Hi
I tried the shirataki noodles (no tofu) and I think I am in love!! I tested my blood sugar and it was 109 one hour after, and two hours after it was 98. Hip-Hip-Hooray!! Finally something that actually does not raise my blood sugars and is pretty darned good to eat.
I ate one whole seven-ounce package (about 2.5 cups) of spaghetti-like shirataki noodles that I rinsed very well in my colander in the sink. I let them sit to drain very well, also, as I had seen in a video, and then tossed them into the skillet in which I had browned a few scallions along with about a pound of hamburger with kalimari olive slices, garlic powder, curry powder, salt and two kinds of cheese. (I removed half of the hamburger for later before putting the noodles in.) I forgot to cut the long noodles into shorter lengths so they sort of bunched up in one spot in the pan, but that was not that big a deal. I think that if I remember to cut them, they will mix better next time.
The texture on the noodles was not precisely like pasta, but was very very close. Close enough that I am planning on getting used to it. It is more gel-like in texture than pasta but was very far from being obnoxious. On my first bite to test one strand, I noticed the slight texture difference, but as I ate them with the other ingredients I really did not notice it any more. They are about the size of thin spaghetti and have about the same amount of "body" as angel hair pasta -- which is my preference, anyway.
I had been afraid that I might have the same reaction to the smell that my niece, Natalie, had, so I did not test it out that well. I could not smell them unless I put my nose in the bag. I did take a small wiff of the bag after I emptied it and it smelled like fish but I rinsed the noodles (and the bag) and did not wiff them again. If I did not get close, I did not smell them, so it was not overpowering or anything like that. By the time I ate them, the smell had completely disappeared. They did not even remotely smell of fish. Just as everyone that I read or watched on YouTube said, they take on the smell and flavor of what I cooked them with. They were really quite delightful, in my book. And now I know I can eat them with my craving reducing meals without worry. I have four more packages of them for now so will enjoy them over the next five or six days and plan on placing a larger order at a new web site I found: http://www.konjacfoods.com/
I am completely thrilled with the no-blood-sugar reaction -- and I am hoping for the plumbing help that I've heard about, as well. (And... uh... the plumbing has worked once already.) Two birds with one stone.
This is a few hours after having eaten them and I've also been watching for other reactions, in case there is some side effect, or something. I noticed that my tummy felt really full, almost before I was done eating them. And right now, I feel just a touch dizzy... which is not a sign I was looking for, but, I shall see how it goes. If all goes well, I'll try another package in a day or two and see how it goes then. It may be that I just need to get used to it -- or eat a smaller amount until I do get used to it.
I also had a smaller than usual salad with the meal, but about an hour later, I finished up the rest of the hamburger and cheese. Not a "No-No" on a low carb program.... but it is a little curious, I think. I've not had that reaction with any other low carb meal. Making sure to drink all the water for the day should also help.
Aside: I watched a video on YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF7Yzv_T2Bg ) made by a guy who was taking glucomannan powder (the same thing the shirataki noodles are made from) and dumping it on a plate, onto which he also poured what appeared to be water from a bottle. He did not stir it. Then you get to listen to him tell us about a man he met at a hospital who had lost weight so quickly by eating only homemade glucomannan noodles that he needed to have his excess deflated balloon of skin surgically removed. For the most part you get to watch him burning what he calls noodles in a frying pan on high electric heat. He cuts them up into cracker shapes with his spatula as he talks and sprinkles a little ranch dressing on them for flavor. When the noodles are fried to his perfection he dumps them into a deep dish pot and tastes them from time to time saying how wonderful they are. It is oddly enlightening. One amazing thing is to watch him pick up the puddle of powder and water which has turned into a sort of pancake and put it into the pan for frying. I think you ought to watch it just for the pleasure!! I learned a lot from that video.
Oh, and by the way, there are also recipes for making your own noodles but they all contain lime water or baking powder along with the glucomannan powder and water, so I don't know how the guy's homemade noodles with only the powder and water would be -- or why they add the lime water. (That is not lime juice in water -- that is lime water -- meaning the mineral not the juice.)
Well, I waited and the light dizziness is now gone. Who knows what could have caused it. I thought back over what I had eaten and I ate so many ingredients from sources that I had never eaten before it could have been from anything. The grass fed beef was, surprisingly, not all that good, it must have been made from very odd and tough parts of the animal. The olives were bulk pack from the Dekalb Farmer's Market, which I had never tried before. And then there is the shirataki noodles. I shall try them again, in a smaller "dose," and see if I have the same reaction.
Anyway. I hope I find that the SNs work out because I like them... and I especially like the fact that there really are no carbs in them at all. The package says they have 3g of carb, and 3g of fiber which cancels it out... result: no carbs. My blood sugar non-reaction is proof enough for me.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Going Along
Did the stupid return on the Title again and it posted before I was finished writing, let alone finished editing. So sorry for the double post -- again.
Hi,
At this moment in time, the pain is gone and I am thankful. But my hands seem a tad swollen and a little stiff. I am not exactly sure whether it is the chlorine in the water or the beef that I've eaten over the last few days. I make sure to get organic beef (no pesticides, no hormones) and I've even found a little grass fed which is so much better for a human body. It seems the pain strikes most after the water exercise, though, so I'm still not exactly sure what to think or how to correct.
This morning when I got up I was having a lot of pain in the low back (and I secretly decided that if my physical therapy causes this much pain so often, maybe I need to stop doing that...). The therapist is trying to build core muscle, so keeps increasing the reps or positions to get to the point of fatigue. She points out that irritation is not fatigue, though, and cautions me to notice irritation so the exercises can be modified. I pay attention, I do them carefully, and still I get a lot of pain the next morning. Last Tuesday was the worst after PT on Monday. This morning was worse than usual, but not as bad as Tuesday.
Since the pain has subsided, I'm thinking maybe my "not doing this" decision was premature. I've decided to make sure I have a day of rest in between bouts of exercise so I shall play around in the pool tomorrow, but not today. I have just remembered that I know how to deal with this pain with another kind of exercise, which I think I might try on the days in between the pool. It consists of 10 minutes on the Airofit and some low back stretches that my doctor gave me, plus some crunches with my Gold's Gym apparatus that helps me do them without straining my neck. I've done them religiously in the past and they help to remove the pain for a while. I just don't know why I keep stopping doing them when the pain goes away. It is like I get lulled into a sense of, "OK, the pain is gone, I can stop now" -- but it is the continuing that keeps the pain away. I'm pretty tired on the in between days, so I'm not sure I'm quite able to do that, but will think about it -- maybe test it and see how it goes.
As to the eating program: I've got my salad made this morning but have not eaten yet. On this program, you only have to eat if you are actually hungry. My blood sugar was high this morning (127) so I think the reward meal I chose last night was not good. I knew it was not the best when I did it, but decided to test it out. It failed the test. I had gotten a grilled chicken salad and a turkey, ranch, and bacon, sandwich at Arby's. I needed the salad but could have done without the so-called grilled chicken (which I chose instead of the breaded chicken). When I opened it up at home it turned out to be deli-type sliced chicken and not grilled chicken at all -- but I was too tired and hungry to fuss, so I just ate it. That was the reason I had gone that route -- I was too tired to fix something at home. I'm thinking that with the salad and sandwich I just did not have enough salad greens and vegetables. It was also overboard on the protein, and it seemed there was too much bread, too. The blood sugar number this morning is the final confirmation that I should not do that one again -- and I am back up to 338 this morning.
I had run out of salad last night before going to church but did not have time to make the new salad -- which went against my plan. The plan is: when the salad bowl is emptied, make a new one. I did not make the new one, because I just did not have time. Then later, on the way home, tired after a day of PT and then church and the two-hour drive I wanted something fast and easy. It sure seemed fast and easy to go to Arbys. Hardees was closed or I would have gotten a low carb burger there and a salad at Wendy's. Arby's and Hardees are right next to each other, about a block from my house on the highway. (I live inside an RV/mobile home park.) So it seemed logical to go to Arby's. I like their market fresh sandwiches. I chose the one I did because it has more lettuce and tomato, though not much. Anyway. Now I know better. Trying to do the reward meal without strictly following the guide lines is what got me off track so many years ago. I don't want to continue the pattern, so must be careful to always have what I need at home -- especially the bowl full of fresh salad.
I'm liking the combination of scrambled eggs and salad. It seems faster than peeling boiled eggs, and has more flavor, too. I just scramble the eggs, and pile them on top of my salad. The taste is amazingly good, to me. I always sprinkle the eggs and salad with what Julianna calls my "Everything" spice. It is my home made curry powder that I've written about before. I was also running out of that, so I made a new batch this morning. No more being caught without what I need to stay on the program. That does not work. I also need to go and get some new salad greens today. The ones I have are either gone or just a touch old, so new ones will freshen up the larder and the program.
I am still waiting for my Shiritake noodles to arrive. The Fedex delivery says they will arrive on Saturday and I am looking forward to trying them. I'm planning to use them for reward meals. I think they will be better for me than bread (especially) and I don't want to get used to eating too many high carb items. Although the night before last, I did a legal reward meal that included fried potatoes flavored with onion and mushrooms, which I could not even remember making for at least ten or fifteen years. I used to make them at home when I was growing up. It was a family staple. And I really enjoyed them on my legal reward meal. My blood sugars after the meal were normal at 130, but in the morning everything had dropped back to about 111. I was completely surprised and pleased to find out that if I do the reward meal the way it is supposed to be done, I get good blood sugars, while eating one high carb item.
I'm thinking that the Arby's meal may have also had MSG or other hidden sugars for my blood sugar to stay elevated through the night, like that. It is back to the real salads for me.
Don't really have much else on my mind.
Hope all is well with you.
God bless.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Hi,
At this moment in time, the pain is gone and I am thankful. But my hands seem a tad swollen and a little stiff. I am not exactly sure whether it is the chlorine in the water or the beef that I've eaten over the last few days. I make sure to get organic beef (no pesticides, no hormones) and I've even found a little grass fed which is so much better for a human body. It seems the pain strikes most after the water exercise, though, so I'm still not exactly sure what to think or how to correct.
This morning when I got up I was having a lot of pain in the low back (and I secretly decided that if my physical therapy causes this much pain so often, maybe I need to stop doing that...). The therapist is trying to build core muscle, so keeps increasing the reps or positions to get to the point of fatigue. She points out that irritation is not fatigue, though, and cautions me to notice irritation so the exercises can be modified. I pay attention, I do them carefully, and still I get a lot of pain the next morning. Last Tuesday was the worst after PT on Monday. This morning was worse than usual, but not as bad as Tuesday.
Since the pain has subsided, I'm thinking maybe my "not doing this" decision was premature. I've decided to make sure I have a day of rest in between bouts of exercise so I shall play around in the pool tomorrow, but not today. I have just remembered that I know how to deal with this pain with another kind of exercise, which I think I might try on the days in between the pool. It consists of 10 minutes on the Airofit and some low back stretches that my doctor gave me, plus some crunches with my Gold's Gym apparatus that helps me do them without straining my neck. I've done them religiously in the past and they help to remove the pain for a while. I just don't know why I keep stopping doing them when the pain goes away. It is like I get lulled into a sense of, "OK, the pain is gone, I can stop now" -- but it is the continuing that keeps the pain away. I'm pretty tired on the in between days, so I'm not sure I'm quite able to do that, but will think about it -- maybe test it and see how it goes.
As to the eating program: I've got my salad made this morning but have not eaten yet. On this program, you only have to eat if you are actually hungry. My blood sugar was high this morning (127) so I think the reward meal I chose last night was not good. I knew it was not the best when I did it, but decided to test it out. It failed the test. I had gotten a grilled chicken salad and a turkey, ranch, and bacon, sandwich at Arby's. I needed the salad but could have done without the so-called grilled chicken (which I chose instead of the breaded chicken). When I opened it up at home it turned out to be deli-type sliced chicken and not grilled chicken at all -- but I was too tired and hungry to fuss, so I just ate it. That was the reason I had gone that route -- I was too tired to fix something at home. I'm thinking that with the salad and sandwich I just did not have enough salad greens and vegetables. It was also overboard on the protein, and it seemed there was too much bread, too. The blood sugar number this morning is the final confirmation that I should not do that one again -- and I am back up to 338 this morning.
I had run out of salad last night before going to church but did not have time to make the new salad -- which went against my plan. The plan is: when the salad bowl is emptied, make a new one. I did not make the new one, because I just did not have time. Then later, on the way home, tired after a day of PT and then church and the two-hour drive I wanted something fast and easy. It sure seemed fast and easy to go to Arbys. Hardees was closed or I would have gotten a low carb burger there and a salad at Wendy's. Arby's and Hardees are right next to each other, about a block from my house on the highway. (I live inside an RV/mobile home park.) So it seemed logical to go to Arby's. I like their market fresh sandwiches. I chose the one I did because it has more lettuce and tomato, though not much. Anyway. Now I know better. Trying to do the reward meal without strictly following the guide lines is what got me off track so many years ago. I don't want to continue the pattern, so must be careful to always have what I need at home -- especially the bowl full of fresh salad.
I'm liking the combination of scrambled eggs and salad. It seems faster than peeling boiled eggs, and has more flavor, too. I just scramble the eggs, and pile them on top of my salad. The taste is amazingly good, to me. I always sprinkle the eggs and salad with what Julianna calls my "Everything" spice. It is my home made curry powder that I've written about before. I was also running out of that, so I made a new batch this morning. No more being caught without what I need to stay on the program. That does not work. I also need to go and get some new salad greens today. The ones I have are either gone or just a touch old, so new ones will freshen up the larder and the program.
I am still waiting for my Shiritake noodles to arrive. The Fedex delivery says they will arrive on Saturday and I am looking forward to trying them. I'm planning to use them for reward meals. I think they will be better for me than bread (especially) and I don't want to get used to eating too many high carb items. Although the night before last, I did a legal reward meal that included fried potatoes flavored with onion and mushrooms, which I could not even remember making for at least ten or fifteen years. I used to make them at home when I was growing up. It was a family staple. And I really enjoyed them on my legal reward meal. My blood sugars after the meal were normal at 130, but in the morning everything had dropped back to about 111. I was completely surprised and pleased to find out that if I do the reward meal the way it is supposed to be done, I get good blood sugars, while eating one high carb item.
I'm thinking that the Arby's meal may have also had MSG or other hidden sugars for my blood sugar to stay elevated through the night, like that. It is back to the real salads for me.
Don't really have much else on my mind.
Hope all is well with you.
God bless.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Low Carb Day 4
SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POSTING -- I hit the return key and suddenly it published -- You know me... how could that be all I was going to say?! That was barely a preface.... ;)
Hi,
I am not going to be counting all the days on this program, but I wanted to get the perspective of where I am today, since I am really only at the beginning of the Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program by Drs Richard and Rachael Heller. I checked out their website and it has not really changed since 1997 so what can you say? I was quite a bit disappointed in that, but I do realize they are very busy people. I wanted to check them out to see what they look like today but have not been able to find them on the web very much. I did find an interview that was done by them in 2005 and they were still actively living the program at that time. I am glad to hear that. They had still maintained their weight loss of a combined 200 pounds between them at that time which is evidence of at least eight years of successfully following the program and maintaining their weight. Rachel having lost about 150 and Richard having lost about 50 pounds.
One more thing concerning their website. I am wondering if you have to buy a book to have access to any more stuff on the site. I already own the book, so I guess I don't get access. Frankly, I don't even know if there is anything more, anyway. Even all the testimonials are exactly the same as in 1997. Oh well.... even though the website leaves a lot to be desired, that does not change the efficacy of the program itself and, actually, if you'd like to know all the details of the program you might as well buy one of the books. I'm working from the one called "Carbohydrate Addicts Lifespan Program" that is geared for people over 40. You know your body changes once you hit 40. They do have some good FAQ's on the site, which are interesting reading and very helpful, so don't discount it completely -- have a look.
I think this is a more balanced and sustainable approach to low carb eating than the Atkins program, but if you check it out, Atkins is a very good program indeed. It always beats any of the high carb/low fat programs that it is compared to and not only in "pounds lost" but in "health gained." I've done Atkins in the distant past and the only thing I consciously remember was some of the worst constipation I've ever had in my life. It was like trying to pass bricks.
That one point alone is why I prefer the Heller's program. Each high protein meal is balanced with high fiber vegetables -- which I am eating raw. I've gotten very used to the value and advantages of eating raw veggies and I am sticking with that decision. I may, on occasion, consume some cooked veggies such as in a meat dish with cooked green beans or something, but the main quantity of my veggies will be raw. I have stolen this bit of goodness from the raw vegan folks, but, I need the protein to keep my appetite satiated. Raw vegan, if you consider the details, is a high carbohydrate plan in comparison to, say, Atkins, but it is no where near as high in carbs as the Standard American Diet that is nearly sixty percent sugar (converted from starchy carbs in the digestive tract which then gets injected into the blood) -- and that is the reason we are having the "Obesity Boom" -- too much sugar in the diet that ends up in the blood which also raises insulin levels. Long story short the insulin sweeps the sugar from the blood, and stores the excess as fat in the fat cells. Result: diabetes and obesity -- which, by the way, do not always travel hand in hand, but very often, do. You can have diabetes and be thin, and you can be obese and be healthy, especially if you exercise regularly.
The kind of carbs you eat makes a difference for weight loss, and especially for the diabetic or pre-diabetic. In my mind carbs are broken down into starchy carbs and good green veggies. Starchy carbs are usually white and come from either white flour or whole wheat flour, or potatoes of all sorts. Grains are starchy carbs. There are also other starchy veggies like beets, peas, corn, and carrots, which, if you are doing low carb, should also be avoided, for the most part.
The only thing I am a little afraid of in the Heller's program is the reward meal where one serving of any high carbohydrate food is allowed once a day. I can see where this would satisfy the appetite of the addict, because there is really no food at all that is not allowed on the Heller's program. You just have to follow the guidelines of the reward meal. The reward meal is divided into thirds -- 1/3 protein (meat, eggs, fish, etc.), 1/3 low carb veggies (greens, lettuce, cucumbers, etc.), and 1/3 high carb (anything from candy to potatoes). This was my downfall the last time I did the program. I went a little wild with the reward meal and really got off track.
This time when I was reading the program I noticed that the Heller's warn against this from the beginning, but I never noticed the warning and certainly did not heed it. But this time, I am much better prepared. I am now used to not eating the white stuff, especially following the 8 day juice fast, which I might recommend to others as a way to begin doing low carb. You get completely off the bad stuff in three days and discover that vegetable juice can actually fill you up. Once you are off the bad stuff, it is easy to restart eating craving reducing meals of 1/2 green veggies and 1/2 animal protein of any kind from chicken and fish to beef and pork. From there it is also easier to do sane high carbs at the reward meal rather than insane.
Candy is insane. Cake and cookies are insane. But you can choose insane from time to time in your reward meal and not be off the program. In my opinion you just cannot choose insane for every reward meal. It gets to be too hard to control because if you slip even a little and have too much for one of your meals then the cravings will commence. If not noticed (they are hard to recognize) and handled right away then the eating machine begins, and goodbye program. Goodbye weight loss. Goodbye good health advantages, and goodbye peace of mind.
When I started eating salad and meat on the program this time, it felt so much like a long lost treat that it was wonderful. I know me, though, and if I don't prepare the large salad in the morning so it is instantly available for craving reducing meals during the day, I'm likely to skip it and the body needs those raw veggies. So that is my current plan. I make a large covered bowl of salad and have it on hand at all times. When the bowl is emptied, I make another one, no matter what time of day it is. It is not hard to pull out some greens, wash them off, and cut them into salad pieces and toss them in a bowl. Right now the salad in my fridge is made up of kale, spinach, parsley, green leaf, and purple leaf lettuce. What a tasty bunch. The kale gives it chew, the parsley gives it high flavor and the spinach and lettuces are sweet and tender.
One change to my salad is that I used to always have at least two tomatoes cut up in the large salad, but tomato is limited to 1/4 of a whole one per reward meal. In order to be able to keep good track of that, I keep them separate from the craving reducing meals and cut a precise quarter for the reward meal -- but not the reward meal salad. I forgot to mention that the reward meal always starts with two cups of salad. You can put cucumbers, mushrooms, and lots of other things in your salads, but no tomato. Dr Richard K Bernstein, the diabetes doctor from New England, also warns against tomatoes because they raise blood sugar -- meaning they raise insulin -- meaning they can pack on the pounds. You can have them during the reward meal, but they must be limited at all other times.
Bacon is allowed, but I've been off bacon for a long time, and when I searched the grocery store I found not even one package of bacon that did not have sugar of some kind in it. So, I'm not doing bacon, on a regular basis at home. I might have some when going out, but that is all.
So how has it been going for me? I have had no desires for food that could not be satisfied with a salad and eggs, or salad and tuna, or salad and hamburger meat. The Heller's recommend that you eat average size servings but do not warn against large servings. It is your choice.
So far, I've had a couple of really large meals of salad and protein with no highs in blood sugar. I've also had some regular average sized meals of salad and protein, with no highs in blood sugar. I call that success. It seems to be that the times that I want the really large meals are on days that I exercise. Suddenly adding 30 minutes of exercise three days a week has been much easier to do in the water, but I still get just as exhausted as you would think when going from sedentary to 30 minutes of exercise. Doing the 30 minutes in the pool has been the renewal of a long forgotten joy for me. While I am doing it, right now, I have got to be vigilant to notice when I get tired which means I've been active for too long. Oddly enough, it is very easy for me to go too long in the water (who would have thought?) but I think this may change as I get more used to it. Anyway, for the rest of the day, on those days, I feel extremely fatigued and seem to require much larger meals.
Drinking water. The Heller's recommend eight, eight-oz, glasses of water per day. Still a little hard for me to do, but I am getting closer.
NEWS FLASH: Wonder of wonders!! I just discovered that I HAVE been doing the 64 ounces of water per day! I miscalculated the sizes of the three large glass water bottles that I use to store and cool my water in the the fridge. I had thought that I needed to drink three of them to get to 64 ounces but I just measured the water with a measuring cup and it only requires two per day to meet the quota! I have been meeting it without knowing that I was. Very good news indeed. And much easier than I previously thought.
One last thing: I have discovered something out there called "shiritaki noodles" which are made from "glucomannan" which comes from Konjac root grown in Japan and China. The root is much like a yam, but the amazing thing is that glucomannan is extremely high in fiber and low in carbs. A seven-ounce package of the noodles made from glucomannan contain only about three grams of carbs and have been found to be a suitable substitute for pasta -- a very high carb item. They also absorb liquid and prevent constipation. A double bonus for me! You can find them all over the place on the web but the cheapest that I found were at http://www.asianfoodgrocer.com/. I have ordered five 7-oz packages of Shirataki noodles (minus tofu which is not good for you) which were priced at $1.68 each plus shipping.
I will let you know if both the web site, and the product are worth trying out. The web site seems to want to "access the internet" which I have blocked with my AVG software... so I don't recommend it at this time. If I get my order in a timely manner and good condition, I will continue -- but I'm also warning about the web stuff. So be careful.
I am not sure how I will incorporate the noodles but surely they could be added to a reward meal with no problem. Some people suggest that they are a little "rubbery" but others swear they are just like pasta... so I'm checking it out for myself. They also say that the water it is packed with stinks but when rinsed off the smell disappears. Some people eat them right out of the package, others boil them for about three minutes. I'll figure out what works for me and let you know.
God bless,
Have a good one,
Be back soon,
Marcia
Hi,
I am not going to be counting all the days on this program, but I wanted to get the perspective of where I am today, since I am really only at the beginning of the Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program by Drs Richard and Rachael Heller. I checked out their website and it has not really changed since 1997 so what can you say? I was quite a bit disappointed in that, but I do realize they are very busy people. I wanted to check them out to see what they look like today but have not been able to find them on the web very much. I did find an interview that was done by them in 2005 and they were still actively living the program at that time. I am glad to hear that. They had still maintained their weight loss of a combined 200 pounds between them at that time which is evidence of at least eight years of successfully following the program and maintaining their weight. Rachel having lost about 150 and Richard having lost about 50 pounds.
One more thing concerning their website. I am wondering if you have to buy a book to have access to any more stuff on the site. I already own the book, so I guess I don't get access. Frankly, I don't even know if there is anything more, anyway. Even all the testimonials are exactly the same as in 1997. Oh well.... even though the website leaves a lot to be desired, that does not change the efficacy of the program itself and, actually, if you'd like to know all the details of the program you might as well buy one of the books. I'm working from the one called "Carbohydrate Addicts Lifespan Program" that is geared for people over 40. You know your body changes once you hit 40. They do have some good FAQ's on the site, which are interesting reading and very helpful, so don't discount it completely -- have a look.
I think this is a more balanced and sustainable approach to low carb eating than the Atkins program, but if you check it out, Atkins is a very good program indeed. It always beats any of the high carb/low fat programs that it is compared to and not only in "pounds lost" but in "health gained." I've done Atkins in the distant past and the only thing I consciously remember was some of the worst constipation I've ever had in my life. It was like trying to pass bricks.
That one point alone is why I prefer the Heller's program. Each high protein meal is balanced with high fiber vegetables -- which I am eating raw. I've gotten very used to the value and advantages of eating raw veggies and I am sticking with that decision. I may, on occasion, consume some cooked veggies such as in a meat dish with cooked green beans or something, but the main quantity of my veggies will be raw. I have stolen this bit of goodness from the raw vegan folks, but, I need the protein to keep my appetite satiated. Raw vegan, if you consider the details, is a high carbohydrate plan in comparison to, say, Atkins, but it is no where near as high in carbs as the Standard American Diet that is nearly sixty percent sugar (converted from starchy carbs in the digestive tract which then gets injected into the blood) -- and that is the reason we are having the "Obesity Boom" -- too much sugar in the diet that ends up in the blood which also raises insulin levels. Long story short the insulin sweeps the sugar from the blood, and stores the excess as fat in the fat cells. Result: diabetes and obesity -- which, by the way, do not always travel hand in hand, but very often, do. You can have diabetes and be thin, and you can be obese and be healthy, especially if you exercise regularly.
The kind of carbs you eat makes a difference for weight loss, and especially for the diabetic or pre-diabetic. In my mind carbs are broken down into starchy carbs and good green veggies. Starchy carbs are usually white and come from either white flour or whole wheat flour, or potatoes of all sorts. Grains are starchy carbs. There are also other starchy veggies like beets, peas, corn, and carrots, which, if you are doing low carb, should also be avoided, for the most part.
The only thing I am a little afraid of in the Heller's program is the reward meal where one serving of any high carbohydrate food is allowed once a day. I can see where this would satisfy the appetite of the addict, because there is really no food at all that is not allowed on the Heller's program. You just have to follow the guidelines of the reward meal. The reward meal is divided into thirds -- 1/3 protein (meat, eggs, fish, etc.), 1/3 low carb veggies (greens, lettuce, cucumbers, etc.), and 1/3 high carb (anything from candy to potatoes). This was my downfall the last time I did the program. I went a little wild with the reward meal and really got off track.
This time when I was reading the program I noticed that the Heller's warn against this from the beginning, but I never noticed the warning and certainly did not heed it. But this time, I am much better prepared. I am now used to not eating the white stuff, especially following the 8 day juice fast, which I might recommend to others as a way to begin doing low carb. You get completely off the bad stuff in three days and discover that vegetable juice can actually fill you up. Once you are off the bad stuff, it is easy to restart eating craving reducing meals of 1/2 green veggies and 1/2 animal protein of any kind from chicken and fish to beef and pork. From there it is also easier to do sane high carbs at the reward meal rather than insane.
Candy is insane. Cake and cookies are insane. But you can choose insane from time to time in your reward meal and not be off the program. In my opinion you just cannot choose insane for every reward meal. It gets to be too hard to control because if you slip even a little and have too much for one of your meals then the cravings will commence. If not noticed (they are hard to recognize) and handled right away then the eating machine begins, and goodbye program. Goodbye weight loss. Goodbye good health advantages, and goodbye peace of mind.
When I started eating salad and meat on the program this time, it felt so much like a long lost treat that it was wonderful. I know me, though, and if I don't prepare the large salad in the morning so it is instantly available for craving reducing meals during the day, I'm likely to skip it and the body needs those raw veggies. So that is my current plan. I make a large covered bowl of salad and have it on hand at all times. When the bowl is emptied, I make another one, no matter what time of day it is. It is not hard to pull out some greens, wash them off, and cut them into salad pieces and toss them in a bowl. Right now the salad in my fridge is made up of kale, spinach, parsley, green leaf, and purple leaf lettuce. What a tasty bunch. The kale gives it chew, the parsley gives it high flavor and the spinach and lettuces are sweet and tender.
One change to my salad is that I used to always have at least two tomatoes cut up in the large salad, but tomato is limited to 1/4 of a whole one per reward meal. In order to be able to keep good track of that, I keep them separate from the craving reducing meals and cut a precise quarter for the reward meal -- but not the reward meal salad. I forgot to mention that the reward meal always starts with two cups of salad. You can put cucumbers, mushrooms, and lots of other things in your salads, but no tomato. Dr Richard K Bernstein, the diabetes doctor from New England, also warns against tomatoes because they raise blood sugar -- meaning they raise insulin -- meaning they can pack on the pounds. You can have them during the reward meal, but they must be limited at all other times.
Bacon is allowed, but I've been off bacon for a long time, and when I searched the grocery store I found not even one package of bacon that did not have sugar of some kind in it. So, I'm not doing bacon, on a regular basis at home. I might have some when going out, but that is all.
So how has it been going for me? I have had no desires for food that could not be satisfied with a salad and eggs, or salad and tuna, or salad and hamburger meat. The Heller's recommend that you eat average size servings but do not warn against large servings. It is your choice.
So far, I've had a couple of really large meals of salad and protein with no highs in blood sugar. I've also had some regular average sized meals of salad and protein, with no highs in blood sugar. I call that success. It seems to be that the times that I want the really large meals are on days that I exercise. Suddenly adding 30 minutes of exercise three days a week has been much easier to do in the water, but I still get just as exhausted as you would think when going from sedentary to 30 minutes of exercise. Doing the 30 minutes in the pool has been the renewal of a long forgotten joy for me. While I am doing it, right now, I have got to be vigilant to notice when I get tired which means I've been active for too long. Oddly enough, it is very easy for me to go too long in the water (who would have thought?) but I think this may change as I get more used to it. Anyway, for the rest of the day, on those days, I feel extremely fatigued and seem to require much larger meals.
Drinking water. The Heller's recommend eight, eight-oz, glasses of water per day. Still a little hard for me to do, but I am getting closer.
NEWS FLASH: Wonder of wonders!! I just discovered that I HAVE been doing the 64 ounces of water per day! I miscalculated the sizes of the three large glass water bottles that I use to store and cool my water in the the fridge. I had thought that I needed to drink three of them to get to 64 ounces but I just measured the water with a measuring cup and it only requires two per day to meet the quota! I have been meeting it without knowing that I was. Very good news indeed. And much easier than I previously thought.
One last thing: I have discovered something out there called "shiritaki noodles" which are made from "glucomannan" which comes from Konjac root grown in Japan and China. The root is much like a yam, but the amazing thing is that glucomannan is extremely high in fiber and low in carbs. A seven-ounce package of the noodles made from glucomannan contain only about three grams of carbs and have been found to be a suitable substitute for pasta -- a very high carb item. They also absorb liquid and prevent constipation. A double bonus for me! You can find them all over the place on the web but the cheapest that I found were at http://www.asianfoodgrocer.com/. I have ordered five 7-oz packages of Shirataki noodles (minus tofu which is not good for you) which were priced at $1.68 each plus shipping.
I will let you know if both the web site, and the product are worth trying out. The web site seems to want to "access the internet" which I have blocked with my AVG software... so I don't recommend it at this time. If I get my order in a timely manner and good condition, I will continue -- but I'm also warning about the web stuff. So be careful.
I am not sure how I will incorporate the noodles but surely they could be added to a reward meal with no problem. Some people suggest that they are a little "rubbery" but others swear they are just like pasta... so I'm checking it out for myself. They also say that the water it is packed with stinks but when rinsed off the smell disappears. Some people eat them right out of the package, others boil them for about three minutes. I'll figure out what works for me and let you know.
God bless,
Have a good one,
Be back soon,
Marcia
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program
Hi,
I remembered that before I started the last program that my doctor gave me, I had told myself that if that program did not work, I thought that the Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program should work. After all, this program was designed by people like me who found the solution. Doctors Richard and Rachael Heller are the authors and they have both been overweight in the same way that I have been -- and the evidence points to that they are still normal weight after all these years. I hope that is accurate. Prediabetes aside, they write about controlling insulin. Ah hah! Just what I need.
Since it has occurred to me, I want to point out that during this latest experiment with the juice fasting I cut out all dairy, all protein, all nuts and seeds, all grains, and all starchy vegetables. I did the program for eight days and only twice had really hard hard temptations that I shared about. The one that broke the camel's back being last night when I simply walked to the fridge and got out some eggs and cooked them for me. I weighed myself this morning and I put on .5 of a pound. The high's of my blood sugar levels were about where they normally are but the low's were lower. I want to test my blood sugars on the new program to see if the highs are lower because of the addition of protein and I hope to keep the lows lower still.
Now I want to try something more balanced. I got out my CALP book which I have had on the shelf since 1998. I have always believed in that book -- but never completely was obedient to the program rules. I never ate the required salad. I often ate more carbs than recommended at the reward meal and simply did things "MY WAY" -- as per usual. But after having done the juicing, I've learned that things can be done differently-- meaning I do have the strength to do things as they should be done -- especially if I rely on God's help to do what is right.
I have been reading the section on how to actually do the program and have been a little surprised because the actual rules are more precise than I think I had understood before -- or was willing to do. I remember hating all the myriad of details and wanted to boil it down to its most simple terms -- but in doing that I missed some important details. This time, I am not going to do that. I have already made a copy of the two lists, one for high carbohydrate foods that can be eaten only at the reward meal, and the other list is of Craving Reducing Foods.
There are only three guidelines to the basic program:
1. Eat a Balanced Reward Meal Every Day -- and they describe what that is
2. Complete Your Reward Meal Within One Hour -- and they tell you why this is important
3. Eat Only Craving-Reducing Foods at All Other Meals and Snacks -- the choice is yours whether you want to do 50/50 protein and craving reducing vegetables; or less protein and more vegetables -- recommended portions are average size -- but you can eat as many portions as you need to and the portions can be whatever size you choose to make them as long as you eat them together. Also: if you are not hungry, you don't have to eat. Yes!!
The idea is to achieve balance and control your insulin by using the right kinds of foods to achieve this. I really like this quote:
"If you're eating too much or too often, don't blame yourself -- you are simply exhibiting a powerful sign that your body is out of balance. A balanced body eats just enough, feels satisfied, then stops eating -- naturally." -- Drs. Richard and Rachael Heller.
Amen to that.
It is not about a cup of this and a half-cup of that to lose weight. It is about eating the right foods to control your insulin which is the "appetite hormone." If you can control the insulin, you can control the cravings and begin to eat naturally. When insulin is controlled and your body is in balance, they say, the cravings disappear and you begin to lose weight. And they tell you to weigh yourself every day and then at the end of the week take an average of them all. Even in their example the weight fluctuates up and down every day -- just like it did for me, only it seems my fluctuations were more radical than in their example -- perhaps because I was not eating any animal-type protein.
I really like the idea of having a list of craving reducing foods and am surprised at which vegetables are on which list (either craving reducing, or carbohydrate-rich foods). There are vegetables on the carbohydrate-rich list (meaning they raise the blood sugar, which raises the insulin, which packs on more pounds) that I have been juicing this past week. Carrots for one -- but I began to notice they were raising my blood sugar and on Wednesday night I donated them to some friends who own rabbits. Also on the carbo-rich list are beets, squash, zucchini, corn, peas, potatoes (all kinds) and you can only have 1/4 of a tomato (which mirrors another diabetes doctor that I know). No fruit. Not even limes or lemons, which I sort of knew.
The Craving reducing vegetables are a list from bamboo shoots to wax beans that are low in starch and high in micro-nutrients. All Greens are on it. Cabbage and cruciferous vegetables are on it, but they made a note next to the broccoli which surprised me. They mention that for some people who are particularly sensitive to carbohydrates broccoli can cause rebound cravings or reduced weight loss. They recommend that if you are concerned you can either eliminate them, or save them for Reward Meals only.
I have made copies for myself of the two lists and will do my shopping today based on these lists. They allow no fruit juice nor vegetable juice... but they only list carrot juice and V-8 juice. I guess if I am going to follow this program I will have to put the juicer away. I was hoping to juice a couple of times a day for the good nutrients, but the things that make the juice palatable (the fruits) are simply not allowed on the program. There are no nuts and seeds on the program, either. It kind of boils down to protein and vegetables with a few extras (a combination which I have always secretly believed I should be eating).
There is some dairy, which I need to be careful of -- but I can have eggs, cream cheese, and all varieties of cheese except low-fat ricotta. Cottage cheese falls under the same category as broccoli which can cause what they call rebound cravings... I am not sure what that is, but I know that I can easily binge on cottage cheese, so I am better off leaving it alone. Of course, all the sweet things like ice cream and yogurt are on the carbo-rich list and should only be eaten at a reward meal.
So. Here I go again. This time, the program, as I read it, seems to fit what I particularly need and I want to try it. One thing... they have the basic program and then they add some options that you can choose to incorporate or not, but they say they will make things works better. I have read through them and am already doing almost all of them already, so all I need to do now is sort out the veggies, add back in the protein that keeps my blood sugars lower and head out on the basic plan path to, I hope, finally, controlling the insulin and inflammation, and losing weight.
There is one list from the options that I am making a copy of because I believe I am up for it. According to the basic plan, a one-third portion of the reward meal is any high carbohydrate item that you choose. Once a day, you get to eat a high carb item, but the list I am referring to, which is one of the options that can be added later, suggests that instead of cake you choose bagels or bread. Instead of candy you choose beans. Instead of yogurt you choose nuts or seeds. I like the idea. I am already off of most of those things anyway, so it should not be a problem to make better choices in that area, too.
I also want to say the Juice Fast/Feast/Feat has been a big help to me. I am not, at this time, in a place where I can do what Joe and Phil did, which is to go on for 60 days, but I now understand why Joe calls it a "Reboot." I feel like I've been "rebooted" and have a clean slate to work on. I know I have the strength to make right choices and that if I make right choices I am on the path to insulin control and weight loss.
I, again, have high hopes. I am really glad that I am starting the new program right away. No time wasted. I shall be praying for the Lord's help. Please pray for me as the Spirit leads you.
Be back soon,
Marcia
I remembered that before I started the last program that my doctor gave me, I had told myself that if that program did not work, I thought that the Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program should work. After all, this program was designed by people like me who found the solution. Doctors Richard and Rachael Heller are the authors and they have both been overweight in the same way that I have been -- and the evidence points to that they are still normal weight after all these years. I hope that is accurate. Prediabetes aside, they write about controlling insulin. Ah hah! Just what I need.
Since it has occurred to me, I want to point out that during this latest experiment with the juice fasting I cut out all dairy, all protein, all nuts and seeds, all grains, and all starchy vegetables. I did the program for eight days and only twice had really hard hard temptations that I shared about. The one that broke the camel's back being last night when I simply walked to the fridge and got out some eggs and cooked them for me. I weighed myself this morning and I put on .5 of a pound. The high's of my blood sugar levels were about where they normally are but the low's were lower. I want to test my blood sugars on the new program to see if the highs are lower because of the addition of protein and I hope to keep the lows lower still.
Now I want to try something more balanced. I got out my CALP book which I have had on the shelf since 1998. I have always believed in that book -- but never completely was obedient to the program rules. I never ate the required salad. I often ate more carbs than recommended at the reward meal and simply did things "MY WAY" -- as per usual. But after having done the juicing, I've learned that things can be done differently-- meaning I do have the strength to do things as they should be done -- especially if I rely on God's help to do what is right.
I have been reading the section on how to actually do the program and have been a little surprised because the actual rules are more precise than I think I had understood before -- or was willing to do. I remember hating all the myriad of details and wanted to boil it down to its most simple terms -- but in doing that I missed some important details. This time, I am not going to do that. I have already made a copy of the two lists, one for high carbohydrate foods that can be eaten only at the reward meal, and the other list is of Craving Reducing Foods.
There are only three guidelines to the basic program:
1. Eat a Balanced Reward Meal Every Day -- and they describe what that is
2. Complete Your Reward Meal Within One Hour -- and they tell you why this is important
3. Eat Only Craving-Reducing Foods at All Other Meals and Snacks -- the choice is yours whether you want to do 50/50 protein and craving reducing vegetables; or less protein and more vegetables -- recommended portions are average size -- but you can eat as many portions as you need to and the portions can be whatever size you choose to make them as long as you eat them together. Also: if you are not hungry, you don't have to eat. Yes!!
The idea is to achieve balance and control your insulin by using the right kinds of foods to achieve this. I really like this quote:
"If you're eating too much or too often, don't blame yourself -- you are simply exhibiting a powerful sign that your body is out of balance. A balanced body eats just enough, feels satisfied, then stops eating -- naturally." -- Drs. Richard and Rachael Heller.
Amen to that.
It is not about a cup of this and a half-cup of that to lose weight. It is about eating the right foods to control your insulin which is the "appetite hormone." If you can control the insulin, you can control the cravings and begin to eat naturally. When insulin is controlled and your body is in balance, they say, the cravings disappear and you begin to lose weight. And they tell you to weigh yourself every day and then at the end of the week take an average of them all. Even in their example the weight fluctuates up and down every day -- just like it did for me, only it seems my fluctuations were more radical than in their example -- perhaps because I was not eating any animal-type protein.
I really like the idea of having a list of craving reducing foods and am surprised at which vegetables are on which list (either craving reducing, or carbohydrate-rich foods). There are vegetables on the carbohydrate-rich list (meaning they raise the blood sugar, which raises the insulin, which packs on more pounds) that I have been juicing this past week. Carrots for one -- but I began to notice they were raising my blood sugar and on Wednesday night I donated them to some friends who own rabbits. Also on the carbo-rich list are beets, squash, zucchini, corn, peas, potatoes (all kinds) and you can only have 1/4 of a tomato (which mirrors another diabetes doctor that I know). No fruit. Not even limes or lemons, which I sort of knew.
The Craving reducing vegetables are a list from bamboo shoots to wax beans that are low in starch and high in micro-nutrients. All Greens are on it. Cabbage and cruciferous vegetables are on it, but they made a note next to the broccoli which surprised me. They mention that for some people who are particularly sensitive to carbohydrates broccoli can cause rebound cravings or reduced weight loss. They recommend that if you are concerned you can either eliminate them, or save them for Reward Meals only.
I have made copies for myself of the two lists and will do my shopping today based on these lists. They allow no fruit juice nor vegetable juice... but they only list carrot juice and V-8 juice. I guess if I am going to follow this program I will have to put the juicer away. I was hoping to juice a couple of times a day for the good nutrients, but the things that make the juice palatable (the fruits) are simply not allowed on the program. There are no nuts and seeds on the program, either. It kind of boils down to protein and vegetables with a few extras (a combination which I have always secretly believed I should be eating).
There is some dairy, which I need to be careful of -- but I can have eggs, cream cheese, and all varieties of cheese except low-fat ricotta. Cottage cheese falls under the same category as broccoli which can cause what they call rebound cravings... I am not sure what that is, but I know that I can easily binge on cottage cheese, so I am better off leaving it alone. Of course, all the sweet things like ice cream and yogurt are on the carbo-rich list and should only be eaten at a reward meal.
So. Here I go again. This time, the program, as I read it, seems to fit what I particularly need and I want to try it. One thing... they have the basic program and then they add some options that you can choose to incorporate or not, but they say they will make things works better. I have read through them and am already doing almost all of them already, so all I need to do now is sort out the veggies, add back in the protein that keeps my blood sugars lower and head out on the basic plan path to, I hope, finally, controlling the insulin and inflammation, and losing weight.
There is one list from the options that I am making a copy of because I believe I am up for it. According to the basic plan, a one-third portion of the reward meal is any high carbohydrate item that you choose. Once a day, you get to eat a high carb item, but the list I am referring to, which is one of the options that can be added later, suggests that instead of cake you choose bagels or bread. Instead of candy you choose beans. Instead of yogurt you choose nuts or seeds. I like the idea. I am already off of most of those things anyway, so it should not be a problem to make better choices in that area, too.
I also want to say the Juice Fast/Feast/Feat has been a big help to me. I am not, at this time, in a place where I can do what Joe and Phil did, which is to go on for 60 days, but I now understand why Joe calls it a "Reboot." I feel like I've been "rebooted" and have a clean slate to work on. I know I have the strength to make right choices and that if I make right choices I am on the path to insulin control and weight loss.
I, again, have high hopes. I am really glad that I am starting the new program right away. No time wasted. I shall be praying for the Lord's help. Please pray for me as the Spirit leads you.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Three Eggs Over Easy
Hi,
I felt compelled by my hunger which seemed endless. I juiced and it did not fill me. I juiced again, and was still hungry. I sat there watching a video and I wanted something "real" to eat, so I broke down and ate three eggs over easy. They smelled good; the smell was actually incredible. As I put the plate near my face, I could smell the cinnamon in the curry powder and was amazed at how wonderful it smelled. It tasted very good.
I had checked my blood sugar and it was 120 after the juice and I felt famished at the same time. When I was done I wanted to eat three more eggs... I decided not to. I thought it might be a little difficult on my body to suddenly binge eat six fried eggs.
My most horrible thought was, "How do I tell everyone." "What can I say?" "How can I let them know?" My first reaction was to think I had failed by quitting, yet again. But I decided to back up and take a look at my options to see if I could get a better perspective and handle on this.
Option 1: I could simply realize I made a decision on Day 8 rather than Day 10 -- and the decision was to have a high quality high protein meal. (The intellectual, emotionless approach.)
I was watching the video called "Fat Head" when I made the decision. They advocate a high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate diet, including fresh vegetables and a little fruit in order to lose weight successfully. No grains, no starches.
Option 2: Cry a lot and wallow in my failure for a week or two. (The emotional approach.)
I feel rather shocked that I went ahead and ate the eggs -- I don't think I am really at the cry-and-wallow stage yet, because I am still in shock. I am also thinking there may be no need. I think the thing that bothers me the most is that I broke my word. Yep, that is the thing that really bothers me the most. I'm also afraid I have made myself look foolish, yet again.
I think I shall choose for somewhere in between these two options. There are probably others that I have not thought of.
I would like to continue losing weight, and to continue juicing -- but I think I will "include" juicing, rather than doing it exclusively. I'm wondering if I could eat one good meal a day and juice for everything else -- the other two meals and snacks.
One of the things I became conscious of tonight (before eating the eggs) was that juicing had affected another change in my habits that I had not noticed before. I used to kind of graze as I watched TV or a video. Whenever I felt hungry I would go and get something to eat, sit back down and eat while I watched. With the juicing I had, without my notice, stopped doing that. I still had meals while watching TV, but I was not "snacking" all evening long. I was actually eating less, and less often. When the juice filled me up, it really filled me up and I had no desire to snack on anything.
Tonight when I got hungry, I sat and did not make another juice. I had already made two and felt I was running low on supplies. Perhaps that was the problem. Just like on Wednesday I had exercised and perhaps I really needed to juice another time -- my ignoring the urge because I did not think it was time, kind of pushed my hunger into overdrive.
So here is my opportunity: I now have the opportunity to make a change in what I am currently doing. I would like to make a successful change which means I would like to continue to lose weight and also get better blood results. I am so tired, right now, that I think I shall wait until morning to make the final decision on what I am going to do.
Good night,
Be back soon,
Marcia
I felt compelled by my hunger which seemed endless. I juiced and it did not fill me. I juiced again, and was still hungry. I sat there watching a video and I wanted something "real" to eat, so I broke down and ate three eggs over easy. They smelled good; the smell was actually incredible. As I put the plate near my face, I could smell the cinnamon in the curry powder and was amazed at how wonderful it smelled. It tasted very good.
I had checked my blood sugar and it was 120 after the juice and I felt famished at the same time. When I was done I wanted to eat three more eggs... I decided not to. I thought it might be a little difficult on my body to suddenly binge eat six fried eggs.
My most horrible thought was, "How do I tell everyone." "What can I say?" "How can I let them know?" My first reaction was to think I had failed by quitting, yet again. But I decided to back up and take a look at my options to see if I could get a better perspective and handle on this.
Option 1: I could simply realize I made a decision on Day 8 rather than Day 10 -- and the decision was to have a high quality high protein meal. (The intellectual, emotionless approach.)
I was watching the video called "Fat Head" when I made the decision. They advocate a high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate diet, including fresh vegetables and a little fruit in order to lose weight successfully. No grains, no starches.
Option 2: Cry a lot and wallow in my failure for a week or two. (The emotional approach.)
I feel rather shocked that I went ahead and ate the eggs -- I don't think I am really at the cry-and-wallow stage yet, because I am still in shock. I am also thinking there may be no need. I think the thing that bothers me the most is that I broke my word. Yep, that is the thing that really bothers me the most. I'm also afraid I have made myself look foolish, yet again.
I think I shall choose for somewhere in between these two options. There are probably others that I have not thought of.
I would like to continue losing weight, and to continue juicing -- but I think I will "include" juicing, rather than doing it exclusively. I'm wondering if I could eat one good meal a day and juice for everything else -- the other two meals and snacks.
One of the things I became conscious of tonight (before eating the eggs) was that juicing had affected another change in my habits that I had not noticed before. I used to kind of graze as I watched TV or a video. Whenever I felt hungry I would go and get something to eat, sit back down and eat while I watched. With the juicing I had, without my notice, stopped doing that. I still had meals while watching TV, but I was not "snacking" all evening long. I was actually eating less, and less often. When the juice filled me up, it really filled me up and I had no desire to snack on anything.
Tonight when I got hungry, I sat and did not make another juice. I had already made two and felt I was running low on supplies. Perhaps that was the problem. Just like on Wednesday I had exercised and perhaps I really needed to juice another time -- my ignoring the urge because I did not think it was time, kind of pushed my hunger into overdrive.
So here is my opportunity: I now have the opportunity to make a change in what I am currently doing. I would like to make a successful change which means I would like to continue to lose weight and also get better blood results. I am so tired, right now, that I think I shall wait until morning to make the final decision on what I am going to do.
Good night,
Be back soon,
Marcia
Friday, July 22, 2011
Juice Feast DAY 8
Morning weight: 332.5
Starting weight: 346
Amount of Loss: 13.5 pounds
Time period: 8 days
Yes, I know. I was not going to weigh myself until Tuesday. I could not help myself. I am anxious to lose weight and anxious to see if this program is REALLY going to help me lose weight. So far it has. So far, so good. Phil had lost 17 pounds on day 5, so, being a woman, and also being 61 I just simply lose weight more slowly, so my 13.5 pounds in 8 days is quite satisfying. I have not seen this number on my scale for years!! Two more days to go, before deciding what I shall do next. I wonder if the 13.5 number will hold or increase. It seems likely that it will hold, but I've been amazed at how the numbers go up and down by the hour -- while I am juicing, no less -- and I am not holding my breath.
My blood sugar upper numbers seem to be about the same as when I am eating salads at an average of 127. If I add fruit, they can go up as high as 147. So, once again, fruit it not so good for blood sugar readings. The blood sugar numbers that are really astounding me are the morning ones, and also the lower readings. I've had blood sugar morning numbers of 111 and 116, which used to be always about 127, so that is a good drop. And my lower numbers are now lower than they used to be. I've had a few as low as 97 but they seem to hover around 106 which I am happy with.
As I am making my juices I am using the same approach that I have always used for cooking. I go to the fridge, look at what is available, and then begin pulling things out as I make up a juice recipe out of whatever I have. I start by pulling out the greens that I will use. After I have a couple of things placed on the dish drainer I look at them and think about what kind of flavor this particular set of greens has and then add things that I think might make the flavor more interesting to my mouth.
Tomatoes add a nice mild flavor. Cucumber adds a mild fresh tinge to the juice. Lime will over power bitter greens. Garlic has the usual garlic flavor and a lot of heat which increases with the size of the clove. Ginger adds a fresh flavor that heats up as the size of the piece of ginger increases, too, so if I want a mild freshness I cut a half-inch piece, if I want more of a zing I add a larger piece. I had begun to recognize that my favorite combination of "additional" ingredients is one whole lime, peeled, one large clove of garlic, and a one-inch piece of ginger. Those three will make any batch of dull-tasting greens much more pleasant to my mouth.
I have noticed that I am much more adventurous in the produce department now. I am very willing to grab a bunch of something green and add it to my cart whether I know what it tastes like or not, and whether I have ever purchased and used it before or not. I figure that if it is in the produce department to sell at my local Kroger store, other people have been buying and using it, so why not me? I had been stuck in a rut before and shied away from just about anything other than Romaine lettuce, spinach, and parsley (which I used sparingly.)
The thing about buying new greens though, is that I often forget what they are called when I get home. Last night I pulled out a bunch of pretty greens and added some parsley and my favorite lime, garlic, and ginger for supper. I did not recognize the greens I was using until I could smell them as they were processed through the juicer -- and that is when the "uh-oh" of recognition came to my mind that I had pulled out mustard greens. I knew this juice was going to be hotter than I like. I sampled it and found that, yep, this is a hot one. But, as you know, I could not waste my twenty-four ounces of juice so I began to doctor it.
First I watered it down, knowing this would both cut the heat and create left-overs -- meaning I would be drinking it last night and in the morning, too -- ugh. I added my first defense which is salt and then put in some mild curry powder hoping for additional flavor without any additional heat. It was still hotter than my taste buds enjoy, but I was able to drink it and get the good full feeling that spice-hot juice also contains. It did not seem to bother my tummy, so I let it go at that.
In the morning, as I drank my left over hot juice, my bowels began to move. I was actually pleased with this result, since there has not been much movement in that department recently -- even while juicing. So, now I am sitting here in my two-piece swim suit, waiting to see if they will calm down enough that I can trust going swimming with no emergencies.
I've had my swim gear on for about an hour, including the new swim shoes I bought and have discovered that the stitching on the top is rubbing my toes tender. The only solution I could think of was to put on some socks to cushion the rubbing. I hope the shoes do not come off in the pool because I am wearing them with socks. I thought about wearing my usual black socks but figured that would be a pretty funny sight: a 332.5 pound lady in a large aqua swim suit with sun glasses and a visor to protect my eyes from the glare and navy swim shoes with black socks. I opted for the light tan socks which do not exactly match my skin tones but are not so visible as black ones. Ha. I shall provide entertainment for anyone in the vicinity -- I don't mind. I just pretend everything is normal and do what I need to do. Most people are not so bold as to say something -- except for kids.
Good thing I waited -- if you get my drift.
My "Day 8" pain levels seem to be about normal. They have reduced from what was going on on "Day 3" and "Day 4" but have not disappeared. I think the exercising is helping. I rested yesterday and did not exercise, except to walk around Kroger getting some produce. After what had happened the day before (with the fatigue and temptation, etc.) I realized I needed a rest, so I took one. Sometimes having the plumbing moving so actively makes me tired, too. I hope to, at some point, go for a swim when things have finally settled down.
Emotionally, I feel stronger, today, like I could continue the juice feast for a longer time, but my mind is hopelessly focusing on Day 10 as my last day. I will not make my decision until Day 10 about whether to continue or not.
One of the juice experts that I read about suggested a plan of alternating juicing and eating on five-day cycles. I think seven-day cycles might be easier to keep track of because you always change on the same day of the week. You eat the same things you juice during the alternating periods but when you are eating you can add some raw nuts and seeds -- I am thinking maybe some eggs, too or a bit of chicken and broth with some cooked vegetables. Then you juice feast for five (or seven) days again -- going back and forth. I am thinking that I could do that until I get a lot more of the weight off of me. I must remember to be gentle to my body and not suddenly eat fast food or something, during the eating periods. I could also alternate eating for ten, and juicing for five... I shall see and decide on Day 10 -- but seven day cycles still seems to be the simplest to remember.
Juicing seems to be a bit more expensive than eating the same things because juicing requires so many more of them to make enough to be a meal. I may also juice during the eating periods, too. Perhaps juicing once or twice a day, and eating for the other meals and snacks.
Any combination of things might be done. I want to light on the thing or combination that will work for me. I like a simple plan, not a complicated one -- and I really like it if it works -- not like the plans that I have up to now been dealing with. Up to now, they were making my blood sugar numbers better but I've not lost much weight on them. I like the juicing because I am actually losing weight -- and giving my body the healthy nutrients it needs at the same time.
Anyway, the plumbing does not seem to be quite done, yet, so maybe my swim will be this afternoon.
Doing well -- thanking God!!
Hope you are too!!
Be back soon,
Marcia
Starting weight: 346
Amount of Loss: 13.5 pounds
Time period: 8 days
Yes, I know. I was not going to weigh myself until Tuesday. I could not help myself. I am anxious to lose weight and anxious to see if this program is REALLY going to help me lose weight. So far it has. So far, so good. Phil had lost 17 pounds on day 5, so, being a woman, and also being 61 I just simply lose weight more slowly, so my 13.5 pounds in 8 days is quite satisfying. I have not seen this number on my scale for years!! Two more days to go, before deciding what I shall do next. I wonder if the 13.5 number will hold or increase. It seems likely that it will hold, but I've been amazed at how the numbers go up and down by the hour -- while I am juicing, no less -- and I am not holding my breath.
My blood sugar upper numbers seem to be about the same as when I am eating salads at an average of 127. If I add fruit, they can go up as high as 147. So, once again, fruit it not so good for blood sugar readings. The blood sugar numbers that are really astounding me are the morning ones, and also the lower readings. I've had blood sugar morning numbers of 111 and 116, which used to be always about 127, so that is a good drop. And my lower numbers are now lower than they used to be. I've had a few as low as 97 but they seem to hover around 106 which I am happy with.
As I am making my juices I am using the same approach that I have always used for cooking. I go to the fridge, look at what is available, and then begin pulling things out as I make up a juice recipe out of whatever I have. I start by pulling out the greens that I will use. After I have a couple of things placed on the dish drainer I look at them and think about what kind of flavor this particular set of greens has and then add things that I think might make the flavor more interesting to my mouth.
Tomatoes add a nice mild flavor. Cucumber adds a mild fresh tinge to the juice. Lime will over power bitter greens. Garlic has the usual garlic flavor and a lot of heat which increases with the size of the clove. Ginger adds a fresh flavor that heats up as the size of the piece of ginger increases, too, so if I want a mild freshness I cut a half-inch piece, if I want more of a zing I add a larger piece. I had begun to recognize that my favorite combination of "additional" ingredients is one whole lime, peeled, one large clove of garlic, and a one-inch piece of ginger. Those three will make any batch of dull-tasting greens much more pleasant to my mouth.
I have noticed that I am much more adventurous in the produce department now. I am very willing to grab a bunch of something green and add it to my cart whether I know what it tastes like or not, and whether I have ever purchased and used it before or not. I figure that if it is in the produce department to sell at my local Kroger store, other people have been buying and using it, so why not me? I had been stuck in a rut before and shied away from just about anything other than Romaine lettuce, spinach, and parsley (which I used sparingly.)
The thing about buying new greens though, is that I often forget what they are called when I get home. Last night I pulled out a bunch of pretty greens and added some parsley and my favorite lime, garlic, and ginger for supper. I did not recognize the greens I was using until I could smell them as they were processed through the juicer -- and that is when the "uh-oh" of recognition came to my mind that I had pulled out mustard greens. I knew this juice was going to be hotter than I like. I sampled it and found that, yep, this is a hot one. But, as you know, I could not waste my twenty-four ounces of juice so I began to doctor it.
First I watered it down, knowing this would both cut the heat and create left-overs -- meaning I would be drinking it last night and in the morning, too -- ugh. I added my first defense which is salt and then put in some mild curry powder hoping for additional flavor without any additional heat. It was still hotter than my taste buds enjoy, but I was able to drink it and get the good full feeling that spice-hot juice also contains. It did not seem to bother my tummy, so I let it go at that.
In the morning, as I drank my left over hot juice, my bowels began to move. I was actually pleased with this result, since there has not been much movement in that department recently -- even while juicing. So, now I am sitting here in my two-piece swim suit, waiting to see if they will calm down enough that I can trust going swimming with no emergencies.
I've had my swim gear on for about an hour, including the new swim shoes I bought and have discovered that the stitching on the top is rubbing my toes tender. The only solution I could think of was to put on some socks to cushion the rubbing. I hope the shoes do not come off in the pool because I am wearing them with socks. I thought about wearing my usual black socks but figured that would be a pretty funny sight: a 332.5 pound lady in a large aqua swim suit with sun glasses and a visor to protect my eyes from the glare and navy swim shoes with black socks. I opted for the light tan socks which do not exactly match my skin tones but are not so visible as black ones. Ha. I shall provide entertainment for anyone in the vicinity -- I don't mind. I just pretend everything is normal and do what I need to do. Most people are not so bold as to say something -- except for kids.
Good thing I waited -- if you get my drift.
My "Day 8" pain levels seem to be about normal. They have reduced from what was going on on "Day 3" and "Day 4" but have not disappeared. I think the exercising is helping. I rested yesterday and did not exercise, except to walk around Kroger getting some produce. After what had happened the day before (with the fatigue and temptation, etc.) I realized I needed a rest, so I took one. Sometimes having the plumbing moving so actively makes me tired, too. I hope to, at some point, go for a swim when things have finally settled down.
Emotionally, I feel stronger, today, like I could continue the juice feast for a longer time, but my mind is hopelessly focusing on Day 10 as my last day. I will not make my decision until Day 10 about whether to continue or not.
One of the juice experts that I read about suggested a plan of alternating juicing and eating on five-day cycles. I think seven-day cycles might be easier to keep track of because you always change on the same day of the week. You eat the same things you juice during the alternating periods but when you are eating you can add some raw nuts and seeds -- I am thinking maybe some eggs, too or a bit of chicken and broth with some cooked vegetables. Then you juice feast for five (or seven) days again -- going back and forth. I am thinking that I could do that until I get a lot more of the weight off of me. I must remember to be gentle to my body and not suddenly eat fast food or something, during the eating periods. I could also alternate eating for ten, and juicing for five... I shall see and decide on Day 10 -- but seven day cycles still seems to be the simplest to remember.
Juicing seems to be a bit more expensive than eating the same things because juicing requires so many more of them to make enough to be a meal. I may also juice during the eating periods, too. Perhaps juicing once or twice a day, and eating for the other meals and snacks.
Any combination of things might be done. I want to light on the thing or combination that will work for me. I like a simple plan, not a complicated one -- and I really like it if it works -- not like the plans that I have up to now been dealing with. Up to now, they were making my blood sugar numbers better but I've not lost much weight on them. I like the juicing because I am actually losing weight -- and giving my body the healthy nutrients it needs at the same time.
Anyway, the plumbing does not seem to be quite done, yet, so maybe my swim will be this afternoon.
Doing well -- thanking God!!
Hope you are too!!
Be back soon,
Marcia
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Juice Feast DAY 7
Hi,
Seesaw. Up and down. Up and down. I found out the hard way that I need to take a juice with me when I am not at home. Even if the enzymes get depleted over time, I need to have something with me.
Eating fresh raw vegetables and fruit (especially in the form of juice) is a radical thing to do in our current culture, but there was a time when that is precisely what our recent ancestors ate. Eating fresh raw vegetables and fruit (organic) is the answer to the health and obesity problems we are seeing in our country, and over the whole world, right now.
When I was growing up, fifty years ago, many people still had gardens in their own yards. They ate fresh tomatoes, and zucchini, and green beans, and even corn all fresh from their own back yard. My parents often had a garden, until my mother went to work. Dad would till it, Mom and us kids would plant it. Mom weeded it. Dad would water it. I remember going out to the garden with my Mom and my brother and sister to help her pick peas. We were not really interested in the chore until Mom showed us that we could pop open a pod and eat fresh peas right there in the garden. Once we learned that we practically had a meal right then and there. I don't recall if Mom got enough peas to cook that night!
When, as children, we walked down the alley to school what we walked by were people's gardens. In our town the alleys were tiny streets between the main streets that often separated the back yards. They were safe for us to walk on, because they were kind of narrow and people only drove down them if they had a specific destination in the alley.
The yards did not butt up against each other, the yards were separated by "alleys" and the gardens were usually next to the alley. It was part of the design of the residential area. A man or woman could pull their truck up to their own back yard and unload a sack or two of manure for the garden or haul away some trash out the back way. They were often fenced so dogs and kids could not come in and trample them. We, as children, also knew we were not allowed to go into other people's gardens. It simply was not done. Cities and houses are no longer purposely designed for gardens, but, any spot will do. Till the ground, plant some seeds -- voila! A garden.
It has only been in that short time span (fifty years) that people abandoned their gardens for grocery store produce. I am glad to see that some people are going back to it. If I ever get to the point where I can do the work, I would like to do a small garden on some of the yard that I live in. Maybe even a few pots on the porch with tomatoes would be good.
Anyway... I am still juicing. Going to rest today. Hope all is well with you,
If you decide to juice, please let me know. It would be so nice to be doing this with someone else. And like I told a very dear friend: Oh how nice it will be when we both try on a size 14 and find out it is too big!!
Have not picked out the piece of clothing to represent my goal, yet. Cannot decide what size to get. I think my first one will be a 2XL (same as Phil). If I can get to that size, then I might consider a 14 for the next one.
You gotta keep the goal in mind!
Be back soon,
God bless you!!
Marcia
Seesaw. Up and down. Up and down. I found out the hard way that I need to take a juice with me when I am not at home. Even if the enzymes get depleted over time, I need to have something with me.
After I came home from church last night, I had a tough evening. I was not tempted with the appearance of food but the desire deep inside me -- which was quelled with prayer, a large juice, and a cup of chamomile tea. I also needed to take some taurine (for good mood) and L-theanine (for anxiety.) Thinking about it from this morning's perspective I recall that I was very tired when I went to church. I had been to physical therapy yesterday afternoon which is like a tiny gym for infirm people. I was worn out when I got home, but still had to go to church.
Last night I nearly walked away from the feast. But the thought of why I am doing this helped me make right choices. I was even counting the days until the juice fast was over and contemplating how I was going to deal with it. At the time a hamburger sounded really good. (No, that is not the solution, it was just what popped into my mind.) "Hunger" had become the companion talking in my left ear -- tempting me to quit the program. But I am really tired of quitting. Thank God! I did not quit. I prayed, I got a juice and drank some tea and took care of myself. A good night's rest helped, too.
Temptation is only hard to deal with when your defenses are down. That is when it suddenly moves from the background (about six feet away) to the foreground (in your face) -- when you are tired, or when it has been too long since the last meal. That is the purpose of temptation -- to make you jump off the high road and go back to the ditch you just climbed out of. Just say, "No." At the time it was not easy to say but it was necessary to do.
Eating fresh raw vegetables and fruit (especially in the form of juice) is a radical thing to do in our current culture, but there was a time when that is precisely what our recent ancestors ate. Eating fresh raw vegetables and fruit (organic) is the answer to the health and obesity problems we are seeing in our country, and over the whole world, right now.
When I was growing up, fifty years ago, many people still had gardens in their own yards. They ate fresh tomatoes, and zucchini, and green beans, and even corn all fresh from their own back yard. My parents often had a garden, until my mother went to work. Dad would till it, Mom and us kids would plant it. Mom weeded it. Dad would water it. I remember going out to the garden with my Mom and my brother and sister to help her pick peas. We were not really interested in the chore until Mom showed us that we could pop open a pod and eat fresh peas right there in the garden. Once we learned that we practically had a meal right then and there. I don't recall if Mom got enough peas to cook that night!
When, as children, we walked down the alley to school what we walked by were people's gardens. In our town the alleys were tiny streets between the main streets that often separated the back yards. They were safe for us to walk on, because they were kind of narrow and people only drove down them if they had a specific destination in the alley.
The yards did not butt up against each other, the yards were separated by "alleys" and the gardens were usually next to the alley. It was part of the design of the residential area. A man or woman could pull their truck up to their own back yard and unload a sack or two of manure for the garden or haul away some trash out the back way. They were often fenced so dogs and kids could not come in and trample them. We, as children, also knew we were not allowed to go into other people's gardens. It simply was not done. Cities and houses are no longer purposely designed for gardens, but, any spot will do. Till the ground, plant some seeds -- voila! A garden.
It has only been in that short time span (fifty years) that people abandoned their gardens for grocery store produce. I am glad to see that some people are going back to it. If I ever get to the point where I can do the work, I would like to do a small garden on some of the yard that I live in. Maybe even a few pots on the porch with tomatoes would be good.
Anyway... I am still juicing. Going to rest today. Hope all is well with you,
If you decide to juice, please let me know. It would be so nice to be doing this with someone else. And like I told a very dear friend: Oh how nice it will be when we both try on a size 14 and find out it is too big!!
Have not picked out the piece of clothing to represent my goal, yet. Cannot decide what size to get. I think my first one will be a 2XL (same as Phil). If I can get to that size, then I might consider a 14 for the next one.
You gotta keep the goal in mind!
Be back soon,
God bless you!!
Marcia
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Juice Feast DAY 6
Hi,
Morning blood sugar: 116 -- pretty good for me
I have noticed a couple of good things going on today. First, I checked my feet and ankles this morning and they seem to be nearly normal. There is very little edema today and I did not take a diuretic to accomplish this. It seems that juicing takes care of it, somehow. The first stand up of the morning was a whole lot less painful, too. My back is not bothering me as much -- Thank God!!
I did a session in the outdoor pool yesterday which may have helped the back pain, but I think the solo vegetables and fruit juicing is having a good effect in that department, too. My thighs seem to be minorly sore -- any more and I would call the sensation "pain," but it really is very minimal and is more like "consciousness" of my thighs which I normally do not experience. This tells me that some of the things I did in the pool did have some effect on my thighs. Mostly I was trying out going sideways in the water (not swimming, more like walking) to see if I could strengthen my inner thighs.
I did pay more conscious attention to the core muscles, too. My physical therapist has shown me that if I tighten up the lowest abdominal muscles it straightens my back and neck. It seems that my posture corrects itself by that momentary tightening of the lowest abdominal muscles. The effect seems almost miraculous. She has said that I need to be flexing those muscles all day long, whenever it occurs to me to do it. I've been doing that and finding that the muscles get fatigued at some point, so I have to back off and rest them, then start doing it again, later. She also showed me that when I stand up, flexing those muscles takes some of the strain off of the back, making it somewhat easier to go from sitting to standing. The thing is, you have to remember to do it. I'm glad to be back in therapy where I am learning some things about my body and how to treat it.
Last night I made more juice than I could consume so I put the excess in a jar in the fridge and had it for breakfast. It was kind of nice to have it ready to go, like that. The only problem with that idea is that the enzymes and vitamins get depleted over a very short time. Experts suggest that you put the left over juice in a bottle without too much air at the top, because the air causes oxidation. Unfortunately I don't really have any bottles of those small sizes. One guy recommended adding a little water to bring the juice to the top of the jar. Good idea.
Adding water to the juice will also dampen down the flavor if you have accidentally concocted a recipe that is hard to drink because of, say, too much garlic, or a vegetable flavor that is not so appealing to the taste buds. Adding apple helps, too, but I need to be a little careful with the fruits, so adding water, and a little salt or herbs can also doctor a flavor. I've begun to think of those flavors as "healthy." I hate to waste some perfectly good nutrition because it does not tantalize my taste buds, so "healthy" seems a good name for that kind of a flavor.
Some of my favorite juice flavors are from celery and beets. Oddly, I don't really care for the lemon or lime flavors because they seem to overpower everything else, but they are refreshing some times. Lemon and lime don't have much fructose in them, so that makes them ideal for the diabetic -- or for those who suffer from gout. Some other fruits that are low in fructose (that I have not tried to juice, yet) are: cranberries, passion fruit, prunes (fresh, not dried), apricot, guava, Deglet Noor dates (fresh, not dried), and raspberries. Cantaloupe would fit in that category, also. These all contain less than or equal to about three grams of fructose, if the fruit is either medium sized, or will fit in a cup. Two medium guava contain 2.2 grams of fructose. One eighth of a medium cantaloupe contains 2.8 grams of fructose. Half of an apple has about 4.75 grams of fructose. Quantity makes a difference.
One thing that has been a little surprising to me is that I sometimes actually do have leftovers. Can you imagine, left over juice? I will just get to a point and stop, not wanting any more. This is new for me. When I am eating the SAD diet, I can consume whatever is put in front of me, and sometimes more. This idea of juicing and having leftovers is a new experience for me. I know that may sound odd to some people, but a food addiction is about getting more and more and more. I have previously explained what I call "the eating machine" but juicing fresh raw vegetables with a little fruit seems to be a whole new ball game. Nice!!
This is kind of amazing to me. It seems that appetite is related to the composition of your diet. You can control your appetite by eating more fresh raw veggies and fruit. When I am eating processed foods which tend to be very carbohydrate rich my appetite becomes much harder to satisfy. That means, to me, that eating processed and high carbohydrate foods causes you to want more and more of them. I think dairy may fit in this category, also, because I had begun to notice that I binge on cheese and cottage cheese and yogurt if I have them in the house. They do not satisfy my appetite.
If fact, it seems that if you are consuming fresh raw vegetables and fruit, you don't have to CONTROL your appetite. It just seems to get satisfied and you move on to other things. On my first day on the juice fast (I had not changed the name, yet) I got hungry very often. I must have had to make a juice about every two hours, but the next day, my personal experience of it changed. I no longer had to have something every two hours. I did not pay attention to the clock, but the time span between increased, and the actual number of times I had to make a juice, just naturally reduced.
As I continued on the fast my appetite became what I have read about as being "normal." Frankly, folks, I had never ever experienced that before. I have been a food addict since I was a small child. I remember my mother remarking on the number of bowls that were lined up beside my bed because I would have to eat something before going to sleep and after I had had my bowl of cereal or pasta or whatever, I would put the bowl on the floor, turn over, and go to sleep. I was never a tidy person so I would leave the bowls there, and after a few days there would be a row of them by my bed. If my mother could not find her dishes, she knew they would be next to my bed. I was always hungry and never had to be forced to "clean my plate."
I remember going to parties and hanging out by the food all night long. I did not go to mingle with friends, I went to find out what they were serving. I've often been embarrassed by these, and other similar behaviors, thinking there was something wrong with me, but the truth seems to be that my body was out of balance from having a diet of grains, and potatoes, casseroles, and cooked food. My mother tried to make sure we had "balanced" meals by the standard of the day. She was very conscientious and my siblings were all normal sized. I was the only one that was different. I remember her saying that I was the only pregnancy in which she gained weight, too. Perhaps, through no fault of her own, the diet that she was eating that put weight on her, also put weight on me. I was of a rather large birth weight, although I was not the largest of her babies. I think I weighed more than eight pounds when I was born.
This juice fast (feast) has really opened my eyes on the matter of appetite -- and not just "appetite" but MY APPETITE and even on "temptation." My previous experience of desiring "food" was always up close and personal. I was drawn to it like a fly to honey. I wanted to be as close to it as possible and I wanted to reach out and eat it. What I am finding happening now is that the temptation seems farther away. It is as if a space has opened up around me. There is still the temptation but it no longer seems so personal. It is about six feet away right now so it is still important for me to continue on the juice feast and continue to experience this new adventure.
I figure some people might think these descriptions are quite odd -- but there must be someone out there who knows what I am talking about. I am very happy that this is what has happened from doing this juice fast. I never actually expected it, and if I had known this was going to happen I would have had no fear to do it.
How odd that it was not obvious before. Eating God's food simply makes a difference. I had been immersed in eating manufactured food so deeply that I could not see the forest for the trees. I had tried on many occasions to incorporate more raw foods but was still combining them with my favorite hard to let go of processed foods. This is the first time I have eaten them exclusively with no grains of any kind, no starchy carbs of any kind, no dairy, and no meat -- and it is the first time I am feeling the change in how my appetite works. It is kind of nice to find out that, I, too, am "normal."
God had a purpose in creating all the many varieties of vegetables and fruits that He made. It was for man's consumption. I knew that -- but I had never really experienced that before. It had never made a real difference in my life because I was never willing to actually let go and eat only veggies and fruits for a period of time. I am also not eating any oil and/or vinegar for this time period, too. And nothing is cooked. I am still taking all the supplements my doctor told me to. I go to see her in about the first week of August and this time, she will see the kind of results that she has wanted for me. I am grateful and glad.
Doing well. Thanking God. Praising God. Grateful.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Morning blood sugar: 116 -- pretty good for me
I have noticed a couple of good things going on today. First, I checked my feet and ankles this morning and they seem to be nearly normal. There is very little edema today and I did not take a diuretic to accomplish this. It seems that juicing takes care of it, somehow. The first stand up of the morning was a whole lot less painful, too. My back is not bothering me as much -- Thank God!!
I did a session in the outdoor pool yesterday which may have helped the back pain, but I think the solo vegetables and fruit juicing is having a good effect in that department, too. My thighs seem to be minorly sore -- any more and I would call the sensation "pain," but it really is very minimal and is more like "consciousness" of my thighs which I normally do not experience. This tells me that some of the things I did in the pool did have some effect on my thighs. Mostly I was trying out going sideways in the water (not swimming, more like walking) to see if I could strengthen my inner thighs.
I did pay more conscious attention to the core muscles, too. My physical therapist has shown me that if I tighten up the lowest abdominal muscles it straightens my back and neck. It seems that my posture corrects itself by that momentary tightening of the lowest abdominal muscles. The effect seems almost miraculous. She has said that I need to be flexing those muscles all day long, whenever it occurs to me to do it. I've been doing that and finding that the muscles get fatigued at some point, so I have to back off and rest them, then start doing it again, later. She also showed me that when I stand up, flexing those muscles takes some of the strain off of the back, making it somewhat easier to go from sitting to standing. The thing is, you have to remember to do it. I'm glad to be back in therapy where I am learning some things about my body and how to treat it.
Last night I made more juice than I could consume so I put the excess in a jar in the fridge and had it for breakfast. It was kind of nice to have it ready to go, like that. The only problem with that idea is that the enzymes and vitamins get depleted over a very short time. Experts suggest that you put the left over juice in a bottle without too much air at the top, because the air causes oxidation. Unfortunately I don't really have any bottles of those small sizes. One guy recommended adding a little water to bring the juice to the top of the jar. Good idea.
Adding water to the juice will also dampen down the flavor if you have accidentally concocted a recipe that is hard to drink because of, say, too much garlic, or a vegetable flavor that is not so appealing to the taste buds. Adding apple helps, too, but I need to be a little careful with the fruits, so adding water, and a little salt or herbs can also doctor a flavor. I've begun to think of those flavors as "healthy." I hate to waste some perfectly good nutrition because it does not tantalize my taste buds, so "healthy" seems a good name for that kind of a flavor.
Some of my favorite juice flavors are from celery and beets. Oddly, I don't really care for the lemon or lime flavors because they seem to overpower everything else, but they are refreshing some times. Lemon and lime don't have much fructose in them, so that makes them ideal for the diabetic -- or for those who suffer from gout. Some other fruits that are low in fructose (that I have not tried to juice, yet) are: cranberries, passion fruit, prunes (fresh, not dried), apricot, guava, Deglet Noor dates (fresh, not dried), and raspberries. Cantaloupe would fit in that category, also. These all contain less than or equal to about three grams of fructose, if the fruit is either medium sized, or will fit in a cup. Two medium guava contain 2.2 grams of fructose. One eighth of a medium cantaloupe contains 2.8 grams of fructose. Half of an apple has about 4.75 grams of fructose. Quantity makes a difference.
One thing that has been a little surprising to me is that I sometimes actually do have leftovers. Can you imagine, left over juice? I will just get to a point and stop, not wanting any more. This is new for me. When I am eating the SAD diet, I can consume whatever is put in front of me, and sometimes more. This idea of juicing and having leftovers is a new experience for me. I know that may sound odd to some people, but a food addiction is about getting more and more and more. I have previously explained what I call "the eating machine" but juicing fresh raw vegetables with a little fruit seems to be a whole new ball game. Nice!!
This is kind of amazing to me. It seems that appetite is related to the composition of your diet. You can control your appetite by eating more fresh raw veggies and fruit. When I am eating processed foods which tend to be very carbohydrate rich my appetite becomes much harder to satisfy. That means, to me, that eating processed and high carbohydrate foods causes you to want more and more of them. I think dairy may fit in this category, also, because I had begun to notice that I binge on cheese and cottage cheese and yogurt if I have them in the house. They do not satisfy my appetite.
If fact, it seems that if you are consuming fresh raw vegetables and fruit, you don't have to CONTROL your appetite. It just seems to get satisfied and you move on to other things. On my first day on the juice fast (I had not changed the name, yet) I got hungry very often. I must have had to make a juice about every two hours, but the next day, my personal experience of it changed. I no longer had to have something every two hours. I did not pay attention to the clock, but the time span between increased, and the actual number of times I had to make a juice, just naturally reduced.
As I continued on the fast my appetite became what I have read about as being "normal." Frankly, folks, I had never ever experienced that before. I have been a food addict since I was a small child. I remember my mother remarking on the number of bowls that were lined up beside my bed because I would have to eat something before going to sleep and after I had had my bowl of cereal or pasta or whatever, I would put the bowl on the floor, turn over, and go to sleep. I was never a tidy person so I would leave the bowls there, and after a few days there would be a row of them by my bed. If my mother could not find her dishes, she knew they would be next to my bed. I was always hungry and never had to be forced to "clean my plate."
I remember going to parties and hanging out by the food all night long. I did not go to mingle with friends, I went to find out what they were serving. I've often been embarrassed by these, and other similar behaviors, thinking there was something wrong with me, but the truth seems to be that my body was out of balance from having a diet of grains, and potatoes, casseroles, and cooked food. My mother tried to make sure we had "balanced" meals by the standard of the day. She was very conscientious and my siblings were all normal sized. I was the only one that was different. I remember her saying that I was the only pregnancy in which she gained weight, too. Perhaps, through no fault of her own, the diet that she was eating that put weight on her, also put weight on me. I was of a rather large birth weight, although I was not the largest of her babies. I think I weighed more than eight pounds when I was born.
This juice fast (feast) has really opened my eyes on the matter of appetite -- and not just "appetite" but MY APPETITE and even on "temptation." My previous experience of desiring "food" was always up close and personal. I was drawn to it like a fly to honey. I wanted to be as close to it as possible and I wanted to reach out and eat it. What I am finding happening now is that the temptation seems farther away. It is as if a space has opened up around me. There is still the temptation but it no longer seems so personal. It is about six feet away right now so it is still important for me to continue on the juice feast and continue to experience this new adventure.
I figure some people might think these descriptions are quite odd -- but there must be someone out there who knows what I am talking about. I am very happy that this is what has happened from doing this juice fast. I never actually expected it, and if I had known this was going to happen I would have had no fear to do it.
How odd that it was not obvious before. Eating God's food simply makes a difference. I had been immersed in eating manufactured food so deeply that I could not see the forest for the trees. I had tried on many occasions to incorporate more raw foods but was still combining them with my favorite hard to let go of processed foods. This is the first time I have eaten them exclusively with no grains of any kind, no starchy carbs of any kind, no dairy, and no meat -- and it is the first time I am feeling the change in how my appetite works. It is kind of nice to find out that, I, too, am "normal."
God had a purpose in creating all the many varieties of vegetables and fruits that He made. It was for man's consumption. I knew that -- but I had never really experienced that before. It had never made a real difference in my life because I was never willing to actually let go and eat only veggies and fruits for a period of time. I am also not eating any oil and/or vinegar for this time period, too. And nothing is cooked. I am still taking all the supplements my doctor told me to. I go to see her in about the first week of August and this time, she will see the kind of results that she has wanted for me. I am grateful and glad.
Doing well. Thanking God. Praising God. Grateful.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Juice Feast DAY 5
Hi,
Morning blood sugar: 113 -- yippee!
Morning weight: 336.5 -- yippee! (down 9.5 pounds)
I consider my starting weight to be 346, which I believe is the weight my doctor's office scale, and my home scale read before I started the program. The two scales used to be different but I recently relocated my doctor-type scale (the one with the little weights at the top that you move back and forth to balance the rod) to another part of the room and noticed it needed to be adjusted, so now they weigh the same. Anyway, that is a 9.5 pound weight loss for this morning which is the beginning of day 5 on the juice fast.
I've been trying to get me to stop weighing every day but am still doing it. It has been amazing to me that I weigh different weights at different times of day and that, while juicing, there have been moments when the scale said that I had put weight on!!
Imagine that! Juicing and putting weight on. I've really had to remind myself that it is too soon to be weighing and too often. I believe this is why they say "don't weight every day" because if you are not willing to steel yourself to the readings, it can really play havoc with your mind. I suppose that after having finally gotten a good reading I should just leave it at that and wait a week until next Tuesday to weigh again in the morning.
You know that old saying: "It is always darkest before the dawn?" Well last night I was really considering chomping down on some of the veggies, instead of drinking them. I had decided to have a cup of chamomile tea, instead, when the phone rang. It was my very dear friend Susan calling to say she had been reading my posts and wanted to give me some encouragement.
She had been reading some Bible verses and commentary in a book and wanted to remind me that no matter what I am going through, no matter how I feel, God is still there watching over me. He does not change!! Whether we have sunny skies or cloudy moods, God is still loving you. God is still guiding you. God is still God and He has good things in store for those who love Him. Praise the Lord!
What a blessing it was to get her call. Just the fact that she has been reading my posts, and thinks I am doing the right thing was very encouraging and I really am grateful that she acted on her instincts and picked up the phone and called. It made a huge difference in how I felt and in keeping me on the right track.
She shared with me that she thought I was doing the right thing and it was nice to be admired for doing something right. Not everyone agrees, but, for the most part when they don't agree, you don't hear from them. It was very nice to hear that both she and her husband were impressed with what I was doing. It just felt good, and I really appreciated the shot in the arm of good will and reminders about God. Thank you, Susan -- and Thank you, Lord, for watching over me continually. What a Good God I have!!
I was getting hungry so I just went to the kitchen to concoct a juice for myself. As I looked through the fridge choosing what to juice my eyes lighted on the three-pound bag of broccoli florets that I had purchased the other day at Sam's. I bought it at the same time I had bought the bag of broccoli, cauliflower, and baby carrots which I shared about before. Since I had discovered that the broccoli does not yield much juice I decided to just juice the whole bag and be done with it. It yielded almost exactly twenty ounces of juice which I tasted. At first it was simply the same flavor I recognized from eating sprigs of raw broccoli. But after about thirty seconds it suddenly became bitter on the back of my tongue -- which I had been warned about in some of my reading about juicing.
So I added one green apple, one huge Swiss chard leaf, and about six or seven Italian parsley sprigs to the mix. That seemed to take the bitter after taste away but it still needed something, so I salted it, and added some of my favorite curry powder. That seemed to make it more of a meal for me. I swigged one glass and poured another which I am now sipping. It still amazes me that a twelve ounce glass of green juice fills me up like a turkey dinner -- only better. With a turkey dinner I would have eaten all the carbohydrate laden side dishes and pumpkin pie, too. I would have come away feeling like a stuffed pillow straining at the seams, moaning and groaning and then having to take a nap, only to rise and do it again in a couple of hours. All the while I would have been feeling guilty about all that I had eaten and if I checked my blood sugars they would have been alarmingly high which is scary. Then the next day... I would have stuffed myself with left overs a couple more times. Whew!!
I like the juicing WAY better. I'm feeling full, almost stuffed, really, but without being over stuffed. Green juice really fills me up. That is why I just don't feel like I'm fasting. How can you feel stuffed with food, and also feel empty from fasting -- the two cannot occupy the same space.
Oddly, this makes me recall a tale about a man in a concentration camp during WWII that I heard shared on a video called: "The 23 Psalm for People with Cancer." I don't recall his name but he later became a teacher at a prestigious school and shared with his students that when the Americans came and opened up the camp, the majority of the people in the camp were skeleton thin and without strength but he was not as gaunt or weak as they were. He attributed his better health to the fact that he had very early on decided that he was not starving, he was fasting. He told them he did that as way to not let the enemy be the winner. He was in the presence of the enemy but he was not under their control. This was told concerning the part of the Psalm that says: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Amazing how belief in God can make such a huge difference. That is why faith is so important. Faith in God and Jesus Christ make a huge difference in a person's life in the present and in the hereafter, too.
I have decided that I am no longer going to call this a "juice fast," I am going to call it a "Juice Feast!!" I have heard that term used before but now I understand it. I am feasting every day on the foods that God provides and I feel very good from it and about it. Again, I must say, how grateful I am for Susan's encouragement. Thank you, Susan!! :)
God bless you and give you faith in Him!!
Be back soon,
Marcia
Morning blood sugar: 113 -- yippee!
Morning weight: 336.5 -- yippee! (down 9.5 pounds)
I consider my starting weight to be 346, which I believe is the weight my doctor's office scale, and my home scale read before I started the program. The two scales used to be different but I recently relocated my doctor-type scale (the one with the little weights at the top that you move back and forth to balance the rod) to another part of the room and noticed it needed to be adjusted, so now they weigh the same. Anyway, that is a 9.5 pound weight loss for this morning which is the beginning of day 5 on the juice fast.
I've been trying to get me to stop weighing every day but am still doing it. It has been amazing to me that I weigh different weights at different times of day and that, while juicing, there have been moments when the scale said that I had put weight on!!
Imagine that! Juicing and putting weight on. I've really had to remind myself that it is too soon to be weighing and too often. I believe this is why they say "don't weight every day" because if you are not willing to steel yourself to the readings, it can really play havoc with your mind. I suppose that after having finally gotten a good reading I should just leave it at that and wait a week until next Tuesday to weigh again in the morning.
You know that old saying: "It is always darkest before the dawn?" Well last night I was really considering chomping down on some of the veggies, instead of drinking them. I had decided to have a cup of chamomile tea, instead, when the phone rang. It was my very dear friend Susan calling to say she had been reading my posts and wanted to give me some encouragement.
She had been reading some Bible verses and commentary in a book and wanted to remind me that no matter what I am going through, no matter how I feel, God is still there watching over me. He does not change!! Whether we have sunny skies or cloudy moods, God is still loving you. God is still guiding you. God is still God and He has good things in store for those who love Him. Praise the Lord!
What a blessing it was to get her call. Just the fact that she has been reading my posts, and thinks I am doing the right thing was very encouraging and I really am grateful that she acted on her instincts and picked up the phone and called. It made a huge difference in how I felt and in keeping me on the right track.
She shared with me that she thought I was doing the right thing and it was nice to be admired for doing something right. Not everyone agrees, but, for the most part when they don't agree, you don't hear from them. It was very nice to hear that both she and her husband were impressed with what I was doing. It just felt good, and I really appreciated the shot in the arm of good will and reminders about God. Thank you, Susan -- and Thank you, Lord, for watching over me continually. What a Good God I have!!
I was getting hungry so I just went to the kitchen to concoct a juice for myself. As I looked through the fridge choosing what to juice my eyes lighted on the three-pound bag of broccoli florets that I had purchased the other day at Sam's. I bought it at the same time I had bought the bag of broccoli, cauliflower, and baby carrots which I shared about before. Since I had discovered that the broccoli does not yield much juice I decided to just juice the whole bag and be done with it. It yielded almost exactly twenty ounces of juice which I tasted. At first it was simply the same flavor I recognized from eating sprigs of raw broccoli. But after about thirty seconds it suddenly became bitter on the back of my tongue -- which I had been warned about in some of my reading about juicing.
So I added one green apple, one huge Swiss chard leaf, and about six or seven Italian parsley sprigs to the mix. That seemed to take the bitter after taste away but it still needed something, so I salted it, and added some of my favorite curry powder. That seemed to make it more of a meal for me. I swigged one glass and poured another which I am now sipping. It still amazes me that a twelve ounce glass of green juice fills me up like a turkey dinner -- only better. With a turkey dinner I would have eaten all the carbohydrate laden side dishes and pumpkin pie, too. I would have come away feeling like a stuffed pillow straining at the seams, moaning and groaning and then having to take a nap, only to rise and do it again in a couple of hours. All the while I would have been feeling guilty about all that I had eaten and if I checked my blood sugars they would have been alarmingly high which is scary. Then the next day... I would have stuffed myself with left overs a couple more times. Whew!!
I like the juicing WAY better. I'm feeling full, almost stuffed, really, but without being over stuffed. Green juice really fills me up. That is why I just don't feel like I'm fasting. How can you feel stuffed with food, and also feel empty from fasting -- the two cannot occupy the same space.
Oddly, this makes me recall a tale about a man in a concentration camp during WWII that I heard shared on a video called: "The 23 Psalm for People with Cancer." I don't recall his name but he later became a teacher at a prestigious school and shared with his students that when the Americans came and opened up the camp, the majority of the people in the camp were skeleton thin and without strength but he was not as gaunt or weak as they were. He attributed his better health to the fact that he had very early on decided that he was not starving, he was fasting. He told them he did that as way to not let the enemy be the winner. He was in the presence of the enemy but he was not under their control. This was told concerning the part of the Psalm that says: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Amazing how belief in God can make such a huge difference. That is why faith is so important. Faith in God and Jesus Christ make a huge difference in a person's life in the present and in the hereafter, too.
I have decided that I am no longer going to call this a "juice fast," I am going to call it a "Juice Feast!!" I have heard that term used before but now I understand it. I am feasting every day on the foods that God provides and I feel very good from it and about it. Again, I must say, how grateful I am for Susan's encouragement. Thank you, Susan!! :)
God bless you and give you faith in Him!!
Be back soon,
Marcia
Monday, July 18, 2011
Juice Fast DAY 4
Hi,
So this is day four of my juice fast. One of the things that keeps me on track is to read advice from experts who have done this before. I finished up reading Joe Cross's book, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" and got some good information from it. It has many more details about Joe's life than the DVD does and I felt like I got to know him a little better through it. I liked that he recruited an expert nutritionist to detail and inform the reader about the science and mechanics of a juice fast.
I was a little disappointed in the "afterward" from Dean Ornish. He waxed esoteric when I would have wanted more of a juicing results confirmation.
I watched a video by Dr Fred Bisci who is an elderly man in his eighty's who is a raw food expert. He seemed very spry and alert and informed. As he talked about a juice fast, he kept pointing out the "fasting" part of it, which I had not really thought about. I don't think of this as a "fast" because my refrigerator is full of food and I am consuming it's liquid at many intervals during the day. My body is regularly getting nourishment and I don't exactly feel deprived.
It is not like I am in a concentration camp where they literally were starving from lack of food. I am "eating" all day long. I am just drinking my food rather than chewing my food. Occasionally the thought goes through my head that it would be nice to chomp on some of the veggies that I am preparing for the juicer. They are fresh and attractive and right there in front of me, but I want to stay on the juice fast. Sometimes I forget what the advantages to the juicing are and I have to remind me. That is what the reading is about.
Sometimes I feel like there is "something wrong" with me because I get inspired to do something but if I am not careful, it will soon disappear from my consciousness. I am beginning to think that this is not so abnormal as I have considered it. I know that in order to stay close to the Lord it is required that I read His word, and pray, and associated with other like minded believers. I also know that I hear other Christians confessing that this is the part that they also begin to neglect and then wonder why they don't feel close to the Lord. So this seems to be kind of "universal" behavior on the part of humans.
The same is true for my juice fast. If I don't remind myself why I am doing this, I think it would be easy to quit. I don't want to quit. I want to continue juice fasting for as long as I can safely do it. I want the weight loss that is associated with it. This is only day four so I have six more days to complete my ten days. From what I have observed the last days of the fast are the ones where the feelings of health, and clarity begin to increase, and I want to experience that. So I must continue juice fasting to get to that point.
I found this web site http://www.doctoryourself.com/juicing_2.html where the author's advice is not so "esoteric" but more down to earth and practical concerning juicing. He has another page that I checked out http://www.doctoryourself.com/juicefast.html which also has some pretty great advice. It also has information for those of you who have not seen Joe Cross's video which inspired me to start juicing: Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. This may help to clarify why I am doing this and what the expected results might be.
Dr Mercola's daily article about vegetarianism seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/07/18/why-do-exvegetarians-outnumber-current-vegetarians-three-to-one.aspx
My ideas on raw food, vegetarianism, veganism, and diet are beginning to formulate in a new way. I, somehow, usually feel like whatever course I am on is supposed to be permanent because it is the "best" path to follow. What is changing is to realize that I don't have to stick to or identify myself with any one of them for long periods of time. It is not about being loyal to a movement, it is about what works best for me, my body, and my situation. Right now I am juicing raw vegetables and fruit and drinking water. That would be labeled "vegan" because there are no animal products at all being consumed.
I don't think a person should live their entire lives as a vegan. There are particular vitamins and amino acids that are more readily available if you eat some sort of animal products -- such as Vit B12. I'm sure some expert somewhere could point out to me where this is found in the vegan world, but, it is certainly OK with me to get it from an easily accessible animal source, too.
I'm beginning to see that a person can adopt an eating style for differing periods of time and remain completely healthy. Juice fasting for a time is giving my body a rest and a time to stop processing so much actual "food" which should allow it to devote more of the nutrients to health and regeneration and not so much to digestion. Throughout history many people have done fasting. Often for religious reasons, but sometimes for health. They, of course, did not have "juicers" or even electricity, so when they fasted they simply did without food completely. Some I would assume also did not even drink liquids or water, but others did. They accomplished what they accomplished for their own personal reasons.
I am thinking that when I return to eating I want to do it gradually. I simply want to start by eating the same things that I am juicing now and giving my body the opportunity to adjust back to the eating processes. I have even thought that I would juice two or three times during the day and consume a meal of raw veggies, nuts, seeds, and a little fruit. Often the experts include "legumes" on a daily basis, but I don't think my body does well on beans. I like them, but I don't always feel good when I eat them. I think it would be fine to have them once or twice a month, but certainly not daily.
I will also start slow with the animal protein by starting with eggs and maybe my favorite feta cheese, but I don't want to go over board on dairy either. Dairy seems to be one of those things that I binge on. I am beginning to believe that my binging happens because I am eating something that my body is not being nourished from. It fills my belly but does nothing for my body and I have to eat more and more of it because my body is searching for something it can use and not finding any in what I've just consumed. The words "empty calories" has popped into my head but it is not calories that I'm thinking of. I am thinking of nutrients -- the kind of nutrients that you can easily get from fresh raw vegetables.
So this is what I am thinking: I believe that I need to continue to eat from sixty to seventy percent fresh raw vegetables, one fruit per day, maybe two, with the addition of nuts and seeds, eggs, feta, and then maybe some canned fish (I know fresh is better, but cannot bring myself to consider that.). I think I am going to limit the beef, and even the chicken, but would choose chicken over beef. Very little pork, if any. So that, practically, it would look like this: juicing a couple of times per day and a nice meal once a day, with a nut and seed snack and a piece of fruit about once a day. If I get hungry again I can juice and that will make sure I am still getting the nutrition my body needs without taxing the way eating three meals a day does. And, of course, all this is open for discussion or decision at the time. The thought of crossing bridges before you get to them seems appropriate, here.
As to my feelings on day four, I am still in pain, but have an appointment with a physical therapist at two. I am learning to recognize what hunger actually feels like and where in my body it occurs. It is not in my mouth, it is in my belly. Cravings and what ever it was that used to drive me to eat was nearly always in my mouth and in my mind. I would feel a strong desire to eat and there would be a strong picture in my head of what it was I wanted, and if I did not get it... woe is me. That picture would stay in my head for days... until I got whatever it was and ate it. It seems that the word "covet" would be an appropriate description.
Hunger, on the other hand, is a feeling in my belly or body. Today it is also accompanied by a feeling in my head of drowsiness and slight pain and tension. This is kind of amazing to me. The difference is very real and it is useful to know the difference, finally.
I'm hungry so shall make another juice.
Be back soon,
Marcia
So this is day four of my juice fast. One of the things that keeps me on track is to read advice from experts who have done this before. I finished up reading Joe Cross's book, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" and got some good information from it. It has many more details about Joe's life than the DVD does and I felt like I got to know him a little better through it. I liked that he recruited an expert nutritionist to detail and inform the reader about the science and mechanics of a juice fast.
I was a little disappointed in the "afterward" from Dean Ornish. He waxed esoteric when I would have wanted more of a juicing results confirmation.
I watched a video by Dr Fred Bisci who is an elderly man in his eighty's who is a raw food expert. He seemed very spry and alert and informed. As he talked about a juice fast, he kept pointing out the "fasting" part of it, which I had not really thought about. I don't think of this as a "fast" because my refrigerator is full of food and I am consuming it's liquid at many intervals during the day. My body is regularly getting nourishment and I don't exactly feel deprived.
It is not like I am in a concentration camp where they literally were starving from lack of food. I am "eating" all day long. I am just drinking my food rather than chewing my food. Occasionally the thought goes through my head that it would be nice to chomp on some of the veggies that I am preparing for the juicer. They are fresh and attractive and right there in front of me, but I want to stay on the juice fast. Sometimes I forget what the advantages to the juicing are and I have to remind me. That is what the reading is about.
Sometimes I feel like there is "something wrong" with me because I get inspired to do something but if I am not careful, it will soon disappear from my consciousness. I am beginning to think that this is not so abnormal as I have considered it. I know that in order to stay close to the Lord it is required that I read His word, and pray, and associated with other like minded believers. I also know that I hear other Christians confessing that this is the part that they also begin to neglect and then wonder why they don't feel close to the Lord. So this seems to be kind of "universal" behavior on the part of humans.
The same is true for my juice fast. If I don't remind myself why I am doing this, I think it would be easy to quit. I don't want to quit. I want to continue juice fasting for as long as I can safely do it. I want the weight loss that is associated with it. This is only day four so I have six more days to complete my ten days. From what I have observed the last days of the fast are the ones where the feelings of health, and clarity begin to increase, and I want to experience that. So I must continue juice fasting to get to that point.
I found this web site http://www.doctoryourself.com/juicing_2.html where the author's advice is not so "esoteric" but more down to earth and practical concerning juicing. He has another page that I checked out http://www.doctoryourself.com/juicefast.html which also has some pretty great advice. It also has information for those of you who have not seen Joe Cross's video which inspired me to start juicing: Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. This may help to clarify why I am doing this and what the expected results might be.
Dr Mercola's daily article about vegetarianism seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/07/18/why-do-exvegetarians-outnumber-current-vegetarians-three-to-one.aspx
My ideas on raw food, vegetarianism, veganism, and diet are beginning to formulate in a new way. I, somehow, usually feel like whatever course I am on is supposed to be permanent because it is the "best" path to follow. What is changing is to realize that I don't have to stick to or identify myself with any one of them for long periods of time. It is not about being loyal to a movement, it is about what works best for me, my body, and my situation. Right now I am juicing raw vegetables and fruit and drinking water. That would be labeled "vegan" because there are no animal products at all being consumed.
I don't think a person should live their entire lives as a vegan. There are particular vitamins and amino acids that are more readily available if you eat some sort of animal products -- such as Vit B12. I'm sure some expert somewhere could point out to me where this is found in the vegan world, but, it is certainly OK with me to get it from an easily accessible animal source, too.
I'm beginning to see that a person can adopt an eating style for differing periods of time and remain completely healthy. Juice fasting for a time is giving my body a rest and a time to stop processing so much actual "food" which should allow it to devote more of the nutrients to health and regeneration and not so much to digestion. Throughout history many people have done fasting. Often for religious reasons, but sometimes for health. They, of course, did not have "juicers" or even electricity, so when they fasted they simply did without food completely. Some I would assume also did not even drink liquids or water, but others did. They accomplished what they accomplished for their own personal reasons.
I am thinking that when I return to eating I want to do it gradually. I simply want to start by eating the same things that I am juicing now and giving my body the opportunity to adjust back to the eating processes. I have even thought that I would juice two or three times during the day and consume a meal of raw veggies, nuts, seeds, and a little fruit. Often the experts include "legumes" on a daily basis, but I don't think my body does well on beans. I like them, but I don't always feel good when I eat them. I think it would be fine to have them once or twice a month, but certainly not daily.
I will also start slow with the animal protein by starting with eggs and maybe my favorite feta cheese, but I don't want to go over board on dairy either. Dairy seems to be one of those things that I binge on. I am beginning to believe that my binging happens because I am eating something that my body is not being nourished from. It fills my belly but does nothing for my body and I have to eat more and more of it because my body is searching for something it can use and not finding any in what I've just consumed. The words "empty calories" has popped into my head but it is not calories that I'm thinking of. I am thinking of nutrients -- the kind of nutrients that you can easily get from fresh raw vegetables.
So this is what I am thinking: I believe that I need to continue to eat from sixty to seventy percent fresh raw vegetables, one fruit per day, maybe two, with the addition of nuts and seeds, eggs, feta, and then maybe some canned fish (I know fresh is better, but cannot bring myself to consider that.). I think I am going to limit the beef, and even the chicken, but would choose chicken over beef. Very little pork, if any. So that, practically, it would look like this: juicing a couple of times per day and a nice meal once a day, with a nut and seed snack and a piece of fruit about once a day. If I get hungry again I can juice and that will make sure I am still getting the nutrition my body needs without taxing the way eating three meals a day does. And, of course, all this is open for discussion or decision at the time. The thought of crossing bridges before you get to them seems appropriate, here.
As to my feelings on day four, I am still in pain, but have an appointment with a physical therapist at two. I am learning to recognize what hunger actually feels like and where in my body it occurs. It is not in my mouth, it is in my belly. Cravings and what ever it was that used to drive me to eat was nearly always in my mouth and in my mind. I would feel a strong desire to eat and there would be a strong picture in my head of what it was I wanted, and if I did not get it... woe is me. That picture would stay in my head for days... until I got whatever it was and ate it. It seems that the word "covet" would be an appropriate description.
Hunger, on the other hand, is a feeling in my belly or body. Today it is also accompanied by a feeling in my head of drowsiness and slight pain and tension. This is kind of amazing to me. The difference is very real and it is useful to know the difference, finally.
I'm hungry so shall make another juice.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Juice Fast DAY 3 -- evening update
Hi,
I am not feeling very well tonight. My back and neck aches. My feet hurt. My right calf has been hurting off and on. I've done the juicing and am wondering if all this pain is part of the detox for me. My brain feels a bit foggy, too. I have an appointment to see my physical therapist tomorrow, perhaps that will help with the pain.
I tried putting a whole beet in one of my juices and it turned out to be rather tasty. My first reaction was to remember that I have always liked beets since my friend Jera shared a bottle of Harvard Beets with me when we were teenagers. She loved them and introduced me to them but I had not eaten any for a long long time. The color was magnificent and pure and rich, too.
One man suggested that it is easier to peel a beet if you dip it into hot water for a few seconds, so I got out my potato peeler and tried to peel it the normal way, just to see what the problem was. I had no problem using the potato peeler. It was no more difficult than cleaning a potato. The only problem was that it turned my hand red! Makes me wonder what he was using to peel a beet that he had to resort to the hot water method.
So I have run into some of the stuff that people warn you about when doing a juice fast for the first time.
This too shall pass.
Be back soon,
Marcia
I am not feeling very well tonight. My back and neck aches. My feet hurt. My right calf has been hurting off and on. I've done the juicing and am wondering if all this pain is part of the detox for me. My brain feels a bit foggy, too. I have an appointment to see my physical therapist tomorrow, perhaps that will help with the pain.
I tried putting a whole beet in one of my juices and it turned out to be rather tasty. My first reaction was to remember that I have always liked beets since my friend Jera shared a bottle of Harvard Beets with me when we were teenagers. She loved them and introduced me to them but I had not eaten any for a long long time. The color was magnificent and pure and rich, too.
One man suggested that it is easier to peel a beet if you dip it into hot water for a few seconds, so I got out my potato peeler and tried to peel it the normal way, just to see what the problem was. I had no problem using the potato peeler. It was no more difficult than cleaning a potato. The only problem was that it turned my hand red! Makes me wonder what he was using to peel a beet that he had to resort to the hot water method.
So I have run into some of the stuff that people warn you about when doing a juice fast for the first time.
This too shall pass.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Juice Fast DAY 3
HI!!,
Well it is day 3 and I am kind of getting used to juicing. I'm not feeling super hungry. I don't feel bad. I have no cravings. I just feel .... fine! I should have known that God would make it easier than I expected. He is so good!!
In the "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" DVD there was also an average sized woman named Siong who was juice fasting for 10 days to see if it would clear up her migraine headaches. She described them as the very worst kind I know of with the sensitivity to light, throwing up, and a great deal of pain and discomfort. They were so bad she was willing to try a juice fast, if you know what I mean.
Her descriptions of things really let you know that juicing was difficult for her to do but she did it -- and actually continued on it for 14 days because her migraines disappeared and she said that she felt like she was twenty-one again when she was done. She has continued to include juicing in her daily routine because she likes the extra nutrients.
She is married and was cooking for her husband, even going to restaurants and sitting next to him with her jar of juice, as he ate a huge plate of ribs and such. She did not care for the taste of the first juice that she made, but she continued tasting and drinking, anyway. She was kind of endearing as she shared how she felt on day three when she says she tried all sorts of things to make her feel better, even praying, but she still wanted to slap someone.
She also described how on a certain day when she drank her first juice for the day, she had to go to the rest room and release a bunch of stuff into the toilet -- so much that she wondered where it all came from. Then she shared that it happened again. And this is the point that I wanted to get to in the story because I just experienced a similar episode -- although mine was not extreme in volume.
I had been wondering if this would happen for me. I noticed while I was on the prescription drug Warfarin (Coumadin) the plumbing had gone back to being constipated. I had gotten things running more smoothly with probiotics, water, and magnesium (brand: Calm) but I noticed after the blood clot appeared and I was on Lovenox and Warfarin that things just backed up again and my doctor told me to do the magnesium twice a day. It helped a little but did not keep things going, I had to take the Magnesium or nothing happened.
Anyway, today, day 3, was the day this changed on the juice fast. There was no pain, and almost no warning, so I had a bit of a wild moment, there, but I was kind of glad that it was happening. I suppose it will continue until I am cleaned out. At least I hope so. So sorry to talk about these things if you are sensitive to them, but I just think it is important to share about what is really going on. If Siong had not shared about it, I would not have been aware that this might happen. Neither Joe nor Phil mentioned anything like this, so maybe it did not happen for them, or maybe they just did not mention it.
On to prettier subjects...
I went to Sam's Club yesterday and loaded up on vegetables. I know they are not organic but I had already spent sixty-five dollars on a bunch of vegetables at Kroger in preparation for the juice fast and nearly ran completely through them in the first two days. I figured I could get more for my money at Sam's and I was right, but they did not have a lot of greens in their natural state to choose from. They seem to have more fruit than vegetables, but it is summer, when fruit is in season.
They had some greens that were already cut up for salad but I kind of want the whole vegetable for juicing. The only one I could get was Romaine Lettuce so I got twelve of them. I'm aware that greens need to be rotated because of the alkaloids but I'll go through these and get something from Whole Foods to change to, when they are gone.
I had chosen a bag of mixed raw veggies (baby carrots, cut up cauliflower, and broccoli florets) thinking that they would be fast to juice because they were already prepared, but was disappointed that the broccoli, especially, did not really yield much actual juice. The cauliflower and the carrots gave out the expected proportion but the broccoli, not so much. I went through the entire three-pound bag and got only 24 ounces of juice. That much juice seems to be way more than my body will take so I drank half and put half in the fridge for later. I added a lime (peeled) and hunk of ginger (not peeled) for flavor but it was not so appetizing as some other things I have done. It was not obnoxious, just not super appealing. I guess I would say it was, OK -- drinkable -- but I have no desire to duplicate it.
In one of the juices I made yesterday I added three large cloves of garlic and about one fourth of a yellow onion to the mix and WOW! I could barely drink it for hotness. I took a big swig and my stomach suddenly felt like a balloon had been blown up inside me. I even felt a little sick and hungover. I've only been hungover once in my life but it is an experience you don't forget. I don't drink because of it. But that was my immediate reaction to the juice. Again, I did not want to waste it, so I watered it down and salted it. It ended up not being so bad. I'm going to be careful with the garlic and onion, but I don't want to eliminate them. I just know that one large clove of garlic is certainly plenty. I think I was using "cooking" proportions when I first added them. When you cook garlic, it is no longer hot, but fresh raw garlic is very hot -- nearly like pepper hot, to my taste buds. So moderation when juicing raw garlic is a good thing.
At this point in time, I am happy that I am juicing. I keep weighing myself, and I have taken off the four pounds I had put on. I probably should not be doing that, but I'm not going to have a cow over it. I'll weigh when I feel like. This time -- meaning this program -- my main goal is to lose weight. I'm tired of trying stuff for six months at a time and not losing anything. If a juice fast does not do it, nothing will. I know it is the healthy thing to do, to. I believe my blood numbers will get better. The blood sugar levels have already gotten better in only two days.
I may be back later with an evening update if I have something to share.
Love you,
God bless,
Be back soon,
Marcia
If you need a high quality folding hand truck or luggage cart, go to
www.bestluggagecarts.com
and chose from the best steel luggage carts available.
Happy traveling!! -- Marcia
Well it is day 3 and I am kind of getting used to juicing. I'm not feeling super hungry. I don't feel bad. I have no cravings. I just feel .... fine! I should have known that God would make it easier than I expected. He is so good!!
In the "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" DVD there was also an average sized woman named Siong who was juice fasting for 10 days to see if it would clear up her migraine headaches. She described them as the very worst kind I know of with the sensitivity to light, throwing up, and a great deal of pain and discomfort. They were so bad she was willing to try a juice fast, if you know what I mean.
Her descriptions of things really let you know that juicing was difficult for her to do but she did it -- and actually continued on it for 14 days because her migraines disappeared and she said that she felt like she was twenty-one again when she was done. She has continued to include juicing in her daily routine because she likes the extra nutrients.
She is married and was cooking for her husband, even going to restaurants and sitting next to him with her jar of juice, as he ate a huge plate of ribs and such. She did not care for the taste of the first juice that she made, but she continued tasting and drinking, anyway. She was kind of endearing as she shared how she felt on day three when she says she tried all sorts of things to make her feel better, even praying, but she still wanted to slap someone.
She also described how on a certain day when she drank her first juice for the day, she had to go to the rest room and release a bunch of stuff into the toilet -- so much that she wondered where it all came from. Then she shared that it happened again. And this is the point that I wanted to get to in the story because I just experienced a similar episode -- although mine was not extreme in volume.
I had been wondering if this would happen for me. I noticed while I was on the prescription drug Warfarin (Coumadin) the plumbing had gone back to being constipated. I had gotten things running more smoothly with probiotics, water, and magnesium (brand: Calm) but I noticed after the blood clot appeared and I was on Lovenox and Warfarin that things just backed up again and my doctor told me to do the magnesium twice a day. It helped a little but did not keep things going, I had to take the Magnesium or nothing happened.
Anyway, today, day 3, was the day this changed on the juice fast. There was no pain, and almost no warning, so I had a bit of a wild moment, there, but I was kind of glad that it was happening. I suppose it will continue until I am cleaned out. At least I hope so. So sorry to talk about these things if you are sensitive to them, but I just think it is important to share about what is really going on. If Siong had not shared about it, I would not have been aware that this might happen. Neither Joe nor Phil mentioned anything like this, so maybe it did not happen for them, or maybe they just did not mention it.
On to prettier subjects...
I went to Sam's Club yesterday and loaded up on vegetables. I know they are not organic but I had already spent sixty-five dollars on a bunch of vegetables at Kroger in preparation for the juice fast and nearly ran completely through them in the first two days. I figured I could get more for my money at Sam's and I was right, but they did not have a lot of greens in their natural state to choose from. They seem to have more fruit than vegetables, but it is summer, when fruit is in season.
They had some greens that were already cut up for salad but I kind of want the whole vegetable for juicing. The only one I could get was Romaine Lettuce so I got twelve of them. I'm aware that greens need to be rotated because of the alkaloids but I'll go through these and get something from Whole Foods to change to, when they are gone.
I had chosen a bag of mixed raw veggies (baby carrots, cut up cauliflower, and broccoli florets) thinking that they would be fast to juice because they were already prepared, but was disappointed that the broccoli, especially, did not really yield much actual juice. The cauliflower and the carrots gave out the expected proportion but the broccoli, not so much. I went through the entire three-pound bag and got only 24 ounces of juice. That much juice seems to be way more than my body will take so I drank half and put half in the fridge for later. I added a lime (peeled) and hunk of ginger (not peeled) for flavor but it was not so appetizing as some other things I have done. It was not obnoxious, just not super appealing. I guess I would say it was, OK -- drinkable -- but I have no desire to duplicate it.
In one of the juices I made yesterday I added three large cloves of garlic and about one fourth of a yellow onion to the mix and WOW! I could barely drink it for hotness. I took a big swig and my stomach suddenly felt like a balloon had been blown up inside me. I even felt a little sick and hungover. I've only been hungover once in my life but it is an experience you don't forget. I don't drink because of it. But that was my immediate reaction to the juice. Again, I did not want to waste it, so I watered it down and salted it. It ended up not being so bad. I'm going to be careful with the garlic and onion, but I don't want to eliminate them. I just know that one large clove of garlic is certainly plenty. I think I was using "cooking" proportions when I first added them. When you cook garlic, it is no longer hot, but fresh raw garlic is very hot -- nearly like pepper hot, to my taste buds. So moderation when juicing raw garlic is a good thing.
At this point in time, I am happy that I am juicing. I keep weighing myself, and I have taken off the four pounds I had put on. I probably should not be doing that, but I'm not going to have a cow over it. I'll weigh when I feel like. This time -- meaning this program -- my main goal is to lose weight. I'm tired of trying stuff for six months at a time and not losing anything. If a juice fast does not do it, nothing will. I know it is the healthy thing to do, to. I believe my blood numbers will get better. The blood sugar levels have already gotten better in only two days.
I may be back later with an evening update if I have something to share.
Love you,
God bless,
Be back soon,
Marcia
If you need a high quality folding hand truck or luggage cart, go to
www.bestluggagecarts.com
and chose from the best steel luggage carts available.
Happy traveling!! -- Marcia
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