A foodie I will never be. I have never lived to eat. I eat to live. Period.
What I have found these first five days of the 21-day Eat Fat Get Thin Challenge is that cooking from scratch is a time trasher, a kitchen counter trasher, a sink trasher. Is this what people put up with when they cook every meal? Don't tell, but I've snuck in one restaurant meal a day. Cooking is expensive! Has to be organic. Organic. Organic. OrgANIC. Go out, or cook organic? Not both. Too expensive. But I must go out for breakfast. It's my only regular socializing! ....I could nurse one cup of coffee with my own coconut creamer. That would be cheaper. Downgrade to nursing it at the counter instead of a table. I worry the staff will resent me, even though I go so early in the morning there are plenty of empty tables. Hello? 16 more days.
This is tough. I wonder if I can actually fall in love with using my kitchen? I shouldn't even be taking this time out to write a post. I should be cooking. So far, I've put a new food processor and a food dehydrator into service. Thrown out useless old gadgets and food that wasn't good for me. Seen decade old clutter disappear from every horizontal surface inside and on top of cabinets. Followed the program to a tee. I've produced meals of 75% vegetables and 25% protein. Exercised a half hour a day. Meditated a half hour daily. Checked in with the coaches of this 21-day challenge. Well...I have had two 'sugar' slips. A mug of cider the first day. Next day, a glass of wine when I watched the Super Tuesday primary returns.
My big break came on Day 3 when I discovered a dish I learned to cook from Judy ( http://judeself.blogspot.com/ ) met every criteria for this diet. Oh, Joy! Kraut Brot, (without the brot (bread)) is yummy and allowed. So this was my St. Patrick's Day meal. Cabbage and beef. Thank you, thank you, thank you Judy.
So many no's! No dairy, no sugar, no grains, no beans, no alcohol, no high sugar fruits, no high-starch vegetables, no processed food, no take-out. No calorie counting, either. My scale has shifted downward three pounds. Despite the butter, olive oil, seeds, nuts, nut butters, nut milks, coconut milk, avocadoes, eggs, meat. Maybe it's the endless preparation. In any case, if I wasn't in love with two words, my intimacy with the local organic market would swiftly revert to intimacy of all things take-out. My allegiance hangs on two words:
Factory reset THIS is my new organizing principle.
Factory reset. For my insides. Make it like any damage never happened. OMG. When I saw these words in Dr. Hyman's book, I knew I had to try this plan. This is exactly what I'm doing with my PTSD recovery. Making it like the past never happened. Yes, of course the past still happens, but the injury from the past needn't remain.
Allegedly this particular diet detoxes and nourishes the body enough to reset it to optimal settings. Reverses and prevents further damage, if one keeps cooking, which I better get back to. So glad to have snuck in some blog time with you all! Bye for now, and happy cooking!
More power to you! I could never follow a diet or detox like you're doing. I hate to cook and I have enough trouble just using my blender to make shakes each morning. I could get into those food processors. But what you're doing is very healthy. I wish you success in sticking to it!
ReplyDeleteThank you! At some point I have to sit down and do the math. I gave up Starbucks to save money. My typical costs - My breakfast out is $70/week. For lunch, a couple protein bars, $4. Then for dinner, I'd stretch one take-out meal, $25, into three, with salads I make. At some point I'll have to figure out the weekly cost of cooking organic food from scratch. That is, if I fall in love with cooking ;-) ... and the new way I feel.
ReplyDeleteWell, now I'm very sad for your, having to give up your Starbucks! With the farmers markets all opening up soon, buy organic (or at least healthier) should easier. When I took a health eating class 2-3 years ago they talked a lot about NOT cooking and eating as close to the earth as possible.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you're teasing me about giving up Starbucks ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou must be taking about eating raw foods, as in smoothies, salads, and soups? If you drink a smoothie for breakfast, you are living the raw foodie lifestyle, in my book, at least!
Hamburger and cabbage without the bread wrapped around is very good! Lots of Garlic. Glad it was okay for you. I don't make these any more. I rarely cook anymore. I hate all the work it takes. HAH! Cheerios and banana for breakfast. A small Crossaint (sp) with thinly sliced meat for lunch and lately--Popcorn and milk for supper. LOL
ReplyDeleteLots of garlic. Glad I wasn't breathing on anyone.
ReplyDeleteLaughing out loud at your current meal plan. How many times have you and I had popcorn for supper?!!! Mine is microwave
Mine too. That fake butter they use stains my white counters with orange spots--probably not good for us?
DeleteI just get a big bag of kernels, which I pour into my plastic microwave popcorn popper, setting the microwave for 2:36 seconds. Plain as can be, but cheap. Now that I've learned real butter is actually good for us, I'll melt that and mix it in afterwards. (Once I'm allowed back onto real food...)
DeleteAmazing! I'm not sure I could do it. I think you just have to focus on the ALLOWED items and take it from there. My sister follows the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and she just wouldn't look on the CAN NOT HAVE list. Makes sense!
ReplyDeleteYes, that's how I'm doing it. Finally...
Deleteyou are dedicated! I hope works and that you can sustain the change.Your post sent me down a rabbit hole about the Specific Carb Diet. Hum, makes me wonder what we have done to ourselves that we need these diets when other cultures don't have the same problems. Thanks for the thought-provoking post and stay in the kitchen! (I love to cook.)
ReplyDeleteDedicated to turning back the clock, if possible LOL
Delete17 days in, 4 more to go. Time to post.