Well, we all have to start somewhere. And then we start. And then we stop.
I am starting again. I have gained new information. I have a different outlook. I feel good.
On Sep 3rd I started a new journey. I went against all that I know and tried something totaly new to me. I started attending a month long class on whole-food plant-based eating. That means no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no fish. It also means no processed foods (as much as possible), no added sugar, no added fat. WHAT??!! Give up meat???? I love BACON!!! I love to stop on Sat morning to pick up a half order of biscuits and gravy from the gas station deli, and throw in a side of thick sliced bacon with that.... I LOVE MEAT!!! But I didn't feel good. I felt like crap all the time. I knew that I needed a change and I felt that change was with my food. So I went all out... dropped meat, sugar, processed food cold turkey and didn't look for substitues. Ok, I admit that I still have a spoon of sugar and creamer in my coffee, but I am limiting myself to 3 cups a day which is down from 6-8. And I have not eliminated ALL processed foods, but I have stopped eating a lot of foods. I feel great. I was amazed at how 1 month of changing my eating could make me feel so much better, and drop 9 lbs, and lower my colesterol!! But I will admit it has been a challenge. I have to actually think about what I am going to eat. I eat a lot of beans, greens, and grains. And beans can take a while to cook (yes I can buy a can, but it costs more and has a HUGE sodium content). And those grains need time to cook too. But they are oooh soooo gooood! I am learing a new way to cook. I am trying different recipes and some are just gross!
People say "Oh, your going vegan" I say "no, while I not eating meat, I am also cutting out the processed foods". It's kinda hard to explain, and was difficult to grasp but I guess it is meatless clean eating? What I do know it that as I start the dietbet, I am down from the 205 lbs I was on Sep 3rd.
I know I'm rambling, but oh well. When we had class discusion on how the change was going and how could we change our favorite meal to fit our new way of eating, I came with a different approach. I didn't look for substitues, I just don't eat that food anymore. Take for example cheese, there are plenty of vegan cheeses out there, but I don't use them. My mouth will tell my brain that it is not real cheese and then I will be disapointed and crave cheese. I don't crave candy like I used to. I eat a TON of food... cause it digests easily and fuels my body!
Watch "Fed up' "Hungry for a Change" "Forks over Knives" "Fat, sick and nealy dead" they are good movies to help change your way of thinking.
Read "Whole" and "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell.
Look into Dr. John Mcgougall (he has a whole website).
Brandy