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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, February 8, 2010
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!
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