| Since it’s been a few weeks since I let y’all know how we were doing, I thought it was time for healthy eating update…..the update is – we’re doing great. Pretty boring update huh? The surprising thing for me is that we settled so easily into this new lifestyle. I thought it would be hard….I thought I would have to dress in all tie-dye……I thought I would have to buy a VW van and live down by the river. The truth is, we’re pretty much eating the same foods we were eating before – I’ve just changed how I make them and what I make them with. I take a former recipe and transform it into something that fits. Let me encourage you that you can do the same thing. There isn’t really much you have to give up to eat healthy…..you just have to change the way you make it. We have cut out a majority of desserts. We used to eat them every night after dinner, but now we MIGHT have them twice a week – and on special occasions. |
| Let me share my secret of healthy eating with you…….planning. It takes advance planning to eat this way. Since you’re making most of your food instead of heating up a frozen dinner, you need to know a bit in advance what you’re going to eat. This is where Meal Planning is CRITICAL. I’m still putting up my weekly meal plans for you guys to see. When I know what we’re going to eat, I try planning a day in advance – so I know if I need to make bread, or thaw meat, or soak oatmeal. It’s not hard…..it just takes thinking in advance. In my personal notes on my meal plan at home, I make notes on each day so I know what I need to make – make mayonnaise, thaw meat for fajitas, make foccacia for sandwiches. Planning is what makes healthy eating easier….and you also need plan your budget in advance based on what you need to buy for the month. |
| So, what has been our next baby step? We’ve cut out most of our caffeine. By “most” I mean that sometimes we still eat chocolate. However, in that area I’m also trying to use more carob powder since it has no caffeine and more calcium than chocolate. I’ve cut out soda 100%. Barry still drinks some now and then – but I was more addicted to it than he was. I’m now attempting to make my own “healthy” soda at home and you’ll read more about that later. As far as coffee, I still love – but we’ve switched to 100% decaf. It was hard at first, with lots of headaches….leading me to recognize that I was truly addicted to it. But I can still knock back several cups of decaf…..and I’m hanging on to it for dear life. :-)So, how are YOU doing? Any struggles? What has been your next baby step? Do you think you have lipedema but you’re not sure? Visit darrensmithmd’s website to help give you a better understanding of lipedema and how it affects the body. |
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Hello,
I just happened across your blog and I am finding it very helpful and interesting! On the topic of caffeine and cutting out coffee, have you tried Yerba Mate? It is described as “Yerba Mate has the ‘strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate’ all in one beverage.” It is made from leaves so it has an herbal taste but “the caffeine content varies between that of green tea and coffee. Unlike tea, yerba mate has a low tannin content so it can be strong like coffee with out becoming extremely bitter. Unlike coffee, yerba mate is not oily and acid forming, so it is less likely to cause stomach acid and jitters.” (See http://guayaki.com/mate/130/What-is-Yerba-Mate%3F.html) Just a thought for those who still want their caffeine or as a transitional beverage.
Thanks for the info! We’re thinking about trying Teecino, which sounds like it might be the same type of drink. 🙂
Stacy – Don’t I know it. You couldn’t PAY me to eat most of the junk I used to – ewww – it grosses me out to even think about it.
Thinking about giving up coffee but dreading the headaches…How long did it take you to get past that?
I won’t lie….the headaches were bad at first. They lasted about a week. They were the most intense the first three days. Not even ibuprofen would stop them. I just dealt with it. I felt like a druggie. 🙂 After about two weeks we were okay. That’s when I switched to FULL decaf and we had the headaches again. However, knowing that I’m “off caffeine” now is a great feeling. The headaches were worth it. 🙂 Keep me posted on your progress!
Honestly, my husband is the hardest hurdle! He still errs in the way of convenience when needed and sometimes, he just doesn’t understand why I do all I do when I can just plop a corn dog [gag me] in the oven. *sigh*
Allison, I think he’ll eventually come over to “your side.” 🙂 Especially when he tastes the awesome difference…….when we have to get that type of food when we’re out or at someone else’s house we always comment about how it tastes so YUCK. 🙂 Keep on truckin’!
I’m glad you guys are doing so well. I’m still trying to use up some of our packaged stuff, like this morning I broke down and made a pack of lemon muffins, only because I tried to make homemade ones yesterday and my oven ate them again. It has a serious problem where it puts itself on broil even though it’s only set to say 350. I used it cause I had it, but when I was eating it, it just wasn’t good to me anymore. If that even makes sense. The other day I used a pack of Brown N Serve rolls, and no one ate them. I’ve made homemade rolls for so long now, we have just became used to the taste that the others became a disappointment.
I totally know what you mean! I keep saying “this doesn’t taste as good as I remembered.”
So sad about your home-made attempt at lemon muffins. At least if your oven ate them, it’s not going hungry. 🙂