I’m trying to eat healthier. Serve healthier food. Make gradual changes in my diet.
I wish I could tell you that I had some great motivation for doing this. That I saw a documentary that convicted me of my eating habits. Or that I want to be healthier or faster at running or lift heavier things. Or have more energy at the end of the day. Or have better bloodwork results. Those things are partially true.
But really? My motivation is that I don’t want to be as B-I-G as I am. A fairly humilating (to me) incident happened a little bit ago. (To spare my ego, I won’t tell you what it was. I’ll just leave you to wonder. Cruel like that.) And it made me realize that I don’t want to be who I am. Physically. It was funny at the time, but not so much as I thought about it later.
So I have watched some documentaries (just things available on Netflix) and one gave some great advice: start small. Don’t worry about overhauling your diet completely. At least, not right now. You’ll get overwhelmed. You’ll get frustrated.
- Just start adding in veggies.
- De-emphasize meat in your meals.
- Look for sources of healthy food (like farmer’s markets or butchers).
- Start getting in the right kinds of fat.
(That’s was their healthy eating strategy, so that’s why they gave that advice. I’m quickly learning that out of 100 people, there are 57.2 plans for healthy eating. Sigh. Who to believe?!?!)
So that’s what I’ve been doing. Starting small. I’ve only been doing that since Friday, so not very long. But I spent $60 this weekend at the grocery store on cantaloupe, strawberries, celery, green peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus – all kinds of good things. I’ve been snacking on quite a bit of that.
I’m still making “normal for us” meals – we had pasta for dinner last night and it wasn’t whole wheat! I’ve just been drawing up plans for better sides. I have healthier snacks at the ready. I’m not looking at the scale as really, my starting small = healthier food.
That’s what’s up in my world. Got any good recipes for me?
I discovered this one sometime last year and probably make it at least once a month! I’m no good with links and such but you can easily find it online…
I usually serve it over Couscous not Orzo. If you are not familiar with Couscous you can find it with the boxed rice and such in most stores.
Italian Chicken Zucchini Skillet (readyseteat.com)
I followed you from a Boundless link at some point=)
Thanks Patty! This does look great – AND I bought some zucchini this weekend too!
Here’s the link if anyone else is interested: http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Italian-ChickenZucchini-Skillet-5625.html
I lost about 25 pounds last year and the above recipe and this one were staples for lunch.
Tomato Soup with White Beans and Pasta (myrecipes.com)
Another good one – and I love soup all year long (why is soup consider just a winter main dish by so many?)
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tomato-soup-with-white-beans-50400000109037/
Something to consider: I recently went to the doctor because it’s very difficult for me to lose weight, even though we eat very healthily. The first thing she asked me was if I’m hypoglycemic, which I am. If I don’t eat, I feel faint, sick, and very, very emotional. Long story short, I have insulin resistance, and I have to cut all grains and sugars from my diet for three months. That includes natural and artificial sweeteners. Plus anything with a high glycemic index, including potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, parsnips, among others. I can eat meat, lots of veggies, legumes, and limited dairy and fruit. I’ve been doing this for a month, and have lost 10 pounds without changing anything else. And I’m starting my second trimester soon. In June, I can add very limited amounts of sugar and grains back, but only occasionally. It’s hard, but seeing the weight fall off while being pregnant really proves that quickly-digested carbs are really, really bad for me. Anyways, I’ve since learned that 60-75% of Americans have some level of insulin resistance, and all of the standard dieting advice (eat whole grains, eat low fat, fruits are as good for you as veggies) is exactly the wrong thing for us to do. Maybe you’re not in this category of people, but I thought I’d pass it along, since I had never heard of it a month ago, and it’s totally changed my life.
That’s awesome Arliss — not that you’re insulin resistant, but that you were able to find out and act accordingly.
That’s definitely something for me to consider/look into. I was diagnosed insulin resistant 16 years ago, but it “went away” when I lost 140 pounds (weight loss surgery). Since that weight loss though, I have gained back some weight (married weight, then a little baby weight, then now some mommy weight!) Great advice!
I read whole30 and it has changed me life. I put on 20 pounds last year after I was married. Last fall, I worked out consistently and ate “low fat” meals but just maintained my weight. Whole30 has help me lose the weight and I have so much more energy and I sleep so much better.
I also stumbled hear from boundless years ago
I’l have to check that out – thanks Lissa. Glad you found me from boundless! I haven’t been there in a while – I should go back!
I haven’t been reading it either for a while. I really have enjoyed your blog. I have learned and thought about things you have written. Thanks for your ministry.