So I had a friend ask me the other day "what do you eat?". I hadn't really thought about it since making the food adjustments 4 years back it is now habit but yes, food is always on my mind. What can I have? How much sugar does that have, if I have it...what is lower carb that I can eat with it? Just a constant thing going on in my head. I think if you ask anyone who has had to make lifestyle changes they will tell you that it is constant work and it isn't easy. I know we all want the quick fix sometimes but really, for the health of your body, for the long term, we need to be patient. The results will come. I am the first to tell you that I am not patient in this area of my life. Its frustrating to wait to loose the 4lbs I gained over winter. And on my frame, 4 lbs is noticeable...and I gain all my weight in my waist line. Lovely. So take a 5lb bag of sugar...place it in your midsection and go WHOA:) Yea. Well according to my research, people with sugar issues typically gain weight in their midsections. That doesn't mean that if you are overweight you are a diabetic...but it does mean that if you are "an apple shape", gain weight in your gut first, hold on to it here...you might want to watch your sugar intakes. $ years ago when I was told I was borderline diabetic, I searched the web for information. I found a book called The Schwarzbein Principal. It is written by two doctors practicing in California. This is not a diet, to lose weight diet...but a healthy way of eating diet for those whom have food related conditions IE diabetes, chronic headaches, digestional issues. It's not crazy food either...like seaweed from the shores of some remote part of the world. They have suggestions for menu's but really, you are the one making choices...you just have guidelines. She suggests that diabetics should have 15 carb meals and 2 7 carb snacks per day. Now that is the start and you can adjust as time goes on but at really these levels, my body feels and looks it's best. Now when I said I gained a little weight over winter...I was not strict about my levels of carbohydrates at each meal. I am now being more diligent again and making healthier choices but at the same time, allowing myself a piece of something sweet at a holiday or special occasion. You can't limit yourself so much that you want to cheat all the time. You want to feel happy about the choices you are making. Soooo here is what I do and firmly believe in. Fake food...like fat substitutes (in most "non-fat" items) I do not eat. Also, lowfat...I am sketchy about. If they add something man made to substitute something that came naturally...I think there is something wrong with that. I only eat butter. Margarine is another man made item. Bugs won't even eat it. If you left it out side...bugs won't eat it. I think that says something right there. I know this is why I picked up Dr. Schwarzbein's book. She believes the same thing. I never understood substituting something out of a food just so you didn't feel guilty about eating it. So if you want a hamburger, let's make one shall we?!?!:) Ok so for me, here is the choices I make...I like blue cheese, so we mix blue cheese in with our hamburger meat. This is chemial free beef raised in Omak by a friend. We buy 1/2 a cow each year and store it in a freezer. We then how how our meat was treated, raised, and processed. I know you all can't do that so watch your labels. Now...I use the Oroweat Sandwich Thins for a bun. Just thinner, whole wheat, 5g fiber and 17g total Carb and only 2g sugar. Now if you are saying whoa...that is 2g over your allotted 15g carb per meal...you would be right. I don't eat hamburgers every day and WITH a bun...maybe twice a year. So I take the 2 carbs and go with it. The rest of the meal would be a salad with homemade dressing, I like italian. And if you are saying...ugh...to much work, it really isn't. If you have olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and some seasonings...you have dressing. I was using the garlic flavored Ms. Dash in with equil parts oil and vinegar...voila...dressing. And really tasty dressing too. With out the sugar or preservatives. Now most times, I skip the bread all together. I will have the hamburger plain with the Spicy brown mustard on the side, a salad or fresh veggies to top off the meal. I USED to drink a lot of crystal light. The good doctor would be freaking out if she heard that...but yes, I used to drink a lot of it. And... I have stopped lately. Why? Because I have been having horrid migraines and if you read my blog before, I cut out cheese to see if that was my trigger, it wasn't so I am happily back on cheese. But quietly I stopped consuming fake sugars and coffee. I am happy to report I have been HEADACHE free for 3 months. Not only are the migraines gone but so are the consistent headaches I used to get. I don't know which one was the dastardly culprit but I am thankful to have my headache problem in the past. So, If you want the real sugar, measure what you get. Drink a real glass of lemon-aid every once in a while if you have to but I would suggest staying far away from the fake stuff if you can. I still need to try stevia and since it is a natural sweetener...I might want to use that. But we will see. Just be sure you KNOW what you are consuming. When you absentmindedly snack or consume food, you will be surprised how much more you eat. If you say, I want almonds and a slice of cheese. You measure out 7g of carb for almonds, get your slice of cheese for a snack. But if you put a bag in front of you, and the block of cheese, guaranteed you will eat more.
So here is what I have eaten today...
Breakfast was scrambled eggs (2 plus eggs mixed with whole cream) I say 2plus because I made 7 for 3 people and one was my husband.)
A cup of Earl Grey Tea no sweetener
Eggs eaten with a tsp of ketchup
Snack was a slice of white cheddar and a spoon full of peanut butter. I know weird...but it sounded good;)
Lunch will probably be a wrap...I will let you know. There are these low carb whole wheat tortillias at costco that I love. 6g carb per tortilla. So my wrap of chicken, sundried tomatoes and fetta will be under the 15g. mark. MMMM Sounds good eh:)
Ok...well I hope this helps. I am sorry I haven't done anything on health lately, so I vow, I will start posting my food intake more often. Maybe that will help not only myself chart what I am eating but will help you as well.
