Still On The Path

I wasn't sure if this diet change would last, but I know other's didn't think it would AT ALL.  Now it is Spring and I am still juicing green drinks, not eating meat, or dairy (except Parmesan cheese, plain yogurt, eggs.)  Also, I stopped eating sugar (anything desserts and sweets.)  Yes, there is some sugar in crackers or miscellaneous items that I eat, but not watching that close.

Have I noticed a difference. OH YEAH.  At first family kept asking me, and though I was feeling better, I was skeptical and wanted more time to see.  The pain in my joints (especially the knees) was 90% improved.  I really think that when I had that attack and it settled into my knees, it was the straw that made me so determined to make this change.  It wasn't a slight pain, it was extreme and I had trouble getting up out of a chair, using stairs, getting in and out of the bed.  No cake or cookies would ever taste as good as being pain free!!!!  So, no temptation there.

My stomach aches have been reduced by about 70% and that is great.  It is nice to eat and feel well afterwards.  My GI tract has been cooperative and I love that.  Not always having to look for restrooms where ever I go.  I still eat yogurt about 3Xs a week and take probiotics once a week.  I eat FiberOne cereal 2X a week with soy milk.  Things are very good .....

My energy level has been improved.  Unfortunately, I caught the FLU and then got a sinus infection and that has stalled progress but I know once I kick that I'll get back on track.  Since Spring is here, more sunny warmer weather my next venture in this 'new me' is going to exercise.  Oh, I hate that word, because I hate to exercise so I am going out to explore 'Nature' ....... walking.

I have been going to Weight Watchers (still) and the meetings help.  Now this program you can eat anything you want, but portions and choices are what you learn.  Because I don't feel deprived, I never feel like it is something that I will 'go off of'' once I reach goal.  It is a way of life and I enjoy that.  I have lost 15lbs, it has been slow, but that can be a good thing.  I want to reach goal and become a 'lifetime member'.  I will succeed, I know it.

My biggest challenge is still learning to cook differently ......... no meat is a challenge, as I need to be aware of my protein source.  Asian cooking (which I love) is my go to 'new food'.  I make taco's and salads where I offer meat to family and I use the beans and rice for my protein source.

Here is to a great summer with lots of progress.  Photo's and menus to be added!!!

GREEN DRINK

Still juicing, still dieting, still blogging.  That is a good sign.  I took photo's of how I make my Green Drink (watch the dvd Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead) and you understand the path I'm on.

Now I need to figure out how to post these photo's of my juicing ......

BEANS, BEANS the MUSICAL FRUIT

Okay, enough with beans for today - I'm having eggs! Again, having to plan for meals that are not in my cooking bag of tricks. Back to the recipe books and pull together something that I have already on hand. This will be interesting. Nice chilly day calls for Vegetable Soup (without beans.)

Last night I juiced more green drink. I think I need to stick to a recipe there too, as I want the juice to taste the same. Not that this one wasn't good, just wanted more lemon tang I guess. Today is WW also. Checking more numbers and getting good ideas. :)

When people diet, I just hate to hear them say "if I can do it, anyone can do it!" They make it sound as though it is a piece of cake. Oh, that sounds good for breakfast humm, flour, eggs, milk sounds healthy to me. Getting side tracked here. But, I don't find this easy and will never say that to ANYONE. I perfer "It's not easy but it will be SO worth it." That's more like it!!!

How Many Days????

Each day on this new diet restructure (is what I am calling it ... not the D word) seems like a week. There is so much to learn and relearn. Phew, today I went to the doctor's to get a baseline on my blood sugar and stats. Something to help follow the progress of this journey. It's not the dress size that I am seeking, but other numbers.

I am now going to the different grocery stores to buy fresh produce and compare quality and prices. I was at Albertsons and a young (to me) female shopper asked me what something was and pointed to it. Well, you can see we were both gawking at green stuff, but I didn't know either. We got to talking about the produce and diets. She actually saw Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (3 times) so she knew what I was referring to. I told her I am not fasting but juicing. Then we chatted about juicing and got off that subject to her health problems and med's to control them. We had some similar ..... but geeze at her age NOT GOOD. She mentioned I looked like I was in my 40s so now I know she is legally blind too. Actually, I get that all the time ...... not really. So who knows, she might join up at Weight Watchers and I'll see her there as well.

Brent had another rootbeer float last night (for energy) so I know his transition is going to be a tad slower than mine! To be fair, he does put in long work hours (up at 4:30 am) and a long commute to work and back. He played tennis Monday (holiday) and then moved all our furniture out of our master bedroom (new carpet) and then next day all back in the room. I just pointed where I wanted everything to go. So I don't qualify for any FLOATS of any kind :)

Okay, what's for dinner. Geese, I just had a late lunch. I made quinoa/lental/asparagus salad for dinner last night and that is what I had for lunch. Then some avacado and blueberries (not together.) Now it's time for me to make some more green drink (juice of kale, cucumber, lemon, apple, ginger and celery.) I do really love that drink, but for my husbands sake I will have more variety in the juicing department.

Now we also have our daughter living with us. She is down at her sister's in Portland and although she knows we are committing to eat differently (new and improved) I think she will be cooking her own food.

When Christmas is put away and bedroom organized I will start posting a few recipes and ratings (according to my taste buds, that is.)

Off to the kitchen ......

PS: I don't see any spell check. Spelling and grammer challenged. Disclaimer/noted!!!

NEW YEAR Welcome 2012. This is going to be quite a journey as I have decided to become a VEGAN. Well, almost vegan as I can't eat dairy because I am lactose intolerent. I will now have to learn to cook all over again.

I arrived at this decision after watching the dvd Fat, Sick and nearly Dead. So, I jumped into this (not the green fast) but I am juicing with greens. I have cut out meat and dairy and I am wondering what to prepare each meal. It is not easy ......... I have been gathering all the recipes I could from my stash and on line. That all takes time and I do have a husband to feed. He is okay with this and takes the green drink, however, he isn't on board with all this yet. He just had a rootbeer float tonight! No, I am not jealous .... I don't like rootbeer and I can't eat ice cream, it makes me sick. But, if he was eating homemade chocolate chip cookies warm out of the oven then YES, then my nose would fall off from the wonderful smells.

I will post my favorite recipes as I go along, with some photos too. I have about 40 pounds to lose and would like to control my type 2 diabetes with diet alone. That also will include some exercise ....... will I ever come to like that, not to mention it 'rains here all the time.' I hope I have lots of good things to report by the end of this year. Right now my stomach is bloated, and I think eating all those beans might have something to do with it. Ugh.

Now that the holidays are over, it is time to focus on ME. I'm tired of being FAT, SICK and Nearly DEAD! So here goes!!!!

Happy New Year 2012, I have a good feeling about you
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Well, I just logged on for another post. My last and almost first post was in October.

To post or not to post. That is the question. I need to journal, is this the way I want to do it???

Well, it only took me an hour to get back to post another blog. Couldn't remember the password I set just an hour ago. That was lame.

I posted a dorky picture of myself, because it was the first picture I could find of me. Since I am the family photographer, I avoid being the one photographed. Hense, I have to hunt through a sea of photo's to find one of only me :) Smart huh!!!

Oh, google just sent me my pass word ........ but I finally figured it out on my own. Google is a bit slow on getting the pass word to you ....... me.........