Hi everyone! It's now been 3 big weeks since starting out. I'm over the detox. I'm over the flu. I'm over sugar and caffeine. I'm not over grains though. I found I can't not have some grains in my life and function normally. So, rice, rye bread, gluten free bread, spelt, quinoa and oats in porridge are still on the menu. Just not so much anymore. So, what's been happening? Well, I've lost 3.5 kilos and seem to be fitting into my size 14 clothes comfortably which I'm happy about. My sleep patterns vary. I'm very sleepy by 8pm, but it's a natural sleepiness. My body aches and pains, including back pain have all gone. I'm exercising every day again - something new though, I've stopped jogging and started aerobics and weights and exercise biking. It's getting cold and dark in Lobethal now, so I've switched to an indoor routine. I've got enough energy to enjoy a 40 min workout from 7am - 7.40am and love the energy it gives me all day. I've got no sugar cravings at all. I've cooked a few dextrose and glucose recipes, like chocolate cake, pancakes, and fudge which all worked. So you don't have to give up cooking treats on this diet. Except that I find them too sweet now and easy to over indulge on. But even with the dextrose powder, it's too sweet for my retrained taste buds. I ate too much bread and cheese last week and quickly felt bloated. So this week I'm definitely cutting out the bread. This sugar free diet says you can eat butter and full-fat milks as this helps regulate your appetite better than eating low fat foods. But I know that I still have to go very easy on them as my fat cells are already full!! So I am still buying full fat lactose free milk and full fat malt free soy milk, just not having more than a glass a day. I cook my meals in a little butter or olive oil, but not too much! I have to also be careful not to eat cheese, as I overindulge easily and I get stuffy sinus's with too much dairy. I've decided to have my two pieces of fruit a day mixed as a fruit and vegetable juice. I bought a Breville Juice Fountain yesterday and have loved the juices I've made, combining veges and fruits. The machine retains a lot of the pulp so I still get the fibre too. It's an easier way to have my fruit and vege serves and I digest it easily. I love love love it!!! I know this diet says that juice is a no no, but I'm going to make sure that I use the low fructose fruits that are allowed and always combine them with lots of different veges. I never thought I'd love vegetable juice!!
It's amazing going into a super market now, or West field shopping center and seeing all the sugar laden foods on the shelves or in Darrell's or the coffee shops etc, And seeing everyone eating it! Sugar foods are so dominant!!! At the front of the supermarket as you line up, you're tempted with cokes, lemonades, chocolates, lollies, etc. But I'm just not tempted. I would be absolutely mortified now if I even accidentally put something in my mouth that had cane sugar in it! It's like there's been a switch flicked in my brain that stops me cold from wanting to eat sugar products. They are so off the menu and off my radar now. And because of that, I'm noticing so many other healthy sugar free options out there!! There is a tonne of other food you can eat!! With all the vegetables and meats, fish and seeds, nuts, grains etc I'm overwhelmed sometimes wondering what do I want to eat?? My options are endless. So, the other best thing I've found over the last 3 weeks is not needing Caffeine anymore. Not needing it 3 times a day, not even thinking about it or missing it is amazing to me. And the calmness I feel and having stable moods and energy all day makes it all worth it and makes me never ever want to go back to it. So this new eating plan is working, is deffinitly going to be an easy life- long thing now and I'm so very glad that I persevered through the first 2 tough weeks and stuck to it!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Our Triumphs are all the sweeter for the depth of the challenges we overcome.
Any foods that are now in the house that I start eating and then think I'm abusing, overeating or starting to binge on, I immediately throw out. The food that is most likely now to cause a binge is bread. Even my special gluten free bread is dangerous at the moment. I want to eliminate all grains for the next 2 weeks and see how I feel. I want to experiment in these early stages of this plan to see how I cope with things like, no grains, and next I want to try to work on cutting down my meals to 3 a day. I've worked out, that for me, if I eat 5 or 6 times a day, I end up eating too much 'snack' type foods and then when its meal time, I'm not hungry enough to eat a good quality vegetable and protein meal. Eating with my family at night is very important too. So I want to train my body to wait until 6.30pm to eat a meal at night. I have a problem with eating while I'm cooking, or just before I start to cook - (I'm impatient and it's become a habit I have to break.) so that when it comes to eating the actual meal, I've already snacked on too much to enjoy the real meal!!
So that's what's been going on this week. I've kept up with writing in my food journal, which has been an excellent tool to look back over and assess. I've had lots of time to contemplate my diet and food habits. Lots of time to plan new strategies and lots of time to let my body heal. I'm glad I lost 2.6 kilos, but I'm not expecting that to happen this week! Just .5 of a kilo would be good! I'll just let the week roll by one day at a time!!
Friday, April 13, 2012
OK, I surrender, I was wrong, I DO have the flu!
Affectionately called in my work circles - "The Teachers Curse"! You hold yourself together until the end of term, then the first week of the school holidays, you start to relax, let go and realize just how exhausted you are!! And BANG down goes the immune system and in hop the virus's. So I sure picked a great week to start my big detox!! Arrr! Anyone wanna make me some chicken soup??? On the positive side, I don't think I could feel much worse than I do today. Was up all night shivering and sweating with a pounding head and muscle aches like I'd just completed a training session with the Commando! The fever has continued all today, so my appetite is being affected by my flu now, it's still there, but only just. More important to keep up my fluids - I was just craving salty popcorn, so my son made me a small bowl with some yummy butter and herb salt. Just the thing for a body that has sweated for 20 hours!
As this is a blog set up to record my progress going sugar free, and now that I've gone and been hit by the flu, I will not be blogging again until Monday night. I'm still mentally up. I'm still feeling so good and excited about giving up sugar and caffeine and wheat!! My body is going to thank me big time eventually!
So just cause I'm sick, I'm not going to sneak some lemonade in or anything! Actually, I had some lovely lemon tea with some glucose syrup an hour ago and really enjoyed the subtle sweetness after living on Stevia powder in my tea.
Ok, got to lie my throbbing head down again. For anyone else out there who is going through their own detox, I hope you're feeling OK, empowered and positive and have your eyes set firmly on the sugar free future and all the good that is going to come out of it!!
Cheers, everyone and I'll chat again after the weekend!!
Affectionately called in my work circles - "The Teachers Curse"! You hold yourself together until the end of term, then the first week of the school holidays, you start to relax, let go and realize just how exhausted you are!! And BANG down goes the immune system and in hop the virus's. So I sure picked a great week to start my big detox!! Arrr! Anyone wanna make me some chicken soup??? On the positive side, I don't think I could feel much worse than I do today. Was up all night shivering and sweating with a pounding head and muscle aches like I'd just completed a training session with the Commando! The fever has continued all today, so my appetite is being affected by my flu now, it's still there, but only just. More important to keep up my fluids - I was just craving salty popcorn, so my son made me a small bowl with some yummy butter and herb salt. Just the thing for a body that has sweated for 20 hours!
As this is a blog set up to record my progress going sugar free, and now that I've gone and been hit by the flu, I will not be blogging again until Monday night. I'm still mentally up. I'm still feeling so good and excited about giving up sugar and caffeine and wheat!! My body is going to thank me big time eventually!
So just cause I'm sick, I'm not going to sneak some lemonade in or anything! Actually, I had some lovely lemon tea with some glucose syrup an hour ago and really enjoyed the subtle sweetness after living on Stevia powder in my tea.
Ok, got to lie my throbbing head down again. For anyone else out there who is going through their own detox, I hope you're feeling OK, empowered and positive and have your eyes set firmly on the sugar free future and all the good that is going to come out of it!!
Cheers, everyone and I'll chat again after the weekend!!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Life is a grindstone. But whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.
This will be a quick post tonight. I've been unbelievable tired all afternoon and tonight.
Since 2pm I haven't been able to do anything but lie down, eyes shut. Just can't keep my eyes open. But the morning however was really good, just the opposite! Had an good sleep. There's certainly been a big change in my ability to sleep better and for longer at night since giving up sugar and caffeine and not eating a big dinner. I don't have to get up for the toilet 2 times a night and I fall asleep much faster! So this morning I actually said to myself, "I think I feel good!" I had a satisfying eggs and bacon breakfast at 8am, and then went on a brisk 40 min walk. Had a bowl of yogurt, blueberries and walnuts at 10am, then I did 3 hours of gardening in the beautiful Autumn sunshine. Had a good lunch, but for some reason, from 2pm onwards, I couldn't keep my eyes open. Must have done too much activity!!!! The fatigue hit me like a bomb. Just soooo tired, slight head ache and slightly sore throat and tender glands again. It's not a cold, I'm sure, it's just the body detoxing still, going up and down, and releasing and trying to deal with the last of all that crap I've been eating for so very long! My foggy brain has cleared up, my muscle pains are getting better with the exercise and stretching every day and my appetite is not an issue at all. No cravings at all. Amazing. Had a small serve of chicken and stir fry veges tonight, but I really wasn't hungry. So to bed early yet again! Getting enough sleep and rest seems to be critical this week.
My other meditation verse for today was:
The Lord has promised me a place of renewed health and life. As I soak in the wisdom of God's word and apply it, I can know true success and vitality through His power and grace.
There is nothing we can do on our own or by our own power. But if we tap into God's eternal power we will be carried and given strength wherever we go and whatever we do for His glory.
This will be a quick post tonight. I've been unbelievable tired all afternoon and tonight.
Since 2pm I haven't been able to do anything but lie down, eyes shut. Just can't keep my eyes open. But the morning however was really good, just the opposite! Had an good sleep. There's certainly been a big change in my ability to sleep better and for longer at night since giving up sugar and caffeine and not eating a big dinner. I don't have to get up for the toilet 2 times a night and I fall asleep much faster! So this morning I actually said to myself, "I think I feel good!" I had a satisfying eggs and bacon breakfast at 8am, and then went on a brisk 40 min walk. Had a bowl of yogurt, blueberries and walnuts at 10am, then I did 3 hours of gardening in the beautiful Autumn sunshine. Had a good lunch, but for some reason, from 2pm onwards, I couldn't keep my eyes open. Must have done too much activity!!!! The fatigue hit me like a bomb. Just soooo tired, slight head ache and slightly sore throat and tender glands again. It's not a cold, I'm sure, it's just the body detoxing still, going up and down, and releasing and trying to deal with the last of all that crap I've been eating for so very long! My foggy brain has cleared up, my muscle pains are getting better with the exercise and stretching every day and my appetite is not an issue at all. No cravings at all. Amazing. Had a small serve of chicken and stir fry veges tonight, but I really wasn't hungry. So to bed early yet again! Getting enough sleep and rest seems to be critical this week.
My other meditation verse for today was:
The Lord has promised me a place of renewed health and life. As I soak in the wisdom of God's word and apply it, I can know true success and vitality through His power and grace.
There is nothing we can do on our own or by our own power. But if we tap into God's eternal power we will be carried and given strength wherever we go and whatever we do for His glory.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
You can tell when you're on the right road - it's uphill!
Living in the Adelaide Hills, I know about hills and how some are steeper than others, but if you put your head down and just keep going, you eventually make it to the top! Yeah! So that's Day 3 done and dusted and it wasn't such a big hill to climb. Physically I did struggle a bit after a bad night suffering from painful arthritis pain in my back and neck which kept me up half the night- thank God for hot water bottles and Nurofen!! The pain is a clear sign that I've been eating the wrong foods for my body for too long and neglecting to stretch and move my body. But it's actually motivated me even more to get my life cleaned up for the sake of my future health! I am not prepared to suffer unnecessarily with a lifetime of pain if there is something I can do to help myself. When ever I've made the effort in the past to stop eating sweet food and cut out most grains , my arthritis pain vanishes. It's probably the biggest reason why I need to do this. Weight loss is a bonus, living pain free in a healthy active body is my true goal. Mentally I'm feeling very positive tonight and happy. The weird depression that I felt yesterday has lifted.
The fuzzy head is slowly clearing, and I'm still unusually tired but I managed another 40 minute walk this morning in the sunshine and fresh air and felt better than yesterday doing it! This time last week I was out of control, eating about 3000 calories a day, visiting the pantry every hour. This week, my desire to eat has totally changed. I've shifted from wanting to eat anything in sight all day long, to not even thinking about food today. I only ate 4 times today, 3 small snacks and a big lunch which I really felt like and filled me up for the rest of the day. So I'm really letting my stomach dictate when and how much I feel like and it's amazing that I'm not craving any sweet foods at all. It will be interesting to see how I go when I start moving around more and living my usual busy life back at work. But at the moment I'm living a very simple, calm, quiet life. It's just such a wonderful feeling not having an uncontrollable hunger and being able to totally satisfy my appetite with simple, clean, protein rich foods and fresh veges. It's so simple. I can really see that it's not a diet, it's just a much better way of life.
Night every one!
Tam.
Living in the Adelaide Hills, I know about hills and how some are steeper than others, but if you put your head down and just keep going, you eventually make it to the top! Yeah! So that's Day 3 done and dusted and it wasn't such a big hill to climb. Physically I did struggle a bit after a bad night suffering from painful arthritis pain in my back and neck which kept me up half the night- thank God for hot water bottles and Nurofen!! The pain is a clear sign that I've been eating the wrong foods for my body for too long and neglecting to stretch and move my body. But it's actually motivated me even more to get my life cleaned up for the sake of my future health! I am not prepared to suffer unnecessarily with a lifetime of pain if there is something I can do to help myself. When ever I've made the effort in the past to stop eating sweet food and cut out most grains , my arthritis pain vanishes. It's probably the biggest reason why I need to do this. Weight loss is a bonus, living pain free in a healthy active body is my true goal. Mentally I'm feeling very positive tonight and happy. The weird depression that I felt yesterday has lifted.
The fuzzy head is slowly clearing, and I'm still unusually tired but I managed another 40 minute walk this morning in the sunshine and fresh air and felt better than yesterday doing it! This time last week I was out of control, eating about 3000 calories a day, visiting the pantry every hour. This week, my desire to eat has totally changed. I've shifted from wanting to eat anything in sight all day long, to not even thinking about food today. I only ate 4 times today, 3 small snacks and a big lunch which I really felt like and filled me up for the rest of the day. So I'm really letting my stomach dictate when and how much I feel like and it's amazing that I'm not craving any sweet foods at all. It will be interesting to see how I go when I start moving around more and living my usual busy life back at work. But at the moment I'm living a very simple, calm, quiet life. It's just such a wonderful feeling not having an uncontrollable hunger and being able to totally satisfy my appetite with simple, clean, protein rich foods and fresh veges. It's so simple. I can really see that it's not a diet, it's just a much better way of life.
Night every one!
Tam.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
God Brings men into deep waters, not to drown them, but to cleanse them.
Phew, day 2 and I am being cleansed from the inside out! Another day of feeling like crap, unusually tired, fuzzy head, no energy, slightly sore throat, just plain under the weather! No headache today though. But, I am resting, reading the bible, and having fun sharing the couch with my dog for half the day! My food intake today was really good again. Healthy clean, fresh foods. I seem to feel like eating during the morning the most, every 2 hours or so. Then by 3pm today I had 2 slices of gluten free bread and vegemite and cheese and I haven't felt hungry since. I'm really listening to my body and respecting it's ability to let me know if I want food or not. Still drinking heaps of water. Cooked the boys a nice steak dinner tonight, but didn't feel hungry at all, so I just put some aside in the fridge for tomorrow! I actually went on a 40 minute walk this morning, even though my head was totally out of it! It was a blessing that it was only 12 degrees with a freezing wind to keep me awake!! It didn't make me feel any better, but I wanted to get some fresh air and start to move my body again. I know I'll start feeling better in a few more days. It just feels like I've got a virus or bad cold at the moment. I haven't been craving caffeine today, just more mourning the fact that I won't be visiting Gloria Jeans much anymore. I haven't been craving any foods in particular. I'm taking a Chromium supplement, which is meant to help me with any sugar cravings. It works by assisting the body to metabolize carbohydrates, lipids and protein, so basically stabilizing my blood glucose levels. I guess it's working! I'm also taking Olive Leaf Extract, and Swiss Ultra Green and Swiss multi vitamins. So hopefully I'll get another good nights sleep like last night and be able to ride out tomorrow OK! It's all good...
Cheers, Tam
Phew, day 2 and I am being cleansed from the inside out! Another day of feeling like crap, unusually tired, fuzzy head, no energy, slightly sore throat, just plain under the weather! No headache today though. But, I am resting, reading the bible, and having fun sharing the couch with my dog for half the day! My food intake today was really good again. Healthy clean, fresh foods. I seem to feel like eating during the morning the most, every 2 hours or so. Then by 3pm today I had 2 slices of gluten free bread and vegemite and cheese and I haven't felt hungry since. I'm really listening to my body and respecting it's ability to let me know if I want food or not. Still drinking heaps of water. Cooked the boys a nice steak dinner tonight, but didn't feel hungry at all, so I just put some aside in the fridge for tomorrow! I actually went on a 40 minute walk this morning, even though my head was totally out of it! It was a blessing that it was only 12 degrees with a freezing wind to keep me awake!! It didn't make me feel any better, but I wanted to get some fresh air and start to move my body again. I know I'll start feeling better in a few more days. It just feels like I've got a virus or bad cold at the moment. I haven't been craving caffeine today, just more mourning the fact that I won't be visiting Gloria Jeans much anymore. I haven't been craving any foods in particular. I'm taking a Chromium supplement, which is meant to help me with any sugar cravings. It works by assisting the body to metabolize carbohydrates, lipids and protein, so basically stabilizing my blood glucose levels. I guess it's working! I'm also taking Olive Leaf Extract, and Swiss Ultra Green and Swiss multi vitamins. So hopefully I'll get another good nights sleep like last night and be able to ride out tomorrow OK! It's all good...
Cheers, Tam
Monday, April 9, 2012
The ship has been launched, (Tam the Titanic!!??) - day one completed, YEAH! and it's been smooth sailing all day. Well, apart from having to deal with a stabbing migraine and fuzzy vision, and chronic fatigue and muscle aches all day, I've done well! The scales this morning reported a 10 kilo weight gain since last time I stepped on them, back on the 11th of Feb, so I really do feel like the Titanic! It took me just on 2 months to gain the 10 kilos back that I lost between Jan 1st and Feb 11th. Yep, I've been eating a LOT! So, today, it felt fantastic to be in control, motivated and calm around food. Meals were healthy and of average portions. There is nothing in the pantry that I can't eat now, so absolutely no temptations in the house, which is perfect. I didn't count calories or carbs or anything but I am keeping a journal of everything I eat and how I feel before eating and after eating. I ate every 3 -4 hours to keep my blood sugars level. I relaxed on the couch for most of the afternoon and tonight, just nursing my big caffeine and sugar withdrawal headache and allowing my body to deal with everything. I also drank heaps of water all day, something I've been neglecting lately. Of course I didn't try to do any formal exercise, but I did manage an hour of gardening, pulling out dead flowers and weeds, so that was a good effort!! I think I'll sleep pretty well tonight with no caffeine in my system for the first time in years! It's going to be so good not to be addicted and reliant on any stimulants to get through my days. I'm so blessed to have the time to do this over my 2 week school holiday break, with no stress or work to deal with. There is no way I could of started this plan during the school term when I work full time!! Over the next 2 weeks, I'll have the luxury of resting when my body says rest, and when I feel more energetic, I'll be able to go for a walk or dust the cobwebs off the treadmill! But right now, it's bedtime - 8.23 pm. I'm zonked but happy and absolutely loving having a calm, quiet digestive system that won't keep me up all night!
Each day I'm going to use a special quote, or bible verse to meditate on and motivate me - today's was Prov 16 - verse 3 - "Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place."
Each day I'm going to use a special quote, or bible verse to meditate on and motivate me - today's was Prov 16 - verse 3 - "Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place."
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