Before I tell you what those choices are, let’s take a peek into my past as I grew up. I was born in 1964, raised by two blue-collar workers who fed my brother and me what was considered the ‘normal recommended’ diet of the time.
We started our days with breakfasts of champions.
We ate the school’s prepared lunches, or if we packed cold lunches, they included sandwiches made from white Wonder Bread, along with a side of greasy, salty boxed chips. Veggies if any were mostly canned or frozen. Canned pears and peaches were our fruits. Or if lucky almost outdated fresh ones when my dad worked in the produce dept of the local K-mart.
And for dinner, Crisco and later vegetable oil helped Dad fry our fish and fresh sliced potato french fries, plated with a dollop of a healthy serving of catsup. We did have fresh-caught panfish (walleye, sunfish, etc.) and venison often. That was probably our only saving dietary grace during those years.
Fast forward to 2007. The day I found a bowl of uneaten Cheerios sitting on my mother’s table, a bag of frozen (melted) blueberries on the wooden cutting board – soaking stain into it. I found my mom in the other room naked in her bed wondering where her dead father and brother were – they were just there in the room with her she said.
An ambulance ride to the hospital – me chasing after it/them in my car. She was admitted to the hospital for a stroke and acute renal failure.
Her food choices all the preceding years blessed her with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and then the added strokes to follow – leading her remaining 4.5 years of life living with vascular dementia.
She followed the American Heart Association diet and the American Diabetes recommendations for 26 years and on through to her death.
And what did it get my mom?
Death at 69 years of age.
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t want to make those same lifestyle choices. Don’t get me wrong, I loved her, miss her terribly, but I’m determined to not follow her health choices.
But I did. (Minus the obesity – I’m the skinny fat one of the family).
I inadvertently followed the same diet suggestions.
I switched later to oatmeal and fresh fruit and yogurt for breakfast, but still, I ate plenty of whole grains because, you know, the pyramid and the doctors and the AHA say to.
For 40 years! Until they switched it up and fruits and veggies win the bottom.
The most recent review of the AHA diet hasn’t been reviewed since August 2015. They think they’ve found the golden ticket to health, I guess – but many people are still following the AHA recommendations to stay healthy?
If that’s the case, why are we seeing an increase in cardiovascular diseases, obesity, mental health issues, cancers aren’t even declining, inflammation, and a sky-rocketing prevalence of dementia?
I was headed down the same path with those diet choices! Brain fog anyone?
Way to kick of the day, eh? But it was only a few, I could cheat and be okay, right? Cheerios aren’t much better – check for yourself!
In between, I ate fruits, veggies, some cheese, maybe a handful of nuts, dried fruit, typically 3-6 cups of fresh-popped popcorn with sea salt.
Then usually a delicious meal cooked by Mr. that always contained balanced AHA recommendations, including rice or potatoes or some kind of carb. Rice or noodles.
And then, as if that’s not enough, I’d chase those with beer(s) and my beloved Tostitos.
I’d wake up every morning, with what I thought was the salt puff and feeling achy. And I start the routine all over again. I thought it was the Tostitos because there’s 110 mg of sodium and salt in them.
I thought I was just a salt craving addict, not a sugar addict.
But, it was the other way around. I was indeed craving salt (which we had virtually eliminated in our diet per the low-salt recommendations from AHA, etc.). I was getting my fix by eating bad salty carb-loaded choices.
And that resulted in a slow and steady weight gain and the incredible challenge of fighting the bulge over the waist-line and other ailments just starting to appear at 55. Including an increasing cardiovascular concern with warning signs.
Sh*t – I was going to be my mom after all if I didn’t change my choices.
That day, my brother sent me a text with a link to a doctor on YouTube (hey, don’t laugh, the AMA, JAMA, AHA, ADA, etc. use the internet to educate too!) about the importance of salt in our diet and how to get rid of the sugar addiction!
Is Salt BAD For You? Dr. DiNicolantonio, Author of The Salt Fix
Being skeptical, I hate fads. But intrigued, so I ordered The Salt Fix book. And his newest one with Dr. Mercola. Amazon Prime delivered both the next day, and I was off to research mode.
While eating a new kind of breakfasts of champions.
The first day, determined to kick the sugar addiction, I baked a package of bacon, ate 5 slices while I munched on 2 hard-boiled eggs and I was satiated. All-day. No cravings for carbs. Hmm …
That was an easy day – day 2-5 were tougher – but I stuck to it. There’s a thing called Keto-flu and I thought I had touches of that throughout the first 7 days.
Then I really did get the flu the day we ate this:
Breakfast – A whole baked avocado, with eggs, and a side of bacon. A small glass of beet juice (my doctor tells me it’ll lower blood pressure).
Dinner was – fresh leafy greens, with bacon fat dressing, and grilled salmon, and a glass of red wine. 2 carbs came from the wine. All-day – just two carbs.
Then I got the stomach bug, but I survived by sipping on chicken broth, salt-water, and nibbling on a 90-second keto bread.
Every day after that, I ate less than 20 carbs per day. Losing weight at about .5 – .8 #s per day. In 14 days, I’ve lost a total of 6.6 #s.
I no longer crave my Tostitos or really any processed carbs. I actually feel great!
Pepperoni or melted cheese chips are delightful and filling when I have a munchy craving. Or Fat Bombs with celery sticks work great too.
I salt shake often. Redmond’s salt is packed with minerals and no fillers – skip the umbrella girl brand that is filled with fillers and plastics!
6.6 #s in 2 weeks is too fast (IMHO) – oops … but I haven’t been hungry. So I haven’t been eating much. I haven’t increased exercise. I haven’t counted calories at all. I essentially went (inadvertently) from a carb-loaded (AHA) diet to almost a carnivore. Yikes. I’m aiming for a healthy in-between version.
Average day’s meal consisted of:
Breakfast – eggs, avocados and salsa on keto-bread, side of bacon, 1/2 cup blueberries in 1/2 cup Kefir. That holds me until supper.
I’m adding fresh veggies cut up for snacks and some nuts that aren’t roasted in vegetable oil. (READ labels – that crap is in everything if you’re not paying attention).
And dinner – whatever Mr. has found that is keto-friendly.
But, holy sh*t I can see why people either quit or give up on Keto – it’s crazy how much information there is to sort through. I met with my friend who’s a health coach for Keto diets. I was off to the races a tad too fast. We need to slow the pace and incorporate this lifestyle into smaller, seemingly uneventful choices.
So now I’m modifying my diet, I don’t want to keep losing at that pace, I’m into maintaining the weight and the good feelings. For my current height, weight, age, and diet, I should be consuming about 50-70 grams of healthy carbs.
I encourage you to do your own research!
I know it’s time to modify my choices again! Stay tuned …
Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Choices
PS – What about you – do you trust the AHA recommendations? Are they working for you? Have you tried Keto, etc. and stopped? Why or why not?
That’s all so complicated to me. Read the labels, avoid the nasty high sodium and fatty foods. No McDeath or the like. 😎
We have always eaten healthy-ish. We have meatless meals at least 1-2 times a week. We’ve never been all in on any set of recommendations, but we’ve never gone overboard. It took me four days to eat a bag of Tostitos, I’m ok with that. I don’t trust anything I read about food. Studies contradict other studies and research later turns out to have been funded by the industry that benefits from it.
I’m glad what you’re doing is working for you. That’s what’s important.
I thought we were eating healthy too. Minus the Tostitos. I’ve been fooled for too long by the illusion it was okay to keep eating those (illusion – addiction – yeah, addiction!!). Nice job taking 4 days to eat yours. 🙂
If there’s a study there’s a retort. I’ve made it a policy for myself now that if I haven’t heard the other side, given it enough time to absorb and consider, then I’m just as guilty as the funding sources who manipulate the outcomes for millions of people who eat crap thinking it’s okay. Brainwashing works both ways, right? 🙂 Anyhoo – I feel way better now than I did 2 weeks ago, so I’m sold on a new path. I agree – we should do what’s best for each individual person. 🙂 Cheers to you and a Corona and chips I’ll enjoy (virtually) by watching you eat what you enjoy! 🙂
If you feel better, it’s working. No study required.
Well said! 🙂
The only food I have found addictive is sugar. It should be regulated by the FDA. 🙂 I don’t eat a lot of it (I’m kind of a healthy eater), but over the holidays when I have something I love that pushes the happy family/holiday buttons (cookies, pie, etc.) I can feel that sluggish, tired, bloated feeling pretty quickly. It can take some time to get back off of it and I often have to get to feeling pretty sluggish. But, as my daughter likes to remind me, fruit is your ferry off Sugar Island, Mom. So I try to have some good apples on hand to chomp on in the evening when I want to snack. I’m not a big chips eater, and I’m also finding a lot of things (chips, sugar, etc.) give me heartburn. So it’s easier to avoid them if I envision the results and having to chew Tums (yuck) before I can sleep.
Good luck. (Oh, and I found a great Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe that says it’s Keto. If you google it or search Pinterest, there are quite a few of them. We love it and it’s a hit with family and friends, too.)
I’m with you on the sugar needing to be regulated by FDA. But then there wouldn’t be much left on the food shelves in the stores. They’d lose money and well … they’re not going to do that.
I was feeling those same feelings – and I wasn’t eating sweets, just grains (popcorn, corn, rice, potatoes (starches) and beer – hello, more grains). Once I switched to not eating any of those (which took 10 days to break the habit) I don’t have any cravings for sweet stuff, except maybe blueberries in my Kefir in the morning. I don’t have any heartburn either. I’m sold. Watch this video to learn what’s happening when you stop eating sugar for just 10 days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_GE-_pEuEM
THANK YOU for the suggestion for Egg Roll in a Bowl. That sounds delicious. Mr. and I have been happily discovering that the meals without the carbs can be fun to eat and they fill us up without the bloat afterwards! I can’t wait to try the Egg Roll in a Bowl!
PS – I hope the sun shines for you today – it was still cold here (36 with windchill of 23) but just getting out for a walk in it was just what we’ve been craving!
Good for you, Shelley. I’ve had both the eggs in avocado and the cauliflower casserole and they are delicious. I started off losing fast too and now I have slowed to about 3 pounds a month but since I have another 25 to go, I want to move faster again. Looking forward to seeing what my blood test results are like in March.
Thank you, Janet! That first month is easy to lose quickly. Water weight. My brother started about 5 days earlier than I did and has lost 21#s. Wow! I’m so impressed for you.
Here’s a video on why weight loss stalls. I haven’t watched it, but his messages are what convinced us to give this diet a try. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZXVqvn1uhw
I bet your labs are going to be awesome and definitely improved from previous ones!!
Thanks for sharing that!
PS., went from taking diabetes medication twice a day to now not taking any at all!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is SO awesome. Isn’t it wonderful, don’t you feel great? 🙂 Way to go!!
I grew up in a household where we read every label, always had balanced meals, and enjoyed a treat now and again. My parents were foodies and nutritionists long before it became the trend that it’s now. A different childhood, mine. I’m glad you’ve discovered a way of eating that works for you, but the real tell will be if you’re still eating this way next year– and happy about it.
Yes, indeed you had a different childhood. I was the one who read all the labels, but the recommendations didn’t say the items we bought back then were bad. Crisco, vegetable oils, margarine, grains were all good. From the difference I (we) feel in just two weeks, I have little doubts that this will be a lifestyle change that we’re thankful for and still doing a year from now. Keto, etc. definitely have so much hype surrounding them and there’s a lot of garbage out there about that as well. It’s considered a diet mostly not welcomed in the traditional nutritionists books. The question I asked myself was, “If my old method of healthy eating was working, how come I felt like crap?” Like I said to Dan, if I’m not willing to at least listen and give the alternative options a try myself, I shouldn’t complain, otherwise I’m guilty of supporting the diet recommended and taken by my mom down a path where she’s no longer here with me. Like you said, time will tell. There are definitely TONS of people who give up on this diet. 🙂
“if I’m not willing to at least listen and give the alternative options a try myself, I shouldn’t complain”. No truer words, nor better advice.
Thanks Ally – I feel like I’ve outgrown my youthful “do it my way or take the highway” approach to life :-)!
😊
I tend to go for moderation in all things as a worthy goal. The Keto diet is quite popular (again!). Many years ago I remember it being recommended for kids with epilepsy to help reduce seizures – the carb/fat ratio had to be carefully calculated of course. I hope the new diet changes work for you long term – that’s the real test for success 🙂
Yes, I agree, moderation is key. I was not doing moderation in my Tostitos and other grain consumption. I think that took me off onto a bad course. Yes, Keto has been around for a long time and definitely has benefits for neurological issues (Alzheimer’s included – which is another reason it grabbed my attention). And there is a lot more information easily available out there about it now. Yay – social media hype, right?!
We are so excited about how good we feel right now, way better than the dopamine fixes and downs of the addiction I felt the next day provided readily by my alternative diet choices.
You’re right – time will tell if this diet sticks! The other one stuck for so long mostly because of mainstream messages that it was okay. And me thinking, “I bet I can always burn the calories off by taking an extra long walk.” 🙂
So glad you are feeling good on the diet! It sounds like you are off to a positive start 🙂
Thank you. The key word “start!” This is a big change and I took it on a tad too fast and didn’t really know what the heck I was doing. Still learning and hopefully I’ll find what works best. 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement – I know you understand how important monitoring your diet for your overall health is. 🙂
You’re most welcome!
Interesting information. I enjoy reading your story. My doctor recommended 100 carbs per day. Still very hard because I love fruit. But when I stick to that, it does work. I read virtually every package of everything we purchase. Thank you for reminding me to watch my carbs!
Thank you for taking time to read. That’s a generous amount of carbs your doctor recommended. It’s easy to get that many with fruit, what fruits do you enjoy? I’m aiming for 50-70 carbs/day. The key difference (from my new to this diet plan understanding of such) is that fruit isn’t preferred unless it is strawberries, blueberries, – low glycemic index fruit and lots of fiber. Fruit is loaded with carbs that keep your body using insulin for fuel versus reducing those carbs so that your body uses it’s own fat for fuel. If we use insulin, we keep the fat on despite eating healthy fruits. When we switched to eating as many green leafy veggies we want more (which still have some carbs, but the fiber content lessens the net carbs) and plenty of healthy fats and protein (which doesn’t spike insulin), we don’t crave the carbs that we were eating before. It takes at least 10 days to feel those effects from my experience at least. It’s a fun experiment to see what works and what doesn’t. 🙂
When in season I eat a lot of berries, specifically strawberries (yes, low in sugar) and apples. I also love grapefruits and eat them almost everyday. I think they help keep me from getting colds. And like you I eat a small amount of coconut oil every day. I also like eating kale because of the fiber. My system needs a lot of fruit and veggies. When I’m exercising regularly I can eat more and still lose weight. I lost 25 lbs that way, but sadly gained 15 back when we had to move out of our house for some remodel and foundation issues. Your plan sounds very good, if you eat the veggies. I need to cut back a bit ☹
I would love to be that close to all the fresh berries and seasonal fruit. The stuff we get is shipped here from Mexico or over seas. Not exactly good choices, but better than a donut!
We all need lots of veggies and fruit.
Sorry you had a situation that made you go backwards in your weight.
Yes, you’re right – I need to eat lots of the veggies! From what I’ve been told, the philosophy of the diet I’m on isn’t to count calories (which is what I always did) it is more to fast for 16 hours, eat during 8 – preferrably just twice, or three times and at each sitting eat until you’re full and then don’t snack, just eat again until you’re full, and then don’t eat for 16 hours. It’s good for the body to go into fasting mode to get it out of burning glucose for energy. It takes time. Mr. and I were doing intermittent fasting prior to this diet, so we slipped into the 16/8 fasting easily, but I think that took me on a fast track weight loss that I wasn’t quite prepared for. We’ve both lost the same amount of weight, so it was the diet for sure.
It’s a learning experience, and I’m thankful for the positives that have come about.
I hope you get back into the groove that works for your body! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you Shelley, and me too! I will. My motto is “never give up”! I have struggled my entire life.
Yes – keep on keeping on!
I have never trusted the AHA or doctors generally on nutrition. My parents were terrible also. I’m glad you’re modifying the keto because while an initial weight loss is fun, that plan did not sound healthy long-term. I always thought the carb-load thing was nuts and it’s no surprise to me that it’s made our country fat and sick. Obviously millions of sedentary people shouldn’t be consuming vats of pasta and bagels the size of a small car. We also began shoveling snacks at kids all day long so they wouldn’t bug us. They don’t even know what it means to be actually hungry for a meal! Well. I definitely have thoughts about this topic, lol.
The more I’ve researched the more angry I’ve become and the mainstream messages about what’s healthy. All the while preventative health issues could be changed if only we changed our diets.
Sedentary folks are operating on fuel in their bodies in the form of burning insulin versus buring fat. It’s sad and detrimental to their health. Plus doctors (general practitioners) get an average of 1/2 hour or so nutritional training. They simply recite the ‘are you eating fruits and veggies and staying away from fats and salt’ message since they don’t know any better and are paid to say so. They know they’ve got drugs to prescribe when needed. Grr … I never trust a doctor who is overweight and doesn’t look healthy themselves.
Yes, I definitely took the quick route, and with modification I’m not rapidly losing weight. I’m feeling like this route is a good one for us.
Obviously I’m on a soapbox, but seriously – if my future health isn’t taken into my own hands, who would I trust to do it?
What diet do you use? Do you stay away from carbs too? Thank you for sharing your thoughts!!
I’ve always just kept calorie counts in mind overall. While I’ve tried various diets for migraine and other issues, I find that I do better on a mostly (but not totally) vegetarian diet with the regular fat (not nonfat) products. Fat is important to keep you satisfied. I buy whole milk for my coffee and to mix in with omelettes. But I’m not drinking tons of the stuff daily. I’m not eating greasy meat every day either ~ I rarely eat a hamburger or anything like that. I’m very careful when eating out because restaurant food is notoriously high in calories and salt. It’s so much better to eat at home. I try to avoid excessively salty food, like soup. I’ll immediately bloat up and feel awful. Basically, I don’t eat a lot, less than most other people I see. And my weight is low. All my numbers are good at age 58, even though I’m sedentary. I wish I could exercise more but the chronic pain stops me… so, this is the best I can do.
You sound like me, my whole life I’ve been mindful of # of calories. I only had headaches when I was younger and during pregnancy – dang hormones.
Your diet sounds much like what I was eating before my switch to this diet. I personally was terrified of fats and salt. From switching the diet around, in such a short time, I can tell for me that good fats and good salt aren’t our enemies, it’s the grains and mostly the added hidden sugars (in all of the various forms) that cause inflammation. I wasn’t a donut eating sweet eater, I was a grains and savory sweet tooth.
I’m glad your numbers are good and that you’re doing what works well for you – that is what matters most. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
I think I follow a healthy diet and have had oatmeal and fruit for breakfast for decades. I do watch my salt – my mom started eliminating salt from food several decades ago and I have not used a salt shaker for anything since then. I do use canned fruits and veggies but I drain the sugary liquid off and only buy salt-free veggies. I don’t trust lettuce or salad ingredients anymore – too much listeria, etc. so I have not eaten salad in years, even though I like it. I have not eaten red meat in years, though I do occasionally buy roast beef lunchmeat for a special treat.
I was an oatmeal for breakfast fan too – until I did more research about it – it’s not as good for us as we’ve been told to believe. I was seriously bummed, but since I stopped eating it, I do feel better. I remember my dad eating that everyday. He has arthritis and now Alzheimer’s. Lucky for him he ate lots of fresh fish and venison over the years so it wasn’t until his 80’s that the Alzheimer’s appeared (this is making the assumption, which I do believe, is that Alzheimer’s is related to our diet more so than hereditary – there’s no history of it in our family).
It is sad that our supply of ‘fresh’ veggies and fruit choices are hard to feel safe eating. Being shipped to us from the south or overseas can’t be a good thing?! I hate how the fresh stuff goes bad so quickly. Frozen is better than canned – have you tried that to get your veggies?
We tried grassfed beef last night for a burger on homemade cloud bread. It was delicious. Way better than the former burgers we’ve made at home or one purchased in a restaurant.
As we embarked on this new journey – I had to really open my mind (and Mr. did too) to take a step back and question what we ‘thought was healthy eating’ because that’s what we were taught by commercials over the years. Instead really try something before we tossed it aside as quackery. The proof for us is in how we feel way better and the aches and pains and swelling disappeared and Mr.’s BP is healthy again! All good things in our books.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Linda. I hope you had plenty of sunshine to take a walk in on Sat/Sun – we did here and now the cold has returned ;-)!
Hi Shelley – I did have concerns about the oatmeal with the glyphosate in it after the Roundup controversy and death of the farmer who used it exclusively on his crops, so that really bothered me, especially since we/I have used the Quaker brand for years and it was the Quaker Oatmeal they pinpointed for having this chemical in it. I also used to eat Cheerios (regular) but they claimed there were high levels of this chemical in the Cheerios so I stopped. I used them as a snack, not as cold cereal. I don’t mind cold cereal, but prefer hot. I kept eating oatmeal as it fills me up for going walking and also it is good for lowering your cholesterol. I am concerned about the unclean produce coming from out of the U.S. or other companies. I just don’t feel safe using it no matter how clean I scrub it. I have not bought the frozen veggies which I know are good for you. I eat apples in the Fall (don’t like them this time of year as they are mealy) but eat unsweetened applesauce the rest of the year and I do eat clementines and bananas for my fresh fruit. I am sorry to see the sunshine and warmer temps from the last two days are about to leave and wintry precip in its place.
There is definitely plenty to worry about in how our food sources are grown, processed, packaged and sold. Whole foods are always best for us.
We wash our fruits and veggies in vinegar baths to clean them – place them in cold water with vinegar and then rinse thoroughly, let dry and then put back in the fridge. It seems to lengthen shelf life too.
I’m hoping the sun stays out – we’ve got a week of 20 degree temps going on. Time for the treadmill again! Stay warm!
So vinegar is good for cleansing them – didn’t know that but should have as it is safe and you can clean anything with vinegar. I have used produce soap in the past and it had a soapy taste, so I likely didn’t rinse it off well enough. We have a 3-4 inch snowfall coming in tomorrow … and sleet which will make it heavy and it is so clear out that it is a shame.
Yes, rinse in cold water and add vinegar. 1 Tbsp per cup or so of water. Let sit for 10 minutes. I don’t like the soap either.
Oh, no on the snow! It looks cloudy here today, but I don’t think we’re supposed to get snow! I’ll by by later to check out your post for the week!! Happy Trails to you, Linda!
I have saved this info and maybe I’ll try again in the Summer when the veggies are more plentiful and cheaper … now sometimes they are tasteless. I do buy apples, but more so in the Fall when they are fresh and crisp – not so much in Winter. Yes, I’m bummed about the snow, not just snow, but a sleety mix too, so that means walking will be icy and dicey for the short term, hopefully not for the long term. At least I got a four-mile walk in and it was sunny (but 26 degrees).
I agree – fresh is better when it comes to fruit. And I also just recently read a blog that talked about the benefits of frozen veggies being essentially equal to fresh. So there’s that to add to your material to ponder.
YAY – I wish I would’ve gotten a 4 mile walk in. I settled for 2 on the treadmill :-)! Stay safe and warm!!!
I have read that veggies are flash frozen at the peak of their nutritional value – yes, that would be a good idea too, but I don’t have a microwave – gave it away years ago, so I try to keep things simple. But I’d feel better using frozen than fresh to be honest. The snow came in, about 2 inches but crusty snow and more of the same tonight – glad I got the 4 miles in as it may be a little bit before I return.
Exactly on the flash frozen benefits. 🙂
We got a 2 mile walk in yesterday – it was chilly but sunny and it was my lunch break so we couldn’t go too far. I’m glad you got 4 miles in! We’re supposed to get 10″ of snow over the next 5 days. 🙁
OMG – 10 inches – andI was complaining about our two more inches last night and a similar amount this Sunday night. I don’t mind the soft and fluffy snow as I feel okay walking in the hiking boots, but it is this slick stuff from freezing rain that makes me wary – grrr. It is snowing now with another inch today possibly.
The forecast (of course) keeps changing. I’ll just wait to see what we actually get. Way to stay safe with your shoe choices!
I actually walked today – didn’t plan on it as we had snow three times from Friday afternoon until Saturday morning – roads were slick too, but it got better as the morning went on, so I walked in the street to/from the Park. It is snowing again now in my part of town – grrrr. Might as well since we have snow/freezing rain tomorrow afternoon.
We walked too. It was only 18 degrees and we almost turned around, but persevered for 4 miles. Once the wind was at our backs it was actually nice. It’s snowing HARD now, so no walk outside today. My oldest lives in MN and they got 4″ of snow since midnight, and it’s still snowing there – we’re in that storm’s path. Sigh.
Stay safe and warm!!
I heard them say that this fast-moving storm we are getting (which started at 5:00 p.m., and much later than predicted) was coming from your way. Are you getting the freezing rain at the tail end too? That’s what we get around midnight tonight. I got out for a walk today but it was windier and felt colder than yesterday as there was no sun. I was grateful for yesterday/today’s walks – who knows when the next one will be – it is better to go later in the morning but that’s not doable on weekdays – sigh.
We didn’t get rain at the end, it was a steady straight-down fluffy kind of storm. Actually quite pretty to watch.
It’s only -19 this morning but hopefully will get to 30 by afternoon so we can walk in the slush.
I hope the storm wasn’t too bad for you!
Wow, your weather does not fool around in Winter does it? Our Winter beast is tame next to yours for sure.
Jealous eh? 😉
Well, maybe a little. (Just kidding.) Our snow seems to be disappearing off the cement a day later which is okay with me. I got a walk in today and will tomorrow before the 3-6 inch snowstorm arrives. People have no confidence with the weather forecasters as they keep predicting snowstorms which fizzle out and people are criticizing them for calling a 3-inch snowfall a “snowstorm” – I noticed that “storm” is being flung around a lot lately as well- used to be a “storm” was many more inches of snow (not that I want it).
I so appreciate your take on ‘weather’ forecasting – you’re so smart!
I’m so glad you feel good, Shelley–and that Mr. is on board, since he’s your dinner chef! One trouble with limiting carbs, for me, is that while I will have a burger without a bun, I need carbs to stretch dinners and stretch meats, so we don’t go broke with two growing boys. Fresh fruits and veggies and meats are the expensive ingredients–bread, pasta and rice are cheap. If it were just me, I’d probably limit the carbs more. I’m more of a moderation person. But I definitely think you’re onto something with the sugar/salt/fat connection. Meaning that, if I’m not getting enough healthy fats I crave sugar like nobody’s business!
Thank you, Rebecca! It was an interesting day when we talked about what we couldn’t have any more – pasta, rice, etc. were big in our diets to do just what you said – make the meals go further. After switching to higher fats, and low-glycemic fruits and veggies, grass-fed meats, the meals are more satiating and we’re not spending more in food. It’s quite interesting. Now that Mr.s on board, he’s having a blast finding recipes to make and he’s found ones for breads (almond flour made and or cloud breads) Maybe try one of those recipes once to see if it makes a difference in a meal for you and your growing guys. In retrospect, it sure takes a lot of thought to figure out what works and what doesn’t in this diet. But we haven’t missed the carbs like we thought we would. We’ve had keto breads, pizza crusts, and cloud bun burgers. And we don’t need the fries on the side – we’re too full! You’re right on target – get the healthy fats and carb cravings disappear! Watch the ingredients in packing though – there’s a lot of faux Keto stuff out there!
So interesting that you’re not spending more on food–definitely food for thought (ha) here!
Popular post, judging by all the comments! We’re all trying to figure out what to eat and be healthy, aren’t we? I gave up eating processed sugar a few years ago, and it made a huge difference. My extra weight melted off and I feel great. I don’t need to diet and am rarely interested in junk food. Some people can handle sugar in moderation; I can’t. Good post.
Yes, indeed we are interested. I’m so happy you shared your success story! Sugar is bad, and I didn’t realize how bad until I broke free from it. It’s nice to hear you’ve lasted with the change for years!!
Shelley, you touched a nerve with this post. First, I can’t believe that slender you needed to lose ANY weight, but I completely understand the need to alter your diet. My mom also had a stroke (but she was much older than yours) and spend the last years of her life suffering from dementia. Her diet was similar to your mom’s. Last year, my cholesterol number was too high. In an attempt to NOT take medication, I eliminated added sugar from my diet. I weigh 8 pounds less this year than last year at this time. I feel better too. I do cheat every once in a while, but it has to be worth it – no store-bought cookies for me. Loved this post!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Laurie! I’m sorry your mom ended up on the same path as my mom. I say, “If only …” so many times.
I was struggling with a few extra pounds, and I was also feeling over all not great. We want to get to the point where I don’t have to take meds and Mr. can get off them. We’re doing this together, which makes all the difference. So far, I’m maintaining the loss now, and not losing more, so it must be ‘good’ for me! Way to be able to say in the course of a year that you’re better off!! Cheating once and a while is just fine. :-). I’m glad you liked the post, thank you for reading! xxxx
Hi Shelley, You remind me how diets have gone through trends. I am very sorry how you found your Mother. Very scary! Like you indicate, she did the best she could with the information for that time period. You bring up an interesting phrase “skinny fat.” I appreciate you sharing your information. I appreciate your candor. As the saying goes, ‘the proof is in the pudding.’ Your results. Your health.
Hi Erica! Yes, you’re right trends happen – kind of like high waisted jeans, can you believe they’re coming back again too!? We’re at an age with so much information out there its hard to make sense and easy to get swayed one way or another. It is also a way to find some really awesome recipes! I tend to believe that it’s okay to question the standards that haven’t been tweaked or thoroughly researched and have been funded by government subsidies. You’re right, the proof is in the pudding or lack thereof pudding and green leafy veggies instead ;-)!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!