More About What I Am Eating….
I have good news and I have bad news.
The good news is I stayed faithfully on my diet while I was traveling last weekend and did not “cheat” once.
The bad news is that I gained 2 pounds. Seriously. How is that possible?
I walked every morning while I was there. The views were so incredible that I actually walked almost twice as far as I do at home. I didn’t want to go back to my room and lose sight of the mountains.
But when I got home my weight was up. I am sure it will be down again next week as long as I stick with it. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I’m refusing to let it discourage me.
On this diet I don’t eat any sugar, carbs (except what’s in some vegetables), dairy (except yogurt) or fruit (except berries). During the retreat that made it challenging to find something to eat at every meal. But I had taken some high-protein bars, so I was able to eat those for breakfast.
What’s interesting is if you pay attention it’s pretty easy to find something on a menu that fits with this diet. For instance, our retreat banquet Saturday night was a salad (which I just skipped the dressing), steak (which I could eat), rice (skip), and sauteed veggies (which I could eat all but the carrots). I passed on dessert and felt perfectly fine afterward.
And, of course, l drink lots and lots of water.
You can read more about my diet plan here.
It seemed so daunting at first…..what on earth was I going to eat?! I was used to my chips and Diet DP for lunch most days. But as time has progressed and I haven’t starved to death, I found it’s really pretty easy.
Like at home, we like to make stir fry for dinner. I can eat that as long as I don’t eat the rice. When we have spaghetti I make a sauce without sugar and put mine over green beans and zucchini instead of pasta. It’s actually good and I get nice and full.
For breakfast I have scrambled eggs almost every morning (since we have chickens I can eat fresh eggs).
With my eggs I will have some blueberries or turkey bacon (or both!). Sometimes if I’m in a hurry instead of the eggs I make a small smoothie with plain yogurt & berries because I can make that the night before. But I don’t really like the taste, so I don’t do that very often. I’m pretty whiny about eating things I don’t like.
Lunch is almost always a big salad that I can add tuna or chicken or ground turkey to. I mix different veggies with that, depending on what’s in the fridge. Then for dinner I will cook a bunch of vegetables and a different kind of meat.
About once a week I try to make something different….out of my usual box….to keep it from getting boring. I can go Asian or Mexican with my flavors and try my hand at sauces without flour or sugar. It’s not always a big success, but fun to try.
So that’s my eating plan. Not too shabby, huh?
The thing that I have noticed is how much better I feel. I knew I was sluggish and easily tired, but because I struggle with thyroid and adrenal issues I thought that was the problem. Since starting this diet and my morning walks, I actually have more energy and I don’t feel all bloated and full anymore. I am so surprised at how much energy I still have in the evenings. And I didn’t realize it before, but I always felt kind of achy, and that is completely gone.
And now I leave you with one last picture from my morning walks in California. I loved those walks!
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I am new here – and would be interested in learning more about this diet you are following…can you tell me more about it?
Well done on your weekend trip! Are you following the Trim Healthy Mama way of eating?
‘time has progressed and I haven’t starved to death’ Ha! You are too funny! I am so glad you are seeing such positive results to your healthy eating plan Lisa! I am so excited to join you on this journey! I pray for you each day and often think of you throughout the day as I strive to make my own healthy choices! I was SO excited yesterday to shop at The Avenue with my darling girl and find 2 tops on clearance that fit me! I did some layering and thought of your tips for appearing slimmer from your Embracing Modesty post!
I wouldn’t worry about the 2 pounds yet- I always find that I retain water when I fly. Not sure if it’s the elevation change or what, but you are probably right- it will be down again next week. Great job sticking to it 🙂
The gain might have been from the bars too. It sounds like you are eating very clean, unprocessed foods and the bars may have thrown your body for a loop. I’m on a similar plan (Primal ‘diet’…no sugar, starches etc, but we can eat good fats like nuts, avocados, lots of coconut oil, regular (pork, does your family eat pork?) no nitrate no sugar bacon) we have thyroid/adrenal issues here too, cutting gluten was a big help in making us feel a bit better, gluten and thyroid issues don’t mix! We saw much improvement in achiness when we cut diet sodas too. I found a brand of soda at Fresh Market that is sweetened with erythritol and stevia, it makes an occasional treat. And the kids don’t like it, which means it isn’t all gone when I want it. 🙂
Great job so far! Disciplining yourself to a way of eating that is contrary to what you’ve done your whole life IS..NOT…EASY! A few months back I did an anti-yeast diet, which was very similar to yours, but I could not have sugar in any form – no simple carbs, no fruit. Plus other things that contribute to yeast were cut out such as mushrooms and vinegar. Anyhow, you do start to realize that there’s actually a lot you CAN have. One I found that you might be interested in was oat bran. Oat meal and even seven grain cereals were too high glycemic/carb, but oat bran was perfectly fine. Along with my eggs, I would make a bowl every morning with unsweetened coconut milk and half packet of Truvia (also okay to have). One other thing that you would probably enjoy is quinoa. Oh my gosh. I don’t know what I would have done without it. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a grain, but it’s high protein, high fiber and even though it has carbs it’s good for you. It’s delicious with coconut oil and a little salt (or veggies mixed in). I found that because I had cut out so much and I was exercising, I still needed something that wasn’t expended so quickly the way vegetable carbs were and the oat bran and quinoa helped a lot. Also occasionally I would have brown rice cakes (also okay in moderation) with almond butter (Jason’s was the only kind that didn’t have added sugar). Anyhow, I’m sharing all this with you in case you might be looking for other options in your eating.
The book Sherri mentioned, Trim Healthy Mama, is excellent! It’s from AboveRubies.org — I would guess you are familiar with their free magazine, but maybe not.
Thanks for reading my wordy comment! I thought of e-mailing but then thought others might benefit from the info.
Blessings!
That is great information…thanks so much! When I can eat grains again I will keep that in mind. I can’t have them yet, but I will get there in a future phase. Like you, I also can’t have any kinds of sugars except some berries. I was able to add those in after a month on the diet.
So many people have mentioned Trim Healthy Mama to me. I have the book and I have read it. It’s very encouraging.
The problem is the protein bars! I’ve low carbed many times, but when I relied on the protein bars I gained or maintained, never lost. Cut them out and you’ll see steady progress. Good luck!
When I cut out wheat/sugar/caffeine last February I was desperate, I felt so ill…during the withdrawal weeks I felt worse, but it’s been so wonderful to come out the other side and actually participate in life again and not feel that fog holding me down!
I haven’t lost a ton of weight, but I feel so much lighter, and happier…that’s what really matters to me. My thyroid issues have disappeared, my energy has gone up and I’m sleeping a lot better. I’m hoping this will also help balance my hormones so I can be the nice, happy, singing mom my girls love to be around…no more anger and frustration outbursts!
I found out about Wheat Belly after I went off the wheat and was excited to find all the wonderful foods that can be made with nuts and seeds…not that I make them very often.
It’s so cool to find your blog and see that you’re succeeding. I wouldn’t call it a diet anymore, I would call it a lifestyle…don’t go back to wheat if you can help it…possibly sprouted wheat wouldn’t affect you…check it out.
Stay away from processed/packaged foods (ie. bars)…they carry synthetic vitamins and things like that which you do not need.
Good luck my friend! Keep up the good work too~
I’m on the same diet. I’ve been on it for 5 weeks. I did it for health reasons but I’m so glad to see someone else trying it. Honestly a big cinnamon roll still sounds good. My biggest problem now is I have horrid headaches. If I can get those gone then I might actually start feeling better.
I’ve lost almost 20 lbs. too so that helps! 🙂
You go girl!! I am beginning tomorrow! Please keep me in your prayers!
Ohh, I identify with this. I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and have slowly been learning what to eat and what to avoid eating to feel better and heal my thyroid, and I actually am starting to feel better. The brain fog is mostly gone, and I’ve shed a few pounds. This blog is great; keep up the good work!
I would like to know more about your dinners. What is your ‘go to’ when hunger hits?
I am so inspired to read about your quest for health. Lisa. I need to get back after it myself and your progress has inspired me. Thank you also to everyone else who commented with helpful hints.