I was reading Robb Wolf's book: The Paleo Solution and planning my transition from weight loss to weight maintenance. (Paleo-ish food templates, think being off sugar and grains doesn't matter? I got over that, it sure does to me, so don't judge- life after auto-immune disease is important).
In 2012, 2013, and 2014, I stay on my food plan. I'm now known for my awesome photos, my famous "let's" go for a walk, and for staying gluten free and eating meat and vege.
I'm no longer known for binge eating all the stuffing and having new clothes because the old ones didn't fit. My family is no longer worried about my health and being a parent with failing health and a very young daughter.
I didn't choose all the genetic markers, the food addiction, but I can choose to make food choices that keep me well, meal to meal. Thankful for the clarity to live another food sober day.
I choose this. Each food that I choose will either make me sick or keep me well. Thankful for the strength, the courage and the wisdom to make choices that keep me well. Thanksgiving is a meat and veg holiday if you choose it to be. I always have that choice.
Safe travels. If you are staying on a food plan today, you are not alone.
What's working today
1. Staying on a gluten free, mostly processed sugar free food template 24/7
2. Admitting it was not my fault that I was swimming in the shallow end of the obesity gene pool and food addiction.
3. Knowing that my genetics are there and I can choose foods that make me well or make me sick.
4. Being thankful to know, to let others know not to gluten down the turkey. (ask if there's flour in the baking bag...)
5. Taking a walk, having fun, taking time for myself, taking my camera.
What didn't work in the past
1. Offering to bring or make dessert, buy all the things from Costco just so I could binge eat.
2. Not really listening to those, like my counselor that said "I think sugar and grains are like allergies for you"
3. Not fully understanding that the foods I eat could effect me so much.
4. Not speaking up about needing to be gluten free.... hey, what are the ingredients in the garlic salt?
5. Offering to clean up, so I could eat up, keep eating (there was always stuffing left over!), then fall asleep.
Whatever you choose today, stop and say "I choose this". It takes a lot of clarity, strength, and courage not to go down the rabbit hole of sugar, grains, and other moderate eating strategies. At least I have some clarity.
Here's to staying on plan. Life is short. So am I. Do what makes you well. Abstaining = elimination= freedom to stay in what works. Freedom, light heart, light mind. My binge brain would love it if I told myself to moderate eat and that I'm "depriving myself". I'm smart enough to stay one step ahead of that slippery slope thinking.
Take "Keep it Up David's Thanksgiving 2014 Pledge" if you like those sorts of things.
Gwen will be hosting her Scale accountability club (if you weigh) every Friday over at The Sunny Coconut
Vinnie and Anna had a great Thanksgiving Podcast and will be putting some life into living
Alen Standish is focusing on ONE thing. Great podcast. My one thing is my food template.
Today will come and go. Here's to choosing foods that make us well. Onward.
Happy Thanksgiving Day Karen - have a wonderful "food sober" day with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lynda!! Today is another day that being able to turn over to Ketosis while the turkey roasts is a very good thing. Lot's of energy, and no food cravings. :) Good "summer" So. Cal weather, too.
ReplyDeleteOkay, well, it's snowing here in Pittsburgh. :O
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I didn't intend to stay either gluten or sugar free today, you've sold me on the whole sticking to your food plan 24/7 thing. I'm just not up to the mental warfare involved in the concept of moderation for the holidays; it beats me every time. It is my intent to eat GF/SF and low carb--beginning tomorrow and still doing it on Christmas. Those are big words--we'll see it it's truth or just fuss and fury.
Deb
Deb, brr on the snow in Pittsburgh! Glad you are thinking food template. Once I practiced being tough and not moderate (Refuse to Regain, Barbara Berkeley, MD) and I un-brainwashed myself from the WW mantras stuck in my head (no, I don't feel deprived, I feel full and energetic and interactive)
Delete90 day opt out. Try 90 days. Kind of gets you set for any old path ways that pop up. Have you read the book? So nice. No wild glucose/insulin rides, fewer cravings in the long run-IMO. Time will pass anyway. Might as well get off that merry-go-round...
I have not read the book, but I have heard of it. I thought it was, perhaps, a book for closer to maintenance. I do know what I should and should ot be eating. Not hard to figure out considering that I have diabetes and am gluten-intolerant. (I get dermatitis herpetiformis if I eat gluten.) Beyond that, I've known since the 70s that low carb was the way for me to lose weight. It's only been the past few years, however, that I (1) knew about the glulten problem and (2) realized that the American diabetes Assoc. was not to be trusted :} and that, no matter how they spun it, I really couldn't eat 30 to 45 grams of carbohydrate per meal. :o Yeah.
DeleteMy addict's brain so wanted to believe all of teh "healthy whole grains" and "moderation" songs.
So the good news and bead news is that I don't need to be educated any further (I "got it" in 2010 when I lost weight...you know, the weight I gained back 18 months later when I decided that I could ignore what I had learned.): I just have to DO IT.
It's time. I'm to the point where I'm not even enjoying my indiscretions. I think the last bit of faulty thinking that had to shake lose was the idea that some day--some magical day--I would be able to eat grains and high carb items in moderation. Shrug. I've been fighting it tooth and nail, but I think I'm ready to surrender. Otherwise health will continue to escape me.
Thanks for your input, Karen.
It's a real gift to know what will help your chronic conditions, Deb. So freaking true about the ADA.... glad you have your eyes wide open. I eat 40-50 grams of carbs a DAY! If I had followed the ADA, what was almost pre-diabetes in 2010 and 2011 I would be diabetic by now...
DeleteSounds like you are in the right head space. I will say that once my motivation was high and my head was in the right space, I made that jump to not returning. After the first year or 2, then I do think it becomes easier. Good luck!
Deb.....that's wonderful! And thank you Karen, for leading the way for so many of us. :)
ReplyDeleteKaren, you are a wonderful role model! I agree with you that there is no need to get off your food template for a holiday! I work too hard the rest of the year to stuff myself on Christmas or Thanksgiving. And I have no desire to do so! I had a conversation with a colleague about how Thanksgiving is often an excuse for people to stuff themselves with food. I don't want to do that (anymore)! I want to wake up and have my clothes fit. I hope you had a great da yesterday.
ReplyDelete