I’m hearing Dory in my head these days as I just keep my head down and move forward, trying to wait everything out. Waiting for the house to be returned to normal, waiting for my season of frequent travel to be done, waiting for the horrible heat wave to pass, waiting for Tori to get through this clingy phase…
I’ve been trying to seize control in the little areas I can. I’ve been feeling physically run down, mostly from eating constant travel food, so I decided to do a food clean up. I’m not calling it a diet because I don’t diet and the primary goal isn’t weight loss, it’s feeling better.
However.
I must confess that thanks to six months of endless stress, I am not exactly doing very well eating intuitively, and in fact have gained back much of the weight I’d lost in the last couple of years. Which is utterly fucking depressing. So I can’t lie to you and tell you that I don’t want to modify my eating with the end result being weight loss. I do. (By the way, that lovely picture of me in the side bar? All I can say is ALWAYS SHOOT FROM SLIGHTLY ABOVE.)
What I don’t want to do is diet in a way that makes me crazy again, so I tried to find a compromise. Lately I’ve been surrounded by the gluten-free (heh); lots of my friends have given up gluten, and this was never more apparent than at my last conference when my friends were rejoicing because the restaurants in the town of Asheville is unusually accommodating for the gluten-free.
I decided to go one step further and dump wheat altogether. Well, actually, I decided to give up all forms of carbohydrates other than fruit. This lasted until day two, when I broke down and had some brown rice sushi. So I’ve basically decided no wheat and to keep the other carbs – rice, corn, potatoes – to a minimum.
I felt better in two days.
Until Sunday (a week and a half in), when I ate some wheat.
And IMMEDIATELY felt like I had knives in my gut.
It took me twenty-four hours to stop the wheat again (apparently I’m a gluten for punishment – get it? GLUTEN? HA HA HA HA), but am now back to eating without wheat.
Holy crap, I had no idea that it made me feel so horrible. NOTED.
That first week I ate so much fruit that I smelled a bit like, well, wine. My sweat smelled like wine. It was BIZARRE. So I’ve toned it down and am eating a lot of fruit and veggies but in better proportion.
So there’s that.
Adding to this is that we need to find a new food balance in our house with the addition of my mom. Today we’re planning on sitting down and trying to create a food plan we’ll all like so we can then shop appropriately. I’m excited because my mom actually likes some foods Charlie doesn’t, so I’ll be able to add them to our food plan occasionally. I hope. We’ll see.
THIS IS ALL STILL SO NEW.
Anyway, to wrap up this meander of a post, food is clean again, I’m feeling better, and otherwise I’m just being Dory.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I gave up all the basic starch/carbs – pasta, rice, potatoes, bread. I didn’t do it to lose weight, I did it because of other health reasons. I replaced them with lots of veggies, a small amount of fruit. Tossed in some new stuff, avocados, olives, nuts and seeds. I never go hungry and I lost almost 40 lbs.
The healthy fats from the avacados, olives, nuts and seeds are good for cholesterol and they satisfy hunger longer than fruits and veggies (which do have carbs, but in smaller amounts and they don’t jump your blood sugar the same way).
For the first time since I was 19 my tryglicerides and cholesterol are all normal. What I learned regarding the weight loss (which again I emphasize was not why I changed my diet) was that a) when you eat fats and protiens your body will burn fat for energy and b) when you keep your blood sugar in the 90s (much below that and you will feel tired) your body will not store fat).
I didn’t do it over night. You sort of become addicted to the carbs. So, I weaned myself over time.
It is so difficult to eat an even halfway healthy diet when traveling. I find it basically impossible. I’m trying to cut out wheat too. Keep us posted!
I hear you! I’m currently on a 6 week vacation/trip and am having such a hard time eating well. I can really feel the difference in how I feel- I feel sluggish, my skin is broken out, I’m a total crankpot. Blech.
It’s so tough. I’ve had all sorts of issues – have cut things out of my diet, put them back in – not for weight but because of “digestive issues” – I finally realize there is some kind of stabilizer in certain cheeses, ice creams, and a dozen other foods. I have no idea which so I try to stay with the least processed food I can find. Except when I don’t. I feel for you.
Thanks for sharing that video, I’m going to add that one to my arsenal of things to make me laugh when I’m down.
portion control has really helped me a lot – smaller plates and bowls – avoiding American sized portions – when I eat out I eat till I fill satisfied and wrap the rest to go. I find it keeps me from obsessing over food and what I “should” be eating – b/c I’m going to eat whatever I want.
Yay for Dory, and yay for you Cecily!!
Like Curlsz I’m working on portions. I’m still at the stage where I stare at the plate with the appropriate portion and think “You’ve got to be kidding me!!” I’m cursed with the love of food. Haven’t tried to give up gluten but from reading this post and several other websites I’m thinking it’s what I need to do to kick the “blech” feeling I get all too often.
Oh and the “shoot from slightly above” hell girl that’s my motto whenever the camera gets pointed my way. I’m fine with the fat me but I despise the double chin which is more like an extra neck pouch at this point. Oiy.
Im with you. I have to go back to eating paleo (basically no flour no sugar, but fruit, veggies, etc. ok) I felt so much better then- I have a ton of info- Julien Smith got me pointed that way.
But because the fats tend to be a bit higher, it aggravates my hiatal hernia, so I have to get that back under control with my dr (My old med was no longer covered by insurance…long boring story.)
It’s a challenge but if you need help and support, I’m here!
I am choosing to not completely cut things out because I have learned if I deny it to myself I want it that much more. I allow myself a treat now and then, I find good alternatives, and I allow myself a bite of hubby’s every so often.
Have you had your sugars checked? It’s curious that you got that reaction to the fruit, that is a diabetic reaction to the sugars to smell like wine.
Keep up the good work! I too have been trying to figure out a “liveable” way to eat healthy and lose weight. I also noticed all the gluten-free options in Asheville, and it was nice to see restaurant owners appealing to the health-conscious diners. It’s especially tough to eat well when you’re traveling, let alone get into any routine to reduce stress. I wish you the best. I think you’re gorgeous!
I am about to venture on a change as well. I just got a shit-ton of very nice chocolate for my birthday, and I intend to eat it in small amounts. But other than that I’m going to really watch my sugars – white sugar and simple carbs. I have given up booze for the most part, and caffeine totally, so sugars and wheat are my two remaining vices. (Oh, and sitting on my ass a lot.) Getting older is not doing my body any favors.
Glad to see you jumped on my wagon. ;) I swear it gets easier, and if you need any advice about gluten-free let me know. If you are craving a wheat filled something the GF options available are a suitable substitute.
I feel like I’m in the same place right now-waiting for a lot of things to move forward and trying to take one step forward so the chaos doesn’t engulf me.
Congrats on getting your food in order! This is something I really need to focus on as well. Just a friendly reminder, to stay hydrated. that’ll help flush out the junk from your system that much quicker. ;) Water is my biggest challenge actually.
It’s good to read you’re feeling better now that you’ve gotten your food on track for you.
Gotta love Dory. She’s my hero. :)
The wine-y smelling sweat is a red flag you might want to look into. If I’m recalling right, it’s a sign of ketosis, which can occur not only with diabetes but also with other conditions–and can be dangerous.
I really feel you on this. I have toyed with quitting wheat. I felt great when I quit white flour. It’s hard to balance it all, isn’t it? Thanks for keeping it real!
It’s hard to be gluten/wheat free while traveling. Also hard when eating out. Gluten is EVERYWHERE. Good luck getting back on track. :)
Ketosis means fat burning. Most of us slip into it without ever knowing it, but it can make your breath stink. Drinking more water helps a lot. It isn’t dangerous, it’s just how your body gets energy when it has no easy carbs to use.
Diabetic keto-acidosis is dangerous; it’s what happens to Type 1 diabetics. They’re unable to burn fat for energy in the absence of carbs, so their body starts to break down muscle tissue. It’s a death spiral that’s a medical emergency. It’s nothing like ketosis in somebody else.
I have learned a lot from watching nemo. Over. And over.
I gave up wheat, dairy when nursing my very colicky first born. It was hard. But I did it. And got really skinny. But that may have been the stress…hard to say. I think it will get easier to grab a gluten free snack when you’re out and about…we seem to be headed that way.
Good for you for making changes. It’s not easy.
Too much fruit can cause diabetes just like too many cupcakes. Especially for the insulin resistant (which I am and suspect you are).
*ducks while everyone throws things at me*
Listen, I got fat eating primarily fruit. I used to think fruit was no holds barred too.
Eat lower glycemic fruit; berries, apples, pears, grapefruit and just dabble in the others.
Now that you’ve seen the impact of gluten think about reading Good Calories Bad Calories. It’s a long science read but SO informative.
And I make great muffins and cookies with almond flour. Let me know if you want a recipe.
M (long time reader, from the early days who always changes her information when she posts because she can’t keep herself straight, sorry!)
I already love you, but I think I’d love you more if you smelled like wine. Just sayin’. :D
Been having some wierd digestive issues myself….have been thinking of giving gluten free a try…..but i will really miss pizza at our favorite place!
I’m betting Tori’s clingy phase will come to an end around the time the travel season comes to an end and the house situation settles down into a normal routine again. *shrug* It’s a normal kid reaction to change. You’ll all get through it.
every time I hear you mention your mom I do a mental fist pump and say “YaY, she LIVED!!”
Lala makes a great point.
Cecily if you want to go gluten-free I would really highly recommend the book Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic by Peter H. R. Green M.D. and Rory Jones (2010, Hardcover, Revised): A Hidden Epidemic (Hardcover, 2010) . Whether or not you have celiac (and although you wouldn’t think so, even if not the book is actually quite an interesting read; it’s well-written and broken up into appropriately tagged chapters. Indeed, your post has reminded me I want to give this to a friend who has just recently started gluten-free and prompted me to go order it; I can tell you you can get it shipped, new, for under $20, from half.com), it’s got a ton of useful information in it. Gluten is in a ton of stuff that I, at least, wouldn’t associate with wheat (e.g. most soy sauce), and if you really want to avoid it, you have to get into diligently reading labels, sometimes foregoing sauces (if you’re eating out, obviously at your place you can — at least in theory — plan ahead), and just generally being careful (I’ve given it up, but for the 3 months prior to and 9 months after my successful IVF, I went gluten-free; whether that contributed to its results, my preschooler, or not, I don’t know, but whatever it was about that cycle that worked, I’m so grateful it did. I know you know.).
For me the trick is to NOT deny myself anything but just allow a “little bit”. Seriously!! do you know how long I can make a carton of Dibs last?? WEEKS!! one or two at a time. (well except for this week…when I did them in in 3 days due to the heat! )
Same for mashed potatoes, bread, rice, cookies..2 cookies a nite is ok, 2 packages of cookies a night?? not so good.
Course having strep throat for 3 weeks will do it too!
It’s easier for me to abstain than do some things in moderation. Maybe some people can handle eating sugar in moderation; I can’t. I had to go cold turkey and within a few weeks I find I no longer want or even like sweet things so much.
You know a lot about addiction. I think there are some clues that carbohydrates, especially sugar (i.e. fructose, which is in all that fruit), have some addictive properties.
I used to believe quite strongly in the Fat Acceptance mantra that there was no way to lose weight, that any attempts are unsustainable. While I agree with the FA movement on other things, like the fact that fat people should be treated the same as skinny people and we should fight to make that happen, I don’t buy the line that we can’t change what weight we are.
I got diagnosed with diabetes and have had to work very seriously at correcting my blood sugar. I do so through a low carb, high fat diet. Significant weight loss has almost been a happy side effect at that. I certainly accepted my body at a larger size, but it was not really good for me in the end. My appetite has gone way down, my energy has gone up. If you want to understand the biology of it, I’d also point you to Gary Taubes. Many of his articles outlaying his arguments are available for free online, but Good Calories Bad Calories is very much worth reading.
Glad you’re feeling better! I just want to mention that when I went low-carb/wheat-free/sugar-free, my body went into severe ketosis. I lost a lot of weight (temporarily), but my doctor ended up begging me to integrate some other healthy carbs to balance things out.
I went (almost completely) gluten free about 6 months ago. It was amazing at first. I’d felt like crap for the past 20 years and I finally figured out that gluten was the reason.
I say at first because then I started having other digestive issues. It turns out that the gluten was masking other problems. So then I had to start experimenting and I still am. And it’s getting better. Just don’t stick to specific diets that have worked for others and try to figure out what works for you. If I stopped eating carbs completely I would also stop being able to digest my food – sorry if that’s icky. I need the soluble fiber in brown rice, potatoes, and buckwheat to help digest my food properly. The insoluble fiber in fruits and veggies is necessary, but a lot harder on one’s system without some insoluble fiber to ease it along.
Let me know if you need any help with gluten free cooking/eating. I’ve gotten pretty good at it. Although, I still haven’t mastered the traveling bit as witnessed by my last business trip.
glad you had such good results going gluten free, sounds like it was really clear! I love Shauna James Ahern, Gluten Free Girl & The Chef is her blog, gorgeous food photography and essays. Also, something that I noticed, and then saw confirmation on GFG&TC, was that some people can really have a reaction to guar gum, which is used in many GF baked goods, or ready to use GF mixes. I had some stomach issues over the holidays & realized that probably was it. I also can’t handle sorghum flour.
Wow. That’s quite a commitment – go you! I keep “saying” I’m going to eat better, but given the fact that I tend to stress eat, and that, these days, if I’m awake I’m stressed, I’m not doing very well.
Excuses, excuses. I had no idea wheat could be such a culprit. Hmmmm.
Wow, if you reacted so strongly to adding wheat back in your diet, you might have Celiacs Disease. Did you know that one of the symptoms of Celiacs is having it be almost impossible to lose and keep off excess weight. I’d be inerested to see how eliminating gluten affects your weight.
From my experience, lots of natural protein will help keep the hunger down. You can’t do it and stay vegetarian though (my original situation).
Check out Richard Nikoley’s Paleo blog on how to do it.
If you are looking for more info on eating gluten free and living a cool and fun life, Celiac Chicks has lots of answers.
(Kelly is also a T2WP refugee, btw.)
I’m always happy to see someone else moving away from wheat/carbs. I was stunned (stunned, I tell you!) that all this low-fat bullshit makes it hard to lose weight and can in fact cause high blood lipids.
I do still like a cookie now and then, and found that on the days I run, I can eat some carbs and as long as I am also low-fat, it works out fine. But I tie it to running so I don’t lapse back into thinking I can have one any time and stop easily. I am not someone for whom carb cravings have gone away.
The rest of the time it’s meat+veggies with some fruit and yams/beans/lentils.
Frozen veggies have made a huge difference. They are less than fresh, you can stock up from sales and lo! there are always veggies to eat. Add in t hat you can get frozen cooked meat and I have a non-processed but still ‘keep in the freezer at work’ solution.
I can totally relate. In June 2009, I was probably in the best shape of my life (with the help of a personal trainer, a friend to partner up with, and a strict diet!) But, fast forward two years now, and I’ve pretty much almost gained back all of the weight I lost with the trainer. :( I too have gluten issues. I sometimes get a little uncomfortable ting in my lower right ab and I am thinking that is the gluten talking. Or I notice certain areas of my body will flare up due to gluten. For instance, my upper gumline on the right almost always flares up if I’m on a gluten/carb binge. Wierd. I’m tempted to do the South Beach Diet again starting on Monday. I did it 6 years ago, right after my 30th birthday and lost 11lbs in 2 weeks! And have actually kept that weight off. But at 5’7″ and 180 lbs, I’d really like to be back down to the 156 lbs I was when I had a trainer. Wishing you best of luck! But yeah, it totally sucks to look at photos of me at 156-160lbs. :( Some day I hope to be back down to that!