Saturday, November 5, 2016

November 5 – Day 36
I haven’t started reintroduction yet.  I am still avoiding dairy, grains, legumes and sugar.  Also avoiding alcohol and soy.  I’m feeling better physically every day, though I still have such a long way to go before I feel anything close to “normal”.  I had a bit of an uncomfortable exchange with a very dear friend yesterday.  

TR:
I know "moderation" isn't popular these days! What's popular is to completely cut everything out In my opinion....for whatever it's worth....IF you keep most of your diet plant based, you should be able to eat dairy, gluten, sugar, etc. It's when it gets out of balance, really out, not just slightly out.
A lot of those calorie dense and flavor dense foods kill our taste buds, and eating too much, out of balance, makes us not hungry for the more natural foods.
2 oz of cheese, or 1/2 c dairy every day shouldn't be a problem. It's the 8-16oz of dairy that can be a problem. It's not the 2 tbls of sugar, it's the king size candy bar + sugary cereals, "energy bars", salad dressings, meat marinades and glazes, mocha lattes, etc....it all adds up to a ton of sugar. Balance my love!
That being said, W30 is not balanced either! Which is why it's difficult to sustain.
But W30 is a good bitch slap!

Yes, but it instills fear. And no one should be afraid to eat certain foods, but they might need to be afraid to eat certain foods so out of balance.  You'll find what's right for you! you're smart like that!
I asked her if she’d forgotten what it felt like to be 120 lbs overweight. 
TR:
no I haven't
I'll never forget what that felt like
Which is why I'll never do it again.
I'm actually really surprised you said that to be honest.
ME:
You said I'm being dramatic...I thought I was just being honest. It's a battle I have literally been fighting every day of my life since pre-puberty

When I say "Fuck it, I'm not going to fight this anymore", then I eat myself into oblivion, and gain-gain-gain

I wish I could fix my disordered eating, but it's so ingrained that I don't even know where to start. Except by having absolute control over what I eat, and we know where that always ends up. I'm just fucked up.
I'm sorry that I hurt you by asking if  you've forgotten. Truly.
TR:
I'm not hurt, just surprised.

Gosh, I just don't know where to start with you. You HAVE to let go of this story you are telling and tell a different one!

Fucking hell, start being the person YOU want to hang around with and not the one that you avoid. Do you want to hang around with people that tell stories like the ones you do? Or do you want to hang around with the people that tell stories of hope and unlimited possibilities? Stories of fun, and lightness. Stories of new beginnings and happy times?

You can only stop thinking bad thoughts when you replace them with better feeling thoughts. You only have room to think one thought at a time, and if you are busy thinking better feeling thoughts the bad feeling ones get less air time.

Stop giving so much air time to the old stories that don't enrich your life or current experience.

Talk about what's working for you, not what's working against you....cause you are the only one working against you at the end of the day.

You are not a victim, none of us are.

But, if you want to feel like one then it's your choice.

I'm not going to talk you out of it. Go on, do what you want.
I only know what works for me. Which is why I stopped talking to people about this shit, and stopped writing about this shit.
It's exhausting wanting to try and offer relief to people that would rather suffer.

Moderation in all things is working great for her, it’s very obvious that it is.  What I would give to have that kind of attitude about food. But I just don't, at least not at this stage. I have an eating disorder.  I can talk about unicorns and rainbows and hope and unlimited possibilities but it makes me feel like a big fat hypocrite when it’s OBVIOUS by the 120 lbs of fat I’m packing around that I HAVEN’T found what works for me.  I have to IDENTIFY what’s working against me before I can get rid of it and find what works for me.  I don’t know how to make her understand that and I’m just not sure that she ever will. 




Anyway, I know that I have Binge Eating Disorder. I can’t even imagine how many times in my life that I’ve eaten until I was in physical pain.  That I eat not because I’m hungry, but because I’m trying to soothe something inside…and I still don’t know just what it is.   Hopefully I’ll be able to figure it out, and live a life without constantly struggling with food and weight issues…my time is running out, so all I can do is eat the way that makes me feel the best, and the most in control.   Here’s a very interesting thing I found on WebMD about Binge Eating Disorder.  I also read that topiramate can help turn off the “binge switch” in the brain.  I’ve got a lot of that left from when I was taking the phen and topiramate meds for weight loss, so I’m taking it again…whatever will help, I want to try it! 

So, here are the symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder (from WebMD).  

And every.single.one. describes me perfectly.

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

Most people overeat from time to time, and many people believe they frequently eat more than they should. Eating large amounts of food, however, does not mean that a person has binge eating disorder. Most people with serious binge eating problems have some of the following symptoms that occur at least once a week for at least three months:
  • Frequent episodes of eating what others would consider an abnormally large amount of food
  • Frequent feelings of being unable to control what or how much is being eaten
  • Eating much more rapidly than usual
  • Eating until uncomfortably full
  • Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry
  • Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten
  • Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating
  • Fluctuations in weight
  • Feelings of low self-esteem
  • Frequent dieting
Wow.  Last time I posted on this blog was in May of 2015. I was feeling sooo good.  And looking so good.  When did it all go to shit?  Why was I, at the beginning of October of 2016, the absolute BIGGEST I have ever been in my life?  I've been keeping a bit of a journal since Oct 1, when I started the Whole30 journey.  I wish I would have been keeping it out here the whole time, but since I didn't, I'll just put it all out here now to bring me up to date.


My Whole30 Journey
I started my Whole30 on October 1st, and I am DETERMINED to follow it to the letter for the entire 30 days and make REAL changes.  I am closer to 300 lbs (295!) than I have ever been in my life and I feel truly terrible…aching joints, the tendinitis is in a major flare-up, my mobility is compromised in a huge way…even tying my own shoes is a major effort, not to mention taking care of my personal hygiene.  I meant to start journaling yesterday on day 1, but since I did not, I’ll start my journal with Day 2.

October 2 – DAY 2

I had a good first day yesterday, and intend to have just as good of a day today.   I did have some major diarrhea; I think because of the 2000mg of metformin that I took in the morning I definitely won’t be taking that again.  I made a big pot of stew in the Instant Pot that is 100% compliant and will be eating on that for a few days. 

October 8 – DAY 8

I certainly haven’t been keeping a log of this journey like I had hoped to.  If I could just discipline myself to take 30 minutes out of each day to write down my thoughts, I would be SO proud of myself.  Same thing I’ve been thinking/saying for over 40 years. HAHA   Anyway, I made it through the first week.  It was pretty rough, especially day 3 and 4.  I probably could have gone to work, but I would have been miserable there for sure, so I just took Days 3-5 off work and pretty much stayed in bed most of the time.  Very self-indulgent, but I thought that I deserved it, since I’m staying on this way of eating so faithfully.  No sugar, no grains, no dairy (!), no alcohol.  But I’m eating good – and I’m starting to feel better by the day.  I am not getting on the scale…Whole30 really emphasizes not to do that, so I will not.  I do go to the doctor on the 18th, and of course, she’ll weigh me, but I will close my eyes and tell her not to tell me.  I don’t want to know. I want to be more in touch with how I am feeling than what the numbers on the scale say.

Here are some of the things I’ve made in the last week, all 100% Whole30 compliant.


Homemade Mayonnaise – So Easy!
  



Cauliflower Hummus – go easy on the red pepper!  Mine was a little too hot.
 
Chicken Salad - this is now a staple!  Chicken breast, apple, celery, grapes, homemade
mayonnaise, basil, served over a bed of citrus lemony greens.  SO DARN GOOD!



Egg SoufflĂ©s:  I fried up some mushrooms and onions in ghee, steamed and chopped a
little spinach, chopped up some broccoli and roasted red pepper, and beat 6 eggs
together. Then I layered the vegetables and poured the egg on top.
Baked in my confection oven at 375 for about 30 min.


October 9 – DAY 9

I've spent about five decades at war with my body, with my short legs and stocky frame and junk food cravings and emotional eating. In comparison, giving up grains and dairy is easy. And in return, I’ll forge a partnership with my body that uses good food as fuel. (Borrowed and adapted from Melissa Joulwan, the author of "Well Fed".)



October 11 – DAY 11

Packed my food for the day since I'm going to be on the road till probably 11 tonight. I have vegetable chicken curry over spinach (2 meals worth), breakfast egg soufflĂ©, hard boiled egg, tomato, cucumber, carrots, cauliflower hummus, melon and grapes. And some macadamia nuts in the car. I shouldn't starve! #Whole30




October 12 – DAY 12

Today's Day 12 of #Whole30 reset. I think the whole key to this is prepping. This weekend I'll make some clarified butter, mayonnaise and ketchup. Prepping lots of vegetables and proteins so meal prep and packing lunches are no-brainers. I will be out of town 3 nights total next week so prepping and planning ahead is going to be especially important. I've got this!




October 17 – DAY 17#Whole30 breakfast on the road!   




October 18 – DAY 18

We're making these for me to take on the road with me! YUMMM! (Yep, heading to Spokane tomorrow for 2 nights.)


Chili Lime Chicken Wings are grilled crispy and totally Whole30!



October 19 – DAY 19

Today is Day 19 of my 
#Whole30 ! I went to the doc yesterday, and when she weighed me, I told her I don't want to know anything except if I'm on the right track. I told her my starting weight on October 1st, and she said that I am indeed on the right track! She is gorgeous, fit, compassionate and empathetic; she follows the primal way of eating 90/10 AND works out with kettlebells...so having her in my corner is such a blessing. WhoooHooooo! This morning I'm leaving for another trip...three days and two nights away. I'm taking my food with me, including beef stew, chicken salad, Chili Lime Chicken Wings, and assorted vegetables, nuts and fruits. I have GOT this! I'm starting to consider perhaps making this a #Whole60!

 :) October 21 – DAY 21

Brunch for the drive home from Spokane


October 25 – DAY 25

I was whipping up a batch of mayonnaise and my stick blender broke! It was a cheap one (Toastmaster), but I've only used it a handful of times! I bought it far too long ago to try to send it back, SO I bought a new one...a KitchenAid with some COOL attachments and a GREAT warranty! Wheeeeee!!! Can't wait to get it! Happy Birthday to me a little bit early! LOL





October 26 – DAY 26

Breakfast Day 26: pork tenderloin, tomato, cucumber, egg, strawberries, blueberries. I LOVE eating #Whole30! Thinking of making it a #Whole60 !



October 28 – DAY 28

Lunch, and my new cookbook that just arrived yesterday and is amazing! Will be using it lots this weekend! #Whole30 #WellFed


October 29 – DAY 29

Today is Day 29 of my Whole30. I feel so good that I'm thinking about making it a Whole45! The hardest thing to give up has been sour cream, cheese and alcohol, but I also haven't had any IBS symptoms since Day 5, and I used to have those on a nearly DAILY basis. So reintroducing the foods I've not had for the past 29 days makes me a little nervous...is it gluten? Dairy? ALCOHOL? (*GASP*) https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/f57/1/16/1f609.png;)

I've had a few go-to dishes, with enough variety that I haven't gotten bored,but I need to increase my repertoire. I just got the brand new Well-Fed Weeknights book by Melissa Joulan. It's a cookbook of complete Paleo meals in 45 minutes or less. Most, if not all of the recipes are also Whole30 compliant. I freaking LOVE this book! I've just recently gotten her other 2 books as well, but this one is the BEST! She gives you directions on exactly what to prep ahead of time (an hour or two on the weekend), then you can throw together an amazing meal in less than 45 minutes...and she gives you step-by-step directions. I think this book is going to be the most-used one I have.


 


October 30 – DAY 30


DONE!  
Dinner: baked sweet potato, beef & broccoli sesame stir fry, English cucumber and bell pepper


















October 31 – Day 31
So, I’ve completed the Whole30.  Textbook perfect, other than the couple of Quest Bars that I indulged in.   All semantics, Quest bars are “clean” and acceptable to the Primal way of eating, I just need to be careful with them! It’s too easy to keep them in my nightstand and have one as a bedtime snack, even if I’m not hungry. And the Paleo Granola.  I’m not buying that stuff again. WAY too easy to sit and eat the whole damn bag, which is more like 6 servings.  I’ve found some Sweet Potato chips that I enjoy as well, and I can also see them becoming an issue if I don’t watch myself.

Anyway, I feel great, I'm really enjoying the food I eat and I’m down about 20 lbs!   I enjoy not constantly wanting chips, pastries, candy, pasta, etc.   I've learned that the MOST important key to success is to plan ahead!  Pamm at work did the Whole30 with me, and she hated every minute but she didn't plan ahead at all.  One day (on a weekend no less!) she ate nothing but three apples! Not only does that mess with your blood sugar BIG time, but it also only supports the disordered eating patterns that I'm sure all of us here experience! I don't consider what she did anything close to resembling Whole30.  And I doubt that she lost any weight either.

One thing that Pamm has illustrated perfectly is if you try to wing it on this plan, you'll fail.  Or, to quote someone much smarter than me:



When I followed the paleo/primal/grain-free way of eating about a year ago, I was very successful with it until I started leaning a little too much on "paleo-fied" junk. Quest bars, Paleo Granola, etc. Those things are all well and good unless I start over-using them. They are meant to be OCCASIONAL things. Plus I ate FAR too much cheese. So inevitably, I quit losing weight, and that "I don't give a damn" attitude started creeping back, and before I knew it I was face-first in the toxic pit of processed foods, and within a few months I'd gained everything back that I'd lost and THEN some.  I was hurting all over again, I was gaining at an alarming rate, my mobility was suffering…and I kept at it until I reached an all-time highest weight.  I was only a few lbs from 300 lbs, and I felt worse physically and emotionally than I’d ever felt before! 

I've decided to extend it...maybe I'll go for a Whole45 or Whole60. I suspect that my body is intolerant to dairy, but I'm not ready to test the theory yet...I enjoy having a normal and regular digestive system way too much! Soooooo....here's to Day 31 of Whole30!