didn't think I could go for the whole package because I could not see myself never having something special at my birthday/holidays, etc. Well, I have been making treats for Family Home Evening and I am getting some fantastic desserts made with agave. I still should not eat a lot of it but I can have some without the guilt trip that usually accompanies such a treat. Last night I made New York style cheesecake and it was as good as any I've ever eaten in a restaurant. It was fabulous. So my list lengthens, adding one more yummy thing I don't have to ever give up!
When I contemplated eating this way a long time ago, I was so discouraged about never having sweets again. (I love sweets and I know that is NOT a part of the WoW, letter of the law-wise) I just didn't think I could go for the whole package because I could not see myself never having something special at my birthday/holidays, etc. Well, I have been making treats for Family Home Evening and I am getting some fantastic desserts made with agave. I still should not eat a lot of it but I can have some without the guilt trip that usually accompanies such a treat. Last night I made New York style cheesecake and it was as good as any I've ever eaten in a restaurant. It was fabulous. So my list lengthens, adding one more yummy thing I don't have to ever give up!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Day 27 - Feb. 7, 2010
We had company for dinner. Caitlyn requested sloppy joe's for dinner. I didn't want the meat so I made veggie burgers. They started with lentils and I added onions, mushrooms, garlic, spinach, bread crumbs, walnuts, pepper, dry mustard. I was a little disappointed that they didn't stay together a little better, but I really liked the taste of them. And it was very filling. I made enough to freeze individual patties. When I get the urge for a hamburger, I'll just pull one out and heat it up. I am so happy about that. Everything else we had for dinner was "legal" (cucumbers, green beans, french fries - not too many) and I felt totally satisfied with my meal.
Because I am again having family home evening at my house tomorrow, I made a New York style cheesecake for tomorrow. It took a long time to cook but was an easy recipe to make. Caity and I snuck a tiny sliver just to see if it was any good. Oh man, I'm going to love this. The thing I really like about it is that it is made with agave. So it is legal for me. I'm going to take my dehydrated raspberries and make a little sauce with it to drizzle over the top. Yum!
Because I am again having family home evening at my house tomorrow, I made a New York style cheesecake for tomorrow. It took a long time to cook but was an easy recipe to make. Caity and I snuck a tiny sliver just to see if it was any good. Oh man, I'm going to love this. The thing I really like about it is that it is made with agave. So it is legal for me. I'm going to take my dehydrated raspberries and make a little sauce with it to drizzle over the top. Yum!
Day 26 - Feb. 6, 2010
Now I feel alive again. It is like coming out of a hibernation of sorts. I didn't realize how the winter weather has confined me so much. In past years, I've walked outside through all kinds of weather. But where I live now, I am surrounded by heavily traveled roads and because of the snow, there are no shoulders to walk on, too dangerous. All of the nature trails are covered with so much snow they are impassable. So I have stayed in my house fighting my battle with food.
Today however, I volunteered at Legacy Art Park at Crystal Mountain. They were having a snowshoe event and I helped out. It was very cold and the wind was bitter, but the sun was shining and the sky was a perfect happy blue and it felt sooooooo good. It was so good for my soul and body. Near the end of my duty I took off on my snow shoes and hiked the trails. The sculptures were fun to see and the up and down of the trails were a workout on those thing-a-ma-jobbies. (: I came home happy that I had found such a fun place, helped out a worthy cause, gotten a little workout, and fed my nature hungry soul.
Didn't think about food. I passed up the hot chocolate and donuts. I made it home to eat a wholesome healthy lunch. Wahoooo! And at dinner time I made a fabulous veggie pizza and ate half of what I wanted to eat. Not a bad day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today however, I volunteered at Legacy Art Park at Crystal Mountain. They were having a snowshoe event and I helped out. It was very cold and the wind was bitter, but the sun was shining and the sky was a perfect happy blue and it felt sooooooo good. It was so good for my soul and body. Near the end of my duty I took off on my snow shoes and hiked the trails. The sculptures were fun to see and the up and down of the trails were a workout on those thing-a-ma-jobbies. (: I came home happy that I had found such a fun place, helped out a worthy cause, gotten a little workout, and fed my nature hungry soul.
Didn't think about food. I passed up the hot chocolate and donuts. I made it home to eat a wholesome healthy lunch. Wahoooo! And at dinner time I made a fabulous veggie pizza and ate half of what I wanted to eat. Not a bad day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Day 25 - Feb. 5, 2010
To be honest with you I can't remember what I ate or even how I felt yesterday. Ha! Actually, I think that is a good thing because it means food wasn't my whole life...yesterday. I think part of this emotional bond I have with food will change as I get out and do more. I'm home a lot which I love, but food is always available and in my face (literally). Yesterday, I had more to do and didn't think so much about this whole aspect of my life. Hurray...moving right a long, getting closer and closer to who I want to be.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Day 24 - 2010
I'm losing the weight loss battle. Bread is my new enemy. I had some french bread last weekend that was so amazingly good. I couldn't stop eating it (horrors - white flour). And a few days ago, I had a craving for more. I have this mistaken mentality that for some reason I deserve to eat stuff like that because after all, I'm giving up sugar and meat and all that other bad stuff.... So I went to the store and found some pumpernickel bread (my favorite) and there sitting along side it was some marked down sour dough bread, a real deal. I bought it and now I have consumed most of the whole loaf. My regular healthy whole wheat bread has been in the frig for a long time because I eat a slice every once in awhile. But the artisan bread, I eat like an addict. I think I can eat the whole grains because they are so filling so I don't need to eat as much of them. And they are healthier for me anyway. What was I thinking? Okay, I just shouldn't allow that white stuff in the door.
Enemy number two is that I can't throw stuff away. Like when the kids come up I try to have them take the leftovers home but when stuff is left, I can't throw it away. I know I shouldn't eat the whole loaf of sour dough bread but it is wasteful to throw it away, I know it is waist filling. It goes against my "children are starving around the world so clean your plate" mentality. It is too wasteful. I really need to trash that stuff and get it out of my sight.
Maybe I'm being a might too hard on myself. But that white flour IS sugar when it hits the system. I've given up bagels for the same reason - pure sugar. This surely won't harm me forever although the scales are something I don't want to face for awhile after this white bread fiasco.
Enemy number 3 is portion control. If I can get a handle on these three things - certain foods, getting rid of (throwing stuff away) the tempting foods, and portion control, I'll be on my way. I'm sure of it.
I was watching Oprah yesterday, catching up on some of the stuff I have recorded. She had two very good shows, one with Michael Pollan (Food, Inc.) and one all about diabetes with Dr. Oz and others. They both supported what I'm doing. It is always nice to hear it from outside sources. I wanted to write them and tell them about the Word of Wisdom.
Michael Pollan eats all foods but he is very careful to find out where they come from. He eats meat that eats the stuff they were meant to eat (grass fed, etc.) and not the meat that sits in dark barns gobbling up antibiotics and stuff to make them get so fat, so quick, that they can't even support their own weight. Anyway, he summed it all up in seven words - "Eat food, mostly plants, not too much!"
Another support to my way of life.
She also had an actress, Alicia Silverstone ("Clueless"), who had written a cookbook, "The Kind Diet." She went cold turkey(ha) on a vegan diet. She told about how her complexion cleared up and that her eyes got clear. She reported so many benefits of this way of life. (All vegans will tell you that.) It got me thinking again. How far can I go with this diet of mine?
I felt better, almost immediately, when I ate only raw foods. Is that what I need to do? Forever?
I want to lose weight. Dr. Oz said that your waist size should be at least half the size of your height. I'm 5'5" (65 " tall) so my waist should be no bigger than 32.5. He said diabetes type 2 disappears at that size and if it is more than that you are at risk.
Lots to think about here. I just need to get really and truly committed to a life style and get some self discipline going. I need to be tough and get this job done!!! Here's when the temptation to self loathe comes in. I hate it when I fail!!! I just can't seem to get a handle on this. Last year I lost weight by eating meat and all kinds of things that I don't believe are as healthy as my diet is today, and yet this year I can't seem to shake off the pounds at all.
EAT LESS
EAT SMART
EAT THE RIGHT THINGS
EAT TO LIVE NOT LIVE TO EAT
QUIT EATING BY 7:00
These are my personal rules. But Michael Pollan says it perhaps best.
"EAT FOOD, MOSTLY PLANTS, NOT TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Enemy number two is that I can't throw stuff away. Like when the kids come up I try to have them take the leftovers home but when stuff is left, I can't throw it away. I know I shouldn't eat the whole loaf of sour dough bread but it is wasteful to throw it away, I know it is waist filling. It goes against my "children are starving around the world so clean your plate" mentality. It is too wasteful. I really need to trash that stuff and get it out of my sight.
Maybe I'm being a might too hard on myself. But that white flour IS sugar when it hits the system. I've given up bagels for the same reason - pure sugar. This surely won't harm me forever although the scales are something I don't want to face for awhile after this white bread fiasco.
Enemy number 3 is portion control. If I can get a handle on these three things - certain foods, getting rid of (throwing stuff away) the tempting foods, and portion control, I'll be on my way. I'm sure of it.
I was watching Oprah yesterday, catching up on some of the stuff I have recorded. She had two very good shows, one with Michael Pollan (Food, Inc.) and one all about diabetes with Dr. Oz and others. They both supported what I'm doing. It is always nice to hear it from outside sources. I wanted to write them and tell them about the Word of Wisdom.
Michael Pollan eats all foods but he is very careful to find out where they come from. He eats meat that eats the stuff they were meant to eat (grass fed, etc.) and not the meat that sits in dark barns gobbling up antibiotics and stuff to make them get so fat, so quick, that they can't even support their own weight. Anyway, he summed it all up in seven words - "Eat food, mostly plants, not too much!"
Another support to my way of life.
She also had an actress, Alicia Silverstone ("Clueless"), who had written a cookbook, "The Kind Diet." She went cold turkey(ha) on a vegan diet. She told about how her complexion cleared up and that her eyes got clear. She reported so many benefits of this way of life. (All vegans will tell you that.) It got me thinking again. How far can I go with this diet of mine?
I felt better, almost immediately, when I ate only raw foods. Is that what I need to do? Forever?
I want to lose weight. Dr. Oz said that your waist size should be at least half the size of your height. I'm 5'5" (65 " tall) so my waist should be no bigger than 32.5. He said diabetes type 2 disappears at that size and if it is more than that you are at risk.
Lots to think about here. I just need to get really and truly committed to a life style and get some self discipline going. I need to be tough and get this job done!!! Here's when the temptation to self loathe comes in. I hate it when I fail!!! I just can't seem to get a handle on this. Last year I lost weight by eating meat and all kinds of things that I don't believe are as healthy as my diet is today, and yet this year I can't seem to shake off the pounds at all.
EAT LESS
EAT SMART
EAT THE RIGHT THINGS
EAT TO LIVE NOT LIVE TO EAT
QUIT EATING BY 7:00
These are my personal rules. But Michael Pollan says it perhaps best.
"EAT FOOD, MOSTLY PLANTS, NOT TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Day 23 - Feb.3, 2010
I've been at this 3 weeks. I'm not so sure I'm seeing any real results as far as health issues go (although I am losing less hair- yay!). I think you can eat all the right things and still not be healthy if you over do it. I mean too much of anything is usually a bad thing. Yah, I don't think too much praying would be so bad. (: There are obvious exceptions to that rule. Too much kindness? Mmmm, going to have to ponder those issues later.
You see, in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 11 it says, "...all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."
In the thesaurus it uses these synonyms for prudence: good judgment, common sense, farsightedness, caution, carefulness, good management, careful budgeting, sparingness, thrifty.
I have to believe Heavenly Father never intended for his children to binge on food. We have been told many times to be temperate, using moderation as our guidance.
1 Cor. 9:25 - "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things."
Alma 7:23 - "And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."
I love that last scripture in particular. It really says it all, the perfect list of what we need to do to be happy and return home to Heavenly Father. Note that temperance is a part of that.
Then in D&C 59:16-20 we read (I'll just give you some of the highlights), "Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, ... Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion."
Okay, it is really a matter of common sense to use prudence when we eat. Don't over do it. That can be wasteful and harmful to everyone. I think I understand that. Giving up meat is not nearly as hard as giving up eating too much. How sad that food has become such an enemy to me and my waistline. It was never supposed to be like that.
I am realizing that the real issues and lessons to be learned here for me are not what I originally expected. I thought when I started this that giving up meat would be the hardest part for me. I really love meat. But giving up meat (for every meal), drugs, alcohol, smoking, coffee, tea? Not a big deal ! Giving up those big, filling portions - difficult and oh so important. I'm working on that. All day, I looked at food and the amount I wanted to take. Then I dished myself up half of that. I'm afraid in some cases, it was still too much. I gave into my urges a couple of times, too much soup, too much popcorn, but it's a turn in the right direction.
You see, in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 11 it says, "...all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."
In the thesaurus it uses these synonyms for prudence: good judgment, common sense, farsightedness, caution, carefulness, good management, careful budgeting, sparingness, thrifty.
I have to believe Heavenly Father never intended for his children to binge on food. We have been told many times to be temperate, using moderation as our guidance.
1 Cor. 9:25 - "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things."
Alma 7:23 - "And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."
I love that last scripture in particular. It really says it all, the perfect list of what we need to do to be happy and return home to Heavenly Father. Note that temperance is a part of that.
Then in D&C 59:16-20 we read (I'll just give you some of the highlights), "Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, ... Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion."
Okay, it is really a matter of common sense to use prudence when we eat. Don't over do it. That can be wasteful and harmful to everyone. I think I understand that. Giving up meat is not nearly as hard as giving up eating too much. How sad that food has become such an enemy to me and my waistline. It was never supposed to be like that.
I am realizing that the real issues and lessons to be learned here for me are not what I originally expected. I thought when I started this that giving up meat would be the hardest part for me. I really love meat. But giving up meat (for every meal), drugs, alcohol, smoking, coffee, tea? Not a big deal ! Giving up those big, filling portions - difficult and oh so important. I'm working on that. All day, I looked at food and the amount I wanted to take. Then I dished myself up half of that. I'm afraid in some cases, it was still too much. I gave into my urges a couple of times, too much soup, too much popcorn, but it's a turn in the right direction.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Day 22 - Feb.2, 2010
So... following the Word of Wisdom is easy-peasy now. Nothing really to add today. I did well. I seem to do really well portion wise and otherwise until night time. Then I just sort of eat...well...too much. I'm working on that.
Not to bore you, but I had a grapefruit, part of a banana, a bean and cheese quesadilla (sp) with some homemade guacamole (just mashed the avocado and added onions and garlic salt/powder). It was a very tasty day! Oh yah, cookies. (:
Not to bore you, but I had a grapefruit, part of a banana, a bean and cheese quesadilla (sp) with some homemade guacamole (just mashed the avocado and added onions and garlic salt/powder). It was a very tasty day! Oh yah, cookies. (:
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Day 21 - Feb. 1, 2010
It is no big deal to stay on the Word of Wisdom. I've made that a habit and a way of life. I am not struggling at this point to live this way and I am happy and content. A few years ago (and many years ago) this lifestyle would have been so radical to me. But now it is as normal a way of life as breathing. I still battle with urges for thick grilled hamburgers, but even that is lessening. I am also very comfortable doing without sugar. I have been using agave as a sweetener and have been looking for recipes that actually turn out as good as the sugar ones. The only problem I have is that sometimes I over do it, eating too many of them. I have this mind set that says because they are healthier for me, I should have as many as I want. MISTAKE! I have got to work on that...portions Pam, portions!! So as far as diet goes, I feel really good about what I'm eating.
Today marked one month of trying to eat a healthier way and trying to lose weight. I have lost a total of 11.5 lbs which means that I have lost 6.1% of my weight. I'll take that, but now comes the difficult task and that is to eat less than my body uses. I need to figure out how to eat the correct portions and then I think I'll be on my way.
Yesterday, we had Family Home Evening at my house for everyone in the area. My job was to make the treat. I made a brownie cake, cut it in small squares and drizzled chocolate frosting all over it. They said they were really good. I don't know because I didn't have any. Yay! I had just a few leftover so I'm thinking they told the truth. I also made a healthier treat for those of us who don't want to indulge in sugar. I'd like to share that recipe. I was pretty proud of myself because I tweaked it a little and it turned out better than expected. The recipe called for canola oil and it said that the cookies should turn out to be crunchy. I don't like crunchy cookies so I substituted coconut oil (the consistency of shortening) for half of it. They were so good and chewy. Now mind you my older grandchildren did not like these, but my 1 yr old grandchild gobbled them up and loved them. They got rave reviews from the adults, so here it is:
Oatmeal Cookies w/ dried fruit, nuts and agave
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup spelt flour(whole wheat or oat flour)
1 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup coconut (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup dried cranberries (You could use any dried fruit, I used dried cherries.)
1/2 cup agave
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 - 1/2 cup nuts (I used walnuts.)
Mix dry ingredients together, add dried fruit, mix, add liquids and mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
***Note - I doubled this recipe and added one egg and about 1/2 - 3/4 cup more flour. I kind of played with it a little til I thought it was the right consistency. It worked really well. They came out perfectly!!!!
Today marked one month of trying to eat a healthier way and trying to lose weight. I have lost a total of 11.5 lbs which means that I have lost 6.1% of my weight. I'll take that, but now comes the difficult task and that is to eat less than my body uses. I need to figure out how to eat the correct portions and then I think I'll be on my way.
Yesterday, we had Family Home Evening at my house for everyone in the area. My job was to make the treat. I made a brownie cake, cut it in small squares and drizzled chocolate frosting all over it. They said they were really good. I don't know because I didn't have any. Yay! I had just a few leftover so I'm thinking they told the truth. I also made a healthier treat for those of us who don't want to indulge in sugar. I'd like to share that recipe. I was pretty proud of myself because I tweaked it a little and it turned out better than expected. The recipe called for canola oil and it said that the cookies should turn out to be crunchy. I don't like crunchy cookies so I substituted coconut oil (the consistency of shortening) for half of it. They were so good and chewy. Now mind you my older grandchildren did not like these, but my 1 yr old grandchild gobbled them up and loved them. They got rave reviews from the adults, so here it is:
Oatmeal Cookies w/ dried fruit, nuts and agave
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup spelt flour(whole wheat or oat flour)
1 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup coconut (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup dried cranberries (You could use any dried fruit, I used dried cherries.)
1/2 cup agave
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 - 1/2 cup nuts (I used walnuts.)
Mix dry ingredients together, add dried fruit, mix, add liquids and mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
***Note - I doubled this recipe and added one egg and about 1/2 - 3/4 cup more flour. I kind of played with it a little til I thought it was the right consistency. It worked really well. They came out perfectly!!!!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day 20 - Jan. 31, 2010
My grandchildren love pancakes and waffles so this morning we all worked together to create some super healthy all grain waffles. I have the cutest waffle maker that makes heart shaped waffles. They love that. I left off the syrup and went with butter, treating the waffle more like toast than what it really was.
And next came the potluck. I was careful to eat a small scoop of soup. The Elders insisted that I try their offering and so I ended up taking a small ladle of three different types. One was a mushroom barley soup that I enjoyed a lot. All of the soups had meat in them but the nice thing about that, is that a portion of meat in a big pot of soup turns out to be very small. You can enjoy the taste meat brings into the bowl of soup without gorging on the meat itself. Yum! Someone made a fantastic salad with feta cheese, dried fruit, nuts, etc. It was amazing and I had several modest servings of that as well.
Weight-wise, I blew it on the bread. I love bread and the whiter the better. (Being somewhat of a nutritional nut that makes me feel so sinful to say.) I only eat whole wheat at home, except for the garlic bread I have occasionally, but the white bread is so good tasting. My waistline is going to suffer significantly tomorrow when I weigh in on my 1 month doing the diet day. Argh!
My daughter made fajitas for dinner. I skipped the meat and took the rice, black beans, cheese and guacamole on a whole wheat shell. It was oh so good and satisfying and this time I stopped when I wanted more. I tried to drink a lot in the evening (water) to satisfy any urges to eat something I shouldn't.
All in all, it was a Word of Wisdom kind of day. That makes me happy. I still need to work on portion control. I am not an active person in the winter. I really don't do enough exercise to burn many calories at all. In the warmer months I walk a lot. I am always out strolling the nature trails and beach.
This morning I weighed myself and was so sad to see the scale sitting on the exact numbers it had the week before. Even after eating those days of raw foods. I was really surprised. The only thing I know to do is work hard at limiting my food intake. If I can't eat healthy raw foods and lose the weight, what chance do I have???? Because I'm getting older I don't see myself doing wild and crazy work outs, but maybe I can...naw...don't think that will happen. The losing weight part of this diet isn't happening like I hoped it would - heaven help me!
And next came the potluck. I was careful to eat a small scoop of soup. The Elders insisted that I try their offering and so I ended up taking a small ladle of three different types. One was a mushroom barley soup that I enjoyed a lot. All of the soups had meat in them but the nice thing about that, is that a portion of meat in a big pot of soup turns out to be very small. You can enjoy the taste meat brings into the bowl of soup without gorging on the meat itself. Yum! Someone made a fantastic salad with feta cheese, dried fruit, nuts, etc. It was amazing and I had several modest servings of that as well.
Weight-wise, I blew it on the bread. I love bread and the whiter the better. (Being somewhat of a nutritional nut that makes me feel so sinful to say.) I only eat whole wheat at home, except for the garlic bread I have occasionally, but the white bread is so good tasting. My waistline is going to suffer significantly tomorrow when I weigh in on my 1 month doing the diet day. Argh!
My daughter made fajitas for dinner. I skipped the meat and took the rice, black beans, cheese and guacamole on a whole wheat shell. It was oh so good and satisfying and this time I stopped when I wanted more. I tried to drink a lot in the evening (water) to satisfy any urges to eat something I shouldn't.
All in all, it was a Word of Wisdom kind of day. That makes me happy. I still need to work on portion control. I am not an active person in the winter. I really don't do enough exercise to burn many calories at all. In the warmer months I walk a lot. I am always out strolling the nature trails and beach.
This morning I weighed myself and was so sad to see the scale sitting on the exact numbers it had the week before. Even after eating those days of raw foods. I was really surprised. The only thing I know to do is work hard at limiting my food intake. If I can't eat healthy raw foods and lose the weight, what chance do I have???? Because I'm getting older I don't see myself doing wild and crazy work outs, but maybe I can...naw...don't think that will happen. The losing weight part of this diet isn't happening like I hoped it would - heaven help me!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Day 19 - Jan. 30, 2010
My resolve to eat only raw foods vanished today, as I made my favorite soup. I had company and a potluck to prepare for on Sunday. All of a sudden, the raw foods craze disappeared as quickly as it had begun. Ha! I laugh at myself.
Well, here's the thing. We all know how serious these potlucks are. I mean, come on, your next calling could depend on just how good that dish is. Just kidding. You do gain in stature and respect though, if you bring something praiseworthy or of good report. (: Which means all recipes must be tasted before you can allow the winds of critical dining to have at it. So I sacrificed my raw food diet for the promise, well hope of being accepted at church with my soup offering. I know that sounds all wrong but in my little branch these 5th Sunday potlucks are BIG!
So I made the chicken with wild rice soup. I made some without the chicken for myself, but it definitely took me off raw foods. I must admit it was a good way to end my short term lifestyle. I'll be back to the raw food diet soon though, because I really liked eating that way.
Other than that, I'm still full steam (ahhhh, love those hot soups) ahead on eating the Word of Wisdom way!
Well, here's the thing. We all know how serious these potlucks are. I mean, come on, your next calling could depend on just how good that dish is. Just kidding. You do gain in stature and respect though, if you bring something praiseworthy or of good report. (: Which means all recipes must be tasted before you can allow the winds of critical dining to have at it. So I sacrificed my raw food diet for the promise, well hope of being accepted at church with my soup offering. I know that sounds all wrong but in my little branch these 5th Sunday potlucks are BIG!
So I made the chicken with wild rice soup. I made some without the chicken for myself, but it definitely took me off raw foods. I must admit it was a good way to end my short term lifestyle. I'll be back to the raw food diet soon though, because I really liked eating that way.
Other than that, I'm still full steam (ahhhh, love those hot soups) ahead on eating the Word of Wisdom way!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Why eat just raw foods?
That is a very good question. I think mostly I'm doing it just to see what it's like and how I feel. I'm curious to see how it affects me. I think it is a healthy way to cleanse my body and after the horrible-ness I put my body through over the holidays, my body could use a cleanse.
I doubt that Joseph Smith, who received the Word of Wisdom, ate a raw diet. Frankly, I don't know if he ate meat sparingly. In those days, it would have been nearly impossible to eat a raw diet for obvious reasons. And I'm not trying to say that is what the Word of Wisdom says we should do, although eating raw foods certainly does not conflict with the Word of Wisdom.
Today, because of advanced technology, things are totally different. I've read a few books about eating raw foods and the benefit of this kind of diet. There are more and more scientific studies out there to support this diet as a nutritionally sound way to go. Personally, I just don't want to do it forever. I think there is a balance out there and that is the Word of Wisdom. Simply put, for whomever is interested, here are the reasons I am eating raw:
* I am curious about it
* To cleanse my body
* Maybe it will help me kick start my weight loss (one can only hope)
* Clear my head of bad food cravings
* Simplify my meals
* Eat things more in a way God intended his foods to be eaten (my opinion)
Now I understand to really, really accomplish these goals I should probably eat this way for a much longer time than I am actually going to do it. But I have to say for the few days I've been eating this way - I feel great! I've noticed that I never feel sluggish. I feel rather perky. (: I feel clear headed and not so weighed down. And I like this way of eating.
Just so you know, I don't think I will ever be a fanatic about these diets. I'll never be one of those who looks down on others for eating meat or rants and raves when offered a meat dish about the dangers of eating meat. I just want to put an end to my own personal craziness about food and I'm trying with all my heart to find out what is the truth here. I believe and have a testimony that the Word of Wisdom is true. We are to eat plant based foods and we are to eat meat sparingly (you will have to interpret that yourself). My son told me (he works for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) that many of the general authorities are vegetarian. They just quietly, not making a big deal about it, request those meals at functions. I believe that great benefits come from eating this way. I think it really is that easy. So that's what I'm after in the long run. That is the way I'll be eating for the rest of my life and I'm comfortable with that. I'm really happy about that. That's why I'm taking this year to study and work at this diet.
In time though, I think I would become bored with eating all my food raw. And right now, on this snowy, blowy, oh so cold winter day, a hot cup of vegetable soup sounds really good. I'll be starting to re-introduce those wonderful grains soon and I'm looking forward to it.
Again, thanks for asking the question, keep them coming...
I doubt that Joseph Smith, who received the Word of Wisdom, ate a raw diet. Frankly, I don't know if he ate meat sparingly. In those days, it would have been nearly impossible to eat a raw diet for obvious reasons. And I'm not trying to say that is what the Word of Wisdom says we should do, although eating raw foods certainly does not conflict with the Word of Wisdom.
Today, because of advanced technology, things are totally different. I've read a few books about eating raw foods and the benefit of this kind of diet. There are more and more scientific studies out there to support this diet as a nutritionally sound way to go. Personally, I just don't want to do it forever. I think there is a balance out there and that is the Word of Wisdom. Simply put, for whomever is interested, here are the reasons I am eating raw:
* I am curious about it
* To cleanse my body
* Maybe it will help me kick start my weight loss (one can only hope)
* Clear my head of bad food cravings
* Simplify my meals
* Eat things more in a way God intended his foods to be eaten (my opinion)
Now I understand to really, really accomplish these goals I should probably eat this way for a much longer time than I am actually going to do it. But I have to say for the few days I've been eating this way - I feel great! I've noticed that I never feel sluggish. I feel rather perky. (: I feel clear headed and not so weighed down. And I like this way of eating.
Just so you know, I don't think I will ever be a fanatic about these diets. I'll never be one of those who looks down on others for eating meat or rants and raves when offered a meat dish about the dangers of eating meat. I just want to put an end to my own personal craziness about food and I'm trying with all my heart to find out what is the truth here. I believe and have a testimony that the Word of Wisdom is true. We are to eat plant based foods and we are to eat meat sparingly (you will have to interpret that yourself). My son told me (he works for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) that many of the general authorities are vegetarian. They just quietly, not making a big deal about it, request those meals at functions. I believe that great benefits come from eating this way. I think it really is that easy. So that's what I'm after in the long run. That is the way I'll be eating for the rest of my life and I'm comfortable with that. I'm really happy about that. That's why I'm taking this year to study and work at this diet.
In time though, I think I would become bored with eating all my food raw. And right now, on this snowy, blowy, oh so cold winter day, a hot cup of vegetable soup sounds really good. I'll be starting to re-introduce those wonderful grains soon and I'm looking forward to it.
Again, thanks for asking the question, keep them coming...
Day 18 - Jan. 29, 2010
Today is my 3rd day of eating raw. I thought it would be much harder than it actually is. Today, I wasn't so hungry. I didn't feel the urge to eat most of the day. Maybe that was because of the limited fresh/raw food I had. Ha! I found myself not thinking about food as much. I certainly had no cravings. I did want to change things up a bit so I decided to make this recipe which I found on therawdessert.com. It was a brownie recipe made from nuts. It even had a frosting made from cashews. I was so curious about it and today seemed a good day to try them. They turned out really good. No, they were not like regular brownies, but they were chocolate-y and very good. The consistency of desserts like these are almost more like candy because you don't cook them. They were so rich I could only stomach a few. I made another large salad for dinner and was perfectly satisfied. I must say I ended the day with three more brownie bites and applauded myself for a successful day.
I did jog again but my knee was bothering me and I had quite a few interruptions so I don't know how good of a workout I really got. I'm concerned about my knee, but as I get more weight off, I think it will make a huge difference.
I did jog again but my knee was bothering me and I had quite a few interruptions so I don't know how good of a workout I really got. I'm concerned about my knee, but as I get more weight off, I think it will make a huge difference.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wahooooooooooo!!!
I am so excited!!!
Something just happened that I can hardly believe. I just took a shower. No, that is not the miracle, ha. But what is a miracle (or close to it for me) is that my hair didn't fall out so much. Maybe that is no big deal to the world of thick haired people, but to me that is HUGE! For years I've been losing a lot of hair when I take a shower. And it got so bad one time (over the holidays) that I would run my hand through my hair as I was showering and gobs came out in my hand. It choked up the drain so that the water couldn't get through, always. I used to have so much thicker hair and now it is so thin, especially on the sides that, well let's just say - it is very sad.
But today, I had a tiny bit of hair in the drain after my shower and I didn't have to remove hair several times during my shower to let the water drain out. Wahooooo!
I don't know why this is and whether I will be able to keep more of my lovely locks in the future. Maybe it is because I'm not so horribly stressed out right now and maybe it is because I'm feeling more positive about life. Or maybe it is because I'm eating so much better. It is probably a combination of all of those things. But it must be I'm on the right track. I have heard over and over that hair and nails are a good indication of one's general health.
Now if I can just grow back what I lost, I might be able to have a pony tail once in awhile this summer. Oh, the possibilities are endless - Yay!
Something just happened that I can hardly believe. I just took a shower. No, that is not the miracle, ha. But what is a miracle (or close to it for me) is that my hair didn't fall out so much. Maybe that is no big deal to the world of thick haired people, but to me that is HUGE! For years I've been losing a lot of hair when I take a shower. And it got so bad one time (over the holidays) that I would run my hand through my hair as I was showering and gobs came out in my hand. It choked up the drain so that the water couldn't get through, always. I used to have so much thicker hair and now it is so thin, especially on the sides that, well let's just say - it is very sad.
But today, I had a tiny bit of hair in the drain after my shower and I didn't have to remove hair several times during my shower to let the water drain out. Wahooooo!
I don't know why this is and whether I will be able to keep more of my lovely locks in the future. Maybe it is because I'm not so horribly stressed out right now and maybe it is because I'm feeling more positive about life. Or maybe it is because I'm eating so much better. It is probably a combination of all of those things. But it must be I'm on the right track. I have heard over and over that hair and nails are a good indication of one's general health.
Now if I can just grow back what I lost, I might be able to have a pony tail once in awhile this summer. Oh, the possibilities are endless - Yay!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Day 17 - Jan. 28, 2010
I won't go into all the boring details of what I ate today. Pretty much I ate just like yesterday. I ate all raw, except for those canned peaches, peanut butter and the salad dressing I used tonight on my salad. I felt really good. I was able to jog for 50 minutes today. I still think I got a good workout because I could feel it in my legs and I was really sweaty. Ha!
I don't think I am going to be able to keep with the raw only diet for long though. It just isn't economical right now for me to do that. I need to add some frozen foods and grains to stretch the raw stuff out a bit. I'm going through my supplies pretty fast. I'll see how that goes.
My salad tonight had a tomato and an avocado on it. I need to work on recipes for healthier salad dressings. I used a ranch dressing tonight which wasn't so good for me, but it sure was tasty!
All in all, I am pleasantly surprised how satisfied I feel. I don't feel any cravings or like I'm missing out on anything. I do feel full and fulfilled. Yeah, I know, I'm only on day two of raw food. It will be interesting to see if it gets easier or harder and more boring.
One of the things I love about this way of eating is the ease of preparing my food. There is virtually little if any clean up and it is just a matter of chopping and putting stuff together. How easy is that? My concern is that I would really get tired of eating this way. I need to do some more research on raw food recipes. But the studying I have done, calls for dehydrators and some other gadgets that I can't afford right now. Ho hum, I'll just make due as best I can. I know Heavenly Father made this diet for everyone not just the rich among us.
I don't think I am going to be able to keep with the raw only diet for long though. It just isn't economical right now for me to do that. I need to add some frozen foods and grains to stretch the raw stuff out a bit. I'm going through my supplies pretty fast. I'll see how that goes.
My salad tonight had a tomato and an avocado on it. I need to work on recipes for healthier salad dressings. I used a ranch dressing tonight which wasn't so good for me, but it sure was tasty!
All in all, I am pleasantly surprised how satisfied I feel. I don't feel any cravings or like I'm missing out on anything. I do feel full and fulfilled. Yeah, I know, I'm only on day two of raw food. It will be interesting to see if it gets easier or harder and more boring.
One of the things I love about this way of eating is the ease of preparing my food. There is virtually little if any clean up and it is just a matter of chopping and putting stuff together. How easy is that? My concern is that I would really get tired of eating this way. I need to do some more research on raw food recipes. But the studying I have done, calls for dehydrators and some other gadgets that I can't afford right now. Ho hum, I'll just make due as best I can. I know Heavenly Father made this diet for everyone not just the rich among us.
Day 16 - Jan. 27, 2010
Today I began eating just raw foods. Well, as close to raw as I could. For breakfast I had a banana and a spinach shake.
2 big handfuls of spinach
1 can of peaches in pear juice
2 c. water
I added a little too much spinach because there wasn't very much of a peach taste to it, but I drank it anyway and it wasn't bad. But I didn't have fresh peaches so that was the one thing all day that didn't fall in the "fresh" category.
After that I got busy with my day and in the mid afternoon I felt really hungry. Now I can't afford a lot of fresh food. I mean I bought bags of salad and a big bag of spinach, celery, carrots, 1 green pepper, red onions, 2 cucumbers, a few apples, some tangelos, oranges and grapefruit. Those are just the average everyday kind of fruits and veggies, nothing fancy.
So my fear was how to get some substance. Without grains, bread, crackers (I try to keep some whole grain crackers around for munching and snacking), oatmeal, rice, etc. I am worried I'll never feel satisfied eating this way. I ended up having an apple with my natural peanut butter (the other not fresh thing that I ate). The apple was amazing (thank heavens) and I love my peanut butter. After that, I was feeling full and very satisfied.
I took off to run some errands. I got home after 6:00 but wasn't particularly hungry feeling and not really looking forward to dinner. I decided I would have a salad and that just didn't sound so good to me. Boring...
But then I started pulling out anything I could find that I normally don't put in my salads. I took an apple and sliced almonds and lots of onion and then the other obvious veggies. My salad was delicious and very satisfying. It turned out a little bigger than I needed. It took me forever to eat it all, but that's not so bad. I really did enjoy it. Surprised the heck out of me. Ha!
I went to bed feeling better physically and emotionally. Not a bad reward for giving up all the "good stuff" for a day.
Oh and I jogged on my little tramp. I remembered that it usually took 30 min. to run 2 miles and so that is what I did. I noticed if I jogged moving my legs in the same position that I would have outside on the road, I got a great workout. I was all sweaty and had to work on my breathing. It was more normal to lift my knees and I had to keep correcting myself to go back to a jogging stance. I really felt it in my legs. I also held weights for part of it. I am going pretty easy to see how my knees do. We'll see, but it is a start. Yay!
My new motto --- Fifty-nine and lookin' fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 big handfuls of spinach
1 can of peaches in pear juice
2 c. water
I added a little too much spinach because there wasn't very much of a peach taste to it, but I drank it anyway and it wasn't bad. But I didn't have fresh peaches so that was the one thing all day that didn't fall in the "fresh" category.
After that I got busy with my day and in the mid afternoon I felt really hungry. Now I can't afford a lot of fresh food. I mean I bought bags of salad and a big bag of spinach, celery, carrots, 1 green pepper, red onions, 2 cucumbers, a few apples, some tangelos, oranges and grapefruit. Those are just the average everyday kind of fruits and veggies, nothing fancy.
So my fear was how to get some substance. Without grains, bread, crackers (I try to keep some whole grain crackers around for munching and snacking), oatmeal, rice, etc. I am worried I'll never feel satisfied eating this way. I ended up having an apple with my natural peanut butter (the other not fresh thing that I ate). The apple was amazing (thank heavens) and I love my peanut butter. After that, I was feeling full and very satisfied.
I took off to run some errands. I got home after 6:00 but wasn't particularly hungry feeling and not really looking forward to dinner. I decided I would have a salad and that just didn't sound so good to me. Boring...
But then I started pulling out anything I could find that I normally don't put in my salads. I took an apple and sliced almonds and lots of onion and then the other obvious veggies. My salad was delicious and very satisfying. It turned out a little bigger than I needed. It took me forever to eat it all, but that's not so bad. I really did enjoy it. Surprised the heck out of me. Ha!
I went to bed feeling better physically and emotionally. Not a bad reward for giving up all the "good stuff" for a day.
Oh and I jogged on my little tramp. I remembered that it usually took 30 min. to run 2 miles and so that is what I did. I noticed if I jogged moving my legs in the same position that I would have outside on the road, I got a great workout. I was all sweaty and had to work on my breathing. It was more normal to lift my knees and I had to keep correcting myself to go back to a jogging stance. I really felt it in my legs. I also held weights for part of it. I am going pretty easy to see how my knees do. We'll see, but it is a start. Yay!
My new motto --- Fifty-nine and lookin' fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Days 12-15, Jan.23-26, 2010
Oh good gracious! No one really cares about the boring aspects of this diet. I don't either except that it needs to be said what a horrible job for the most part I am doing at this way of life. (:
I've been busy so I haven't entered data or feelings in awhile. Let me just get this out of the way. So I can remember and document.
On day 12 I had my first totally meatless day. Wahoo! My son in law brought home a Pizza Hut pizza for dinner which reminded me, sadly I admit, just how good life can be. It is my favorite brand of pizza due to its flaky but greasy yummy crust. Boy do I love that stuff. It was a mushroom pizza and it was fantastic. My mouth waters and I want to run right out and get another one.
The 13th day was a Sunday and after church I grabbed my three granddaughters and rushed to the airport to pick up their mommy. Oh course, about 5 minutes on the road, Maddie said she had to go to the bathroom reeeeeeeaaaaaaally badly but I couldn't stop and so after we picked up Megan we just had to stop at the golden arches so she could go. Meg hadn't eaten all day and was starved along with the rest of us. I had a cheeseburger. Again, my downfall. I love that fried value-less stuff that is NOT good for you. Guilt, deep abiding guilt and oh, how I have to repent about spending money on Sunday! But more about that later.
On the 14th day, I headed toward home stopping at another daughter's house so I could babysit for them and check in. You know, break up the long 2.5 hr. drive home. Ha! She made chili for dinner. I ended up fasting all day until that meal. I had the chili and a grilled cheese sandwich. I don't know how dangerous it is to have such emotional attachments to foods. Mmmm, grilled cheese and soup of any kind are definitely comfort foods for me. I just don't have the same feelings toward bananas and grapefruit, try as I may. Well, the chili didn't have a lot of meat in it so I feel like that wasn't too bad and to be honest the chili was spicy, just right and so good! I loved it.
That leaves the 15th day. I wrestled all day with the impulse to go out to eat. I wanted another hamburger so badly. I was traveling home and had to stop and shop for food (healthy) and so I wasn't home until after the dinner hour. I ate a late breakfast which consisted of salad and 1/2 a peanut butter sandwich (whole wheat bread and natural peanut butter - the only kind I'll eat, just so you know). So I felt like I had done well for the day and deserved to eat out...just one more time. It is always "just one more time."
Then as I was driving and thinking, I realized that as much as my head tells me this is the right thing to do and my heart is pretty close to backing it up, I haven't really committed to this lifestyle. Not really. Still, after all the studying and praying and pondering, it is difficult to do this 100%. I am sorry to say that I have not been totally honest with myself. What is obvious now to see is that I still long for the other foods and don't really want to live this lifestyle. What I want is an easy fix and to be able to do whatever I want to do with no consequences at all. I want to eat chocolate and hamburgers and pie and cookies and meat and potatoes and look skinny and feel fine and be healthy. I'm just not wanting to do what it takes to make a real difference here. So sad, but so true.
And yet, I see a woman standing just over there. She is the person I want to be. She IS healthy and she DOES eat what is good for her body. She DOES exercise and she is happy, really happy.
So what I realized, as I was driving yesterday, is that in so many aspects of our lives we have no control. Eating whatever I want seems to give me control and lets me do whatever I want but in reality eating and binging and letting my emotions take control of my eating habits is not having control but is chaos. Having control over my emotional eating and setting boundaries for myself in this regard will give me the freedom and liberation I am really after. Does that make sense?
I have fooled myself into believing that doing whatever I want is real freedom, but it isn't, not really, no way.
Getting control over my emotional eating is freedom because it will lead me to my best self, the person standing just over there that I really want to be and she is unstoppable. She can do anything. She can withstand all the foods that make her sick to death!
So...after I thought about that I realized how disappointed I would be if I caved into those cravings. I thought about the setback of one more day unrealized. Then I started thinking about what I could replace those cravings with. I thought about all the alternatives. Macaroni and cheese, another comfort food for me, sounded so good and it was meatless, although not particularly healthy but better than a hamburger, fries and all the other fast food choices. I told myself to hang on and when I got home I would let myself have macaroni and cheese. I continued my travels confident that I had at least fought this battle and won, that today I could count myself one more day closer to becoming "her."
I've been busy so I haven't entered data or feelings in awhile. Let me just get this out of the way. So I can remember and document.
On day 12 I had my first totally meatless day. Wahoo! My son in law brought home a Pizza Hut pizza for dinner which reminded me, sadly I admit, just how good life can be. It is my favorite brand of pizza due to its flaky but greasy yummy crust. Boy do I love that stuff. It was a mushroom pizza and it was fantastic. My mouth waters and I want to run right out and get another one.
The 13th day was a Sunday and after church I grabbed my three granddaughters and rushed to the airport to pick up their mommy. Oh course, about 5 minutes on the road, Maddie said she had to go to the bathroom reeeeeeeaaaaaaally badly but I couldn't stop and so after we picked up Megan we just had to stop at the golden arches so she could go. Meg hadn't eaten all day and was starved along with the rest of us. I had a cheeseburger. Again, my downfall. I love that fried value-less stuff that is NOT good for you. Guilt, deep abiding guilt and oh, how I have to repent about spending money on Sunday! But more about that later.
On the 14th day, I headed toward home stopping at another daughter's house so I could babysit for them and check in. You know, break up the long 2.5 hr. drive home. Ha! She made chili for dinner. I ended up fasting all day until that meal. I had the chili and a grilled cheese sandwich. I don't know how dangerous it is to have such emotional attachments to foods. Mmmm, grilled cheese and soup of any kind are definitely comfort foods for me. I just don't have the same feelings toward bananas and grapefruit, try as I may. Well, the chili didn't have a lot of meat in it so I feel like that wasn't too bad and to be honest the chili was spicy, just right and so good! I loved it.
That leaves the 15th day. I wrestled all day with the impulse to go out to eat. I wanted another hamburger so badly. I was traveling home and had to stop and shop for food (healthy) and so I wasn't home until after the dinner hour. I ate a late breakfast which consisted of salad and 1/2 a peanut butter sandwich (whole wheat bread and natural peanut butter - the only kind I'll eat, just so you know). So I felt like I had done well for the day and deserved to eat out...just one more time. It is always "just one more time."
Then as I was driving and thinking, I realized that as much as my head tells me this is the right thing to do and my heart is pretty close to backing it up, I haven't really committed to this lifestyle. Not really. Still, after all the studying and praying and pondering, it is difficult to do this 100%. I am sorry to say that I have not been totally honest with myself. What is obvious now to see is that I still long for the other foods and don't really want to live this lifestyle. What I want is an easy fix and to be able to do whatever I want to do with no consequences at all. I want to eat chocolate and hamburgers and pie and cookies and meat and potatoes and look skinny and feel fine and be healthy. I'm just not wanting to do what it takes to make a real difference here. So sad, but so true.
And yet, I see a woman standing just over there. She is the person I want to be. She IS healthy and she DOES eat what is good for her body. She DOES exercise and she is happy, really happy.
So what I realized, as I was driving yesterday, is that in so many aspects of our lives we have no control. Eating whatever I want seems to give me control and lets me do whatever I want but in reality eating and binging and letting my emotions take control of my eating habits is not having control but is chaos. Having control over my emotional eating and setting boundaries for myself in this regard will give me the freedom and liberation I am really after. Does that make sense?
I have fooled myself into believing that doing whatever I want is real freedom, but it isn't, not really, no way.
Getting control over my emotional eating is freedom because it will lead me to my best self, the person standing just over there that I really want to be and she is unstoppable. She can do anything. She can withstand all the foods that make her sick to death!
So...after I thought about that I realized how disappointed I would be if I caved into those cravings. I thought about the setback of one more day unrealized. Then I started thinking about what I could replace those cravings with. I thought about all the alternatives. Macaroni and cheese, another comfort food for me, sounded so good and it was meatless, although not particularly healthy but better than a hamburger, fries and all the other fast food choices. I told myself to hang on and when I got home I would let myself have macaroni and cheese. I continued my travels confident that I had at least fought this battle and won, that today I could count myself one more day closer to becoming "her."
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Day 11 - Jan. 22, 2010
Wow, eleven days. I'm still eating too much meat. Right now I am taking care of my daughter's three girlies while she is at a conference far, far away. Because I am a guest in someone else's home I don't feel the freedom to change their diet to match mine.
It is so interesting to me because a few years ago I would have thought nothing of the diet they are on. Meat at every meal. It is the way I raised my family. I used to try to come up with some meatless meals once in awhile but for the most part mac and cheese was about all I could think of. Boy, have I changed.
So I have compromised my eating for this week. I have eaten a big salad before each meal and skipped the meat when possible. On this particular day the menu called for chicken rolls. I had never made them before. I used less than a cup of chicken for this recipe and chopped it very fine, then mixed it with onions and cream cheese. I wrapped it in those biscuits in a can and baked them perfectly to a golden brown. So the white, way over processed biscuits were a real no-no on top of the other. Well, you cover that in gravy and you've got a main dish. I have to say that all this processed stuff tastes mighty good. So sad. We had organic mixed veggies along with it and they tasted so fantastic to me. I think I could have feasted on that for most of my meal. I took a large portion of the veggies and ate that along with the salad first...slowly. I still managed to consume two of the chicken rolls. Too much food!!!!!
So my conclusion is that I have to do something quite drastic to get my portions under control. So here's what I'm going to do.
First, I'm going to fast for a day. And during that fast I will be praying and praying for help and inspiration. That will begin to shrink my stomach.
Second, for the next three days I am going to package all my meals in the morning for the whole day. When that food is gone, my eating is done for the day. And if I am tempted at night to eat, I'm just going to bed!!!
I have a potluck on Sunday so that kind of messes up what I want to do ultimately which is to eat all raw food for a week. I think that will automatically help me to limit my consumption. Maybe I'll just take a sack lunch with me to the potluck. (I hate potlucks) The only problem is that I have committed to bring my all time favorite soup to this social. I'm not sure my self discipline is strong enough yet to first make it and then watch everyone else devour it.
I am sure that Heavenly Father intended for us to eat foods as close to their natural state as possible, so I would like to be able to get as close to eating that way as possible. I want to see how I feel after just one week. Then the hope is that I will be able to continue.
My personal weight loss goal is to lose 2 pounds a week. If I can maintain that then I will be down to my goal weight by the end of June. (just in time for summer - yay!)
I started at 188, so I think I'm still on schedule. Whew!
After I get my portions more realistic and healthy, I'll start to concentrate on the physical exercise. For now, my head is so focused on the food, food, FOOD! (and yes, I do know that exercise is supposed to help with that, but for now...sometimes it is a horrible thing to have so much knowledge and to have a higher consciousness of right and wrong. Ahhh, to be ignorant and blissful again - HA!)
It is so interesting to me because a few years ago I would have thought nothing of the diet they are on. Meat at every meal. It is the way I raised my family. I used to try to come up with some meatless meals once in awhile but for the most part mac and cheese was about all I could think of. Boy, have I changed.
So I have compromised my eating for this week. I have eaten a big salad before each meal and skipped the meat when possible. On this particular day the menu called for chicken rolls. I had never made them before. I used less than a cup of chicken for this recipe and chopped it very fine, then mixed it with onions and cream cheese. I wrapped it in those biscuits in a can and baked them perfectly to a golden brown. So the white, way over processed biscuits were a real no-no on top of the other. Well, you cover that in gravy and you've got a main dish. I have to say that all this processed stuff tastes mighty good. So sad. We had organic mixed veggies along with it and they tasted so fantastic to me. I think I could have feasted on that for most of my meal. I took a large portion of the veggies and ate that along with the salad first...slowly. I still managed to consume two of the chicken rolls. Too much food!!!!!
So my conclusion is that I have to do something quite drastic to get my portions under control. So here's what I'm going to do.
First, I'm going to fast for a day. And during that fast I will be praying and praying for help and inspiration. That will begin to shrink my stomach.
Second, for the next three days I am going to package all my meals in the morning for the whole day. When that food is gone, my eating is done for the day. And if I am tempted at night to eat, I'm just going to bed!!!
I have a potluck on Sunday so that kind of messes up what I want to do ultimately which is to eat all raw food for a week. I think that will automatically help me to limit my consumption. Maybe I'll just take a sack lunch with me to the potluck. (I hate potlucks) The only problem is that I have committed to bring my all time favorite soup to this social. I'm not sure my self discipline is strong enough yet to first make it and then watch everyone else devour it.
I am sure that Heavenly Father intended for us to eat foods as close to their natural state as possible, so I would like to be able to get as close to eating that way as possible. I want to see how I feel after just one week. Then the hope is that I will be able to continue.
My personal weight loss goal is to lose 2 pounds a week. If I can maintain that then I will be down to my goal weight by the end of June. (just in time for summer - yay!)
I started at 188, so I think I'm still on schedule. Whew!
After I get my portions more realistic and healthy, I'll start to concentrate on the physical exercise. For now, my head is so focused on the food, food, FOOD! (and yes, I do know that exercise is supposed to help with that, but for now...sometimes it is a horrible thing to have so much knowledge and to have a higher consciousness of right and wrong. Ahhh, to be ignorant and blissful again - HA!)
Friday, January 22, 2010
Exercise
I HATE TO EXERCISE. Just let me repeat that. I HATE TO EXERCISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know that is a terrible thing to say, but I really do. And quite frankly I get kind of sick to my stomach when I hear others saying how much they love it. Well maybe not sick, just jealous. It took me a long time, months and months to actually get to the place that I loved to run. And I did get there...eventually. Ahhh, those were the good times. (And I am sure I was one of those obnoxious people because I couldn't stop talking about all the benefits and how wonderful it was to be running - so annoying to some, I am sure) I started running when I was 59 years old. I never, ever thought I could do that.
I was in UT visiting my oldest son and my next oldest son came for a visit. He told me I HAD to start running. I had never run in my whole life so at 59, well, that didn't seem to be the right time to start. But he got me out there and I thought I was going to die. Really, I couldn't get my breath and I thought that that residential subdivision would be the last view I had of life. But I didn't die. And he reminded me that I WAS breathing. Within weeks I was running a full mile without stopping and then shortly after, 2 miles! It was a miracle. I still hated to do it, but when I got done I felt incredible. Like I had accomplished the most fantastic and amazing thing. It was a real high. I felt so good about myself. I kept on running two miles a day and four miles once a week for a long time. Then my knee started to swell. It swelled up quite big and was painful. I had no choice but to stop. I waited for it to heal. It took a long time. I got out of the routine and was afraid it would cause permanent damage to begin again. So I haven't exercised for a long, long time, months.
Maybe I'm just lazy. I watch the "Biggest Loser" and watch them sweat and push through the pain and think, that does not look like fun.
Aw man, I have to get going on that aspect. And now it is winter and that makes walks near impossible where I live. You sow what you reap and I'm reaping a bigger tummy and thicker thighs - not exactly the look I'm after...
I was in UT visiting my oldest son and my next oldest son came for a visit. He told me I HAD to start running. I had never run in my whole life so at 59, well, that didn't seem to be the right time to start. But he got me out there and I thought I was going to die. Really, I couldn't get my breath and I thought that that residential subdivision would be the last view I had of life. But I didn't die. And he reminded me that I WAS breathing. Within weeks I was running a full mile without stopping and then shortly after, 2 miles! It was a miracle. I still hated to do it, but when I got done I felt incredible. Like I had accomplished the most fantastic and amazing thing. It was a real high. I felt so good about myself. I kept on running two miles a day and four miles once a week for a long time. Then my knee started to swell. It swelled up quite big and was painful. I had no choice but to stop. I waited for it to heal. It took a long time. I got out of the routine and was afraid it would cause permanent damage to begin again. So I haven't exercised for a long, long time, months.
Maybe I'm just lazy. I watch the "Biggest Loser" and watch them sweat and push through the pain and think, that does not look like fun.
Aw man, I have to get going on that aspect. And now it is winter and that makes walks near impossible where I live. You sow what you reap and I'm reaping a bigger tummy and thicker thighs - not exactly the look I'm after...
Day 10 - Jan. 21, 2010
Yesterday was kind of unusual because most days I do exceptionally well all day until dinnertime comes and then when I am assaulted by all the yumminess I am making for everyone else, I cave. But yesterday found me eating stuff I usually don't all day long and then at dinnertime I did pretty well although I have to admit I ate too much.
So I started out eating a grapefruit (good for me) and then Ally wanted some raisin bread. I decided to have one myself which started the ball rolling in the wrong direction. Maddie came in and wanted one too so I made one for her. Then Ally wanted another one (whoa, that is a lot for her, I thought to myself) and true to a women's disposition, she changed her mind. So of course I couldn't waste it and ate it myself. Already that was two pieces of bread.
Now wheat is for man, so the W.ofW. states but that bread is wheat and fat and sugar and lots of other things that are not so good for me. So an occasional piece of good for you whole wheat bread is perfectly fine, but cinnamon raisin toast with lots of melted yummy butter - I don't think so.
For lunch I had to make spaghetti noodles for Ally because she loves them and we had leftover spaghetti sauce. I thought of my childhood and the volumes of noodles I ate with parmesan cheese and butter. It called to me and I caved..again. The noodles were white and well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you how good that was for me.
Now dinner was going to be tacos. I skipped the taco meat and stuck with the beans and cheese. I also made healthy guacamole from scratch and I devoured that. The sad thing is that try as I may to put lots of lime or lemon juice with the avocado, I cannot stop the brown yuckiness from occurring. So I just made myself eat all the rest of that avocado.
I am somewhat limited of what I can eat here. I am a guest at someone else's home and I don't want to totally exclude myself from their white flour and processed food meals. I haven't quite found the strength to do that yet. I did come somewhat prepared and tried to bring some foods that I knew were "safe" for me to eat. But all and all I did good on some and I fell short on others. That seems to be kind of normal for me.
I'm getting closer to becoming who I want to be, though. I see the vision.
So I started out eating a grapefruit (good for me) and then Ally wanted some raisin bread. I decided to have one myself which started the ball rolling in the wrong direction. Maddie came in and wanted one too so I made one for her. Then Ally wanted another one (whoa, that is a lot for her, I thought to myself) and true to a women's disposition, she changed her mind. So of course I couldn't waste it and ate it myself. Already that was two pieces of bread.
Now wheat is for man, so the W.ofW. states but that bread is wheat and fat and sugar and lots of other things that are not so good for me. So an occasional piece of good for you whole wheat bread is perfectly fine, but cinnamon raisin toast with lots of melted yummy butter - I don't think so.
For lunch I had to make spaghetti noodles for Ally because she loves them and we had leftover spaghetti sauce. I thought of my childhood and the volumes of noodles I ate with parmesan cheese and butter. It called to me and I caved..again. The noodles were white and well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you how good that was for me.
Now dinner was going to be tacos. I skipped the taco meat and stuck with the beans and cheese. I also made healthy guacamole from scratch and I devoured that. The sad thing is that try as I may to put lots of lime or lemon juice with the avocado, I cannot stop the brown yuckiness from occurring. So I just made myself eat all the rest of that avocado.
I am somewhat limited of what I can eat here. I am a guest at someone else's home and I don't want to totally exclude myself from their white flour and processed food meals. I haven't quite found the strength to do that yet. I did come somewhat prepared and tried to bring some foods that I knew were "safe" for me to eat. But all and all I did good on some and I fell short on others. That seems to be kind of normal for me.
I'm getting closer to becoming who I want to be, though. I see the vision.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Day 9 - Jan. 20, 2010
My diet is not something I really want to have to think about all of the time. I don't want food to be on my mind ALL the time. I want to be that kind of person that has a casual relationship with food not hot and heavy with it all the time. I know it is the whole "eat to live not live to eat." That's what I'm striving for.
That is also one of the things I love the most about the Word of Wisdom. It puts food in the right perspective. I don't think God is very happy about the food industry. I don't think he likes all the preservatives and he must get a chuckle out of watching us eat things that are so commercially dictated with pictures of Dora and Spongebob. I mean puhleeeeeze...is that really food in the first place?
Just look at those beautiful fruits and veggies. They are the subject of great works of art and nothing can ever be so good, really!
Just to report...
I did fairly well again until the night time. I was so proud that I didn't eat much dinner (I made chicken divan). But later I had crackers and cheese and another bag of popcorn. I've got to STOP doing that.
That is also one of the things I love the most about the Word of Wisdom. It puts food in the right perspective. I don't think God is very happy about the food industry. I don't think he likes all the preservatives and he must get a chuckle out of watching us eat things that are so commercially dictated with pictures of Dora and Spongebob. I mean puhleeeeeze...is that really food in the first place?
Just look at those beautiful fruits and veggies. They are the subject of great works of art and nothing can ever be so good, really!
Just to report...
I did fairly well again until the night time. I was so proud that I didn't eat much dinner (I made chicken divan). But later I had crackers and cheese and another bag of popcorn. I've got to STOP doing that.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Day 8 - Jan. 19, 2010
Yesterday, I ate pretty well. I did have one piece of cherry pie, which Suz agreed upon. We went out for lunch and I actually ordered a salad. And I was so pleasantly surprised to find it was fantastic! So I didn't feel left out or deprived (there come those feelings again).
Today, I was feeling down and I so wanted to scarf down the rest of that pie, contest or no contest. I just wanted to eat and eat and eat. I wish that when I was depressed or down I had the opposite reaction to food. I wish I totally LOST my appetite, not found it as I do now! I even took the pie out of the frig and opened it up. My senses were accosted by the pleasant aroma of cherry pie and all the sentimental attachment to that lovely dessert played havoc with my resolve. I closed it up and gave Sonny an ultimatum to eat it or throw it out. Luckily, effentually, he put me out of my misery.
So I feasted on celery sticks with peanut butter and triscuits with pepper jack cheese and at night because I really thought I was going to go crazy, low fat microwave popcorn. Yeah, none of it was as good as that cherry pie smelled but it got me through. Sonny and I watched a movie that took my mind away from the food groups and that helped too. Whew!
I know this will get easier.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Today, I was feeling down and I so wanted to scarf down the rest of that pie, contest or no contest. I just wanted to eat and eat and eat. I wish that when I was depressed or down I had the opposite reaction to food. I wish I totally LOST my appetite, not found it as I do now! I even took the pie out of the frig and opened it up. My senses were accosted by the pleasant aroma of cherry pie and all the sentimental attachment to that lovely dessert played havoc with my resolve. I closed it up and gave Sonny an ultimatum to eat it or throw it out. Luckily, effentually, he put me out of my misery.
So I feasted on celery sticks with peanut butter and triscuits with pepper jack cheese and at night because I really thought I was going to go crazy, low fat microwave popcorn. Yeah, none of it was as good as that cherry pie smelled but it got me through. Sonny and I watched a movie that took my mind away from the food groups and that helped too. Whew!
I know this will get easier.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Day 7 - Jan. 18, 2010
I've been trying to eat the Word of Wisdom for one week and here is the wisdom I've gained in that short one week:
1) It is not hard physically but it is hard to eat this way emotionally.
I have emotional attachments to food. I believe with all my heart that the Word of Wisdom means to eat foods (as much as possible) in their most nutritious and natural state, like right off the vine and soon after they have been picked. I love hot food and processed food and fried food and...and... But it is so easy to pick up a banana, a pepper, etc. and eat it. Emotionally it just isn't as satisfying.
2) I don't listen to my body when it tells me it is full. I eat slowly enough to have the chance for my body to tell me when it is full but I don't listen to it. Again, it is an emotional thing.
3) Last Sunday we were learning about the creation in Sunday School class. I was fascinated by this scripture which further supports the Word of Wisdom: Moses 2: 29, "And I, God said unto man: Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which shall be the fruit of a tree yielding seed: to you it shall be for meat." It says the same thing in Genesis and Abraham.
4) Last but not least...This is definitely going to be an emotional journey for me, full of self examinations and hard won battles of mind over matter.
1) It is not hard physically but it is hard to eat this way emotionally.
I have emotional attachments to food. I believe with all my heart that the Word of Wisdom means to eat foods (as much as possible) in their most nutritious and natural state, like right off the vine and soon after they have been picked. I love hot food and processed food and fried food and...and... But it is so easy to pick up a banana, a pepper, etc. and eat it. Emotionally it just isn't as satisfying.
2) I don't listen to my body when it tells me it is full. I eat slowly enough to have the chance for my body to tell me when it is full but I don't listen to it. Again, it is an emotional thing.
3) Last Sunday we were learning about the creation in Sunday School class. I was fascinated by this scripture which further supports the Word of Wisdom: Moses 2: 29, "And I, God said unto man: Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which shall be the fruit of a tree yielding seed: to you it shall be for meat." It says the same thing in Genesis and Abraham.
4) Last but not least...This is definitely going to be an emotional journey for me, full of self examinations and hard won battles of mind over matter.
Day 6 - Jan. 17, 2010
Okay, so dinner party # 2 is over and I didn't do quite so well this time. Up until dinner time I did very well. And during the meal I DID so well! I filled my plate with a huge salad and it took me the entire dinner to eat it. But it wasn't filling...just some lettuce and veggies. I took a very little portion of lasagna and 1 piece of bread. I was pretty happy with myself. And then after everyone left I sat down with another modest piece of lasagna and another piece of bread. Argh! If I could just quit eating. Well, my pants are still tight and I'm dreading looking in any mirrors but for the most part I'm sticking with the Word of Wisdom. That is good. In fact, I feel like I have so many choices that I am not lacking with variety or bored with my eating. I've accepted that and feel so comfortable with my plant based diet. I'm pretty happy about that. I really want to get my weight down too, though, because I feel so much better at a lighter weight.
I know, I know I need to exercise and eat LESS! Ha!
I know, I know I need to exercise and eat LESS! Ha!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Day 5
Well dinner party #1 is over and I didn't do too badly. I decided to skip having dessert. It isn't good for any of us and I didn't feel like trying to do something healthy so that helped me stay a little closer to on track.
I made pot roast, one of my favorites and it went over well. It was great. I had a small portion of meat and the smallest potato I could find. I tried to have more green beans proportionately than any other parts of the meal. So all and all, I think it went okay.
I still feel so incredibly fat but I have to hang in there. One day at a time, right?
I made pot roast, one of my favorites and it went over well. It was great. I had a small portion of meat and the smallest potato I could find. I tried to have more green beans proportionately than any other parts of the meal. So all and all, I think it went okay.
I still feel so incredibly fat but I have to hang in there. One day at a time, right?
Day 4 - working it
I did so well. I enjoyed my food and thought consciously about what I was eating. That felt good and then as if I had won and been awarded some special prize that said "this will not count against you" came to me, I blew it at dinner.
We made pizza. I could eat pizza every night, I think, and still look forward to it the next day. I carefully made a pizza without meat. I piled the veggies on it, mushrooms, black olives, onions and green peppers. Mmmmm, it looked so yummy! I used less cheese than I usually do.
And then I spied the leftover dough. I grabbed it without waiting to examine my feelings or intentions and made it into a buttery, garlic, truly addictive pan of breadsticks. Yep, it done me in.
I could not get enough of it. I tried, but failed.
And when my own gorgeous pizza was done, I carefully cut off just a portion of it, being oh so careful not to overindulge. But I had waaaaaay too many breadsticks and then two extra slivers of pizza besides.
I came so far...to have botched it at the end. So I jogged on the mini trampoline for 30 minutes. I sure hope it helped.
We made pizza. I could eat pizza every night, I think, and still look forward to it the next day. I carefully made a pizza without meat. I piled the veggies on it, mushrooms, black olives, onions and green peppers. Mmmmm, it looked so yummy! I used less cheese than I usually do.
And then I spied the leftover dough. I grabbed it without waiting to examine my feelings or intentions and made it into a buttery, garlic, truly addictive pan of breadsticks. Yep, it done me in.
I could not get enough of it. I tried, but failed.
And when my own gorgeous pizza was done, I carefully cut off just a portion of it, being oh so careful not to overindulge. But I had waaaaaay too many breadsticks and then two extra slivers of pizza besides.
I came so far...to have botched it at the end. So I jogged on the mini trampoline for 30 minutes. I sure hope it helped.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Day 3 - Finding myself deep in meat
Today I face a new challenge. How to cook scrumptious meals without meat? I have company this weekend and because I don't have any good recipes that I know are presentable, I have returned to meat full meals. Ack!
So I made spaghetti with meat in it which in a few days I will make lasagna with. And tomorrow the Elders are coming over for dinner and I'm making pot roast.
In my defense, last night I ate a huge salad before I ate the spaghetti and that is what I will do with each of these meat full meals I'm making in the future. I have two different dinner parties this weekend. I've got to figure out some really, really good recipes (no fail) for when company comes over!
So I made spaghetti with meat in it which in a few days I will make lasagna with. And tomorrow the Elders are coming over for dinner and I'm making pot roast.
In my defense, last night I ate a huge salad before I ate the spaghetti and that is what I will do with each of these meat full meals I'm making in the future. I have two different dinner parties this weekend. I've got to figure out some really, really good recipes (no fail) for when company comes over!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Day 2 - Not such a good day
I'm really struggling today. I keep thinking about pizza. I want to run out and get one so badly. Ha! I don't know how I'm ever going to make it to day 365. I don't know what is wrong with me. I still haven't eaten anything that is not on the "should eat" list but I'm eating all the time. I can't seem to stop and my stomach is feeling the effect of that.
I think it is time to pray for some help and get back to my veggie soup.
I can't look too far into the future...I have to take this a day at a time. It is a huge deal to change a lifestyle. I've been eating the wrong things and the wrong way for over 50 yrs. A large part of that has been emotional, so to give it up is going to take some time and effort.
I still want to do it so badly. I want to be healthy, I want to be healthy, I want to be healthy, I want to be healthy...
Yeah, I want to be healthy!
I think it is time to pray for some help and get back to my veggie soup.
I can't look too far into the future...I have to take this a day at a time. It is a huge deal to change a lifestyle. I've been eating the wrong things and the wrong way for over 50 yrs. A large part of that has been emotional, so to give it up is going to take some time and effort.
I still want to do it so badly. I want to be healthy, I want to be healthy, I want to be healthy, I want to be healthy...
Yeah, I want to be healthy!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What to Eat ---- Day 1
I studied the Word of Wisdom and did some research online. I have a lot more of studying and praying to do. I'm not finished with that aspect of this program. But for now it is pretty straight forward.
ANYTHING THAT IS EDIBLE AND HEALTHY AND IS PLANT BASED IS FOR US TO EAT.
Really it is that simple.
All wholesome herbs
Every herb in the season thereof
Every fruit in the season thereof
Flesh of the beasts and of the fowls of the air...sparingly...used only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
All grain, to be the staff of life
Fruit of the vine, whether in the ground or above the ground
Wheat for man
And it is repeated several times that these are to be used with thanksgiving!
So like I said, plants - pretty much anything edible that is not poisonous.
Well, that leaves me with a lot of variety.
I am thinking also, that the more raw plants I can eat the better that will be for me. I need to eat them in their most nutritious and natural state. I need to start sprouting. I know that if you can eat plants that are alive you can get the most nutrition out of them.
I can see a few problems here for me personally. I like hot food and that isn't as healthy. But this is certainly going to be easy to prepare and shop for.
Years ago, my husband and I studied with a clinic of Seventh Day Adventists. They have a unique diet also. They told us that they try to eat as they would have in the Garden of Eden. They believe that someday they will be back in that kind of environment, like that is what heaven will be like so they need to practice eating like that now. I have never forgotten that. It makes sense.
So how did I do today? I did well as far as the kind of food I ate. But as far as weight reduction goes I ate far too much.
For breakfast I had 1/2 a peanut butter sandwich. (that was natural pb on whole wheat bread)
For lunch I had 2 bowls of homemade vegetable soup (it has a little bit of beef in it) and whole wheat bread and multi grain crackers.
For dinner I had salad greens with some cheese and celery with peanut butter and raisins. I also had some almond butter.
I really ate way too much. I need to work on proportion size and shrink my stomach.
I also need to pray and think about dairy products. There are tons of research out there that says it is very bad for you. I have cut out milk as a drink, but giving up eggs, cheese and butter are difficult for me. I have heard one opinion that part of the reason eating animals is against the word of wisdom is because animals have souls. Well, using their milk and by-products from that doesn't seem wrong then. But if it is unhealthy for me, I need to find a way to give it up. For now, however, I don't see a need for that. I'll keep thinking about that one.
I feel much more at peace for eating like this. I don't carry the guilt of fueling my body with a bunch of junk. I have decided to try to eat at home this year and not go out for meals. I'm not sure I can do that, but I will at least limit my meals out. That has always been one of my favorite things to do so that is a big sacrifice for me. The other thing is I've decided to do is go to bed earlier. I think this will help my night time eating habits. I get tired and tend to fall asleep in the evening anyway. Why not just go to bed? I am starting tonight. To bed by 9:00. And I will make myself get up when I wake up!
So much of this has to do with making plans. When I know I may be in a tricky situation I merely need to bring my food with me. Like those birthday parties, I brought my own sugar free cookies. It worked really well.
That's it for now. See you tomorrow.
Heaven help me...
ANYTHING THAT IS EDIBLE AND HEALTHY AND IS PLANT BASED IS FOR US TO EAT.
Really it is that simple.
All wholesome herbs
Every herb in the season thereof
Every fruit in the season thereof
Flesh of the beasts and of the fowls of the air...sparingly...used only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
All grain, to be the staff of life
Fruit of the vine, whether in the ground or above the ground
Wheat for man
And it is repeated several times that these are to be used with thanksgiving!
So like I said, plants - pretty much anything edible that is not poisonous.
Well, that leaves me with a lot of variety.
I am thinking also, that the more raw plants I can eat the better that will be for me. I need to eat them in their most nutritious and natural state. I need to start sprouting. I know that if you can eat plants that are alive you can get the most nutrition out of them.
I can see a few problems here for me personally. I like hot food and that isn't as healthy. But this is certainly going to be easy to prepare and shop for.
Years ago, my husband and I studied with a clinic of Seventh Day Adventists. They have a unique diet also. They told us that they try to eat as they would have in the Garden of Eden. They believe that someday they will be back in that kind of environment, like that is what heaven will be like so they need to practice eating like that now. I have never forgotten that. It makes sense.
So how did I do today? I did well as far as the kind of food I ate. But as far as weight reduction goes I ate far too much.
For breakfast I had 1/2 a peanut butter sandwich. (that was natural pb on whole wheat bread)
For lunch I had 2 bowls of homemade vegetable soup (it has a little bit of beef in it) and whole wheat bread and multi grain crackers.
For dinner I had salad greens with some cheese and celery with peanut butter and raisins. I also had some almond butter.
I really ate way too much. I need to work on proportion size and shrink my stomach.
I also need to pray and think about dairy products. There are tons of research out there that says it is very bad for you. I have cut out milk as a drink, but giving up eggs, cheese and butter are difficult for me. I have heard one opinion that part of the reason eating animals is against the word of wisdom is because animals have souls. Well, using their milk and by-products from that doesn't seem wrong then. But if it is unhealthy for me, I need to find a way to give it up. For now, however, I don't see a need for that. I'll keep thinking about that one.
I feel much more at peace for eating like this. I don't carry the guilt of fueling my body with a bunch of junk. I have decided to try to eat at home this year and not go out for meals. I'm not sure I can do that, but I will at least limit my meals out. That has always been one of my favorite things to do so that is a big sacrifice for me. The other thing is I've decided to do is go to bed earlier. I think this will help my night time eating habits. I get tired and tend to fall asleep in the evening anyway. Why not just go to bed? I am starting tonight. To bed by 9:00. And I will make myself get up when I wake up!
So much of this has to do with making plans. When I know I may be in a tricky situation I merely need to bring my food with me. Like those birthday parties, I brought my own sugar free cookies. It worked really well.
That's it for now. See you tomorrow.
Heaven help me...
Monday, January 11, 2010
Heaven help me!
Okay, so I'm no nutritionist or dietitian. I'm just an ordinary person that has had a weight problem most of my life. Since my wedding day and after having six children, I gained a total of 83 lbs. I've lost some of that, thankfully, over the last 5 years, but I still feel like a total failure in this aspect of my life. I have bought diet books and videos and DVDs of most every diet on the market over the years. Nothing has worked permanently for me. My story is no different than so many others. What is different about my story from many others is that all this time I have had a diet available to me that I have totally overlooked and ignored.
Today I turn to my scriptures. I am turning to the place I should have been looking all along; Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89. In this section you will find the Lord's diet and there are some pretty amazing promises at the end of it.
I am challenging myself to live this diet (I"ll call it the Mormon Diet) for one year. I am using this year to see if the promises are real and if I can finally get to that place I have always longed to be: HEALTHY!
Step One-
Study, ponder and pray about this important scripture to receive as much inspiration as I can about what I should eat.
I'll be making a list tomorrow.
A few stats...
I am 5' 5.5"
I weigh 188 lbs.
I have diabetes, a few allergies (dust, mold), otherwise in good health
Last spring I began running/jogging but in Aug. my knee started swelling up so I haven't done much exercise since.
I'm 59 years old.
I'm currently unemployed. I used to be a stay at home mom and then a teacher.
I have six children/13 grandchildren
I am single (been single for 14 yrs.)
I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 32 years.
Now, today the challenge begins.
Can I stay on the Lord's diet for 1 year and will I be blessed with the promises listed in Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants????
Today I turn to my scriptures. I am turning to the place I should have been looking all along; Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89. In this section you will find the Lord's diet and there are some pretty amazing promises at the end of it.
I am challenging myself to live this diet (I"ll call it the Mormon Diet) for one year. I am using this year to see if the promises are real and if I can finally get to that place I have always longed to be: HEALTHY!
Step One-
Study, ponder and pray about this important scripture to receive as much inspiration as I can about what I should eat.
I'll be making a list tomorrow.
A few stats...
I am 5' 5.5"
I weigh 188 lbs.
I have diabetes, a few allergies (dust, mold), otherwise in good health
Last spring I began running/jogging but in Aug. my knee started swelling up so I haven't done much exercise since.
I'm 59 years old.
I'm currently unemployed. I used to be a stay at home mom and then a teacher.
I have six children/13 grandchildren
I am single (been single for 14 yrs.)
I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 32 years.
Now, today the challenge begins.
Can I stay on the Lord's diet for 1 year and will I be blessed with the promises listed in Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants????
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