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Hey everyone! I'm so excited to talk to ya'll about my diet journey. It's personal, gritty and involves poo-poo talk, so consider this your fair warning.
Food is such tough topic for so many of us. No one is sitting at home on a Sunday afternoon thinking, I don't care for food! We care for food. We love food. Food can make us look and feel great if we're smart about what we put into our bodies, or it can make us feel like we need a Priest to exorcise our demons. That pretty much sums up my relationship with cheese.
I've had a pretty healthy diet for years and when I started a courtship (bucket list blog word) with Chris, I started eating out a lot. Date nights rarely involved healthy eating and before I knew it I had gained 30 lbs. That's right -- I gained 30 lbs. Now, I'm 5'4 and was way too skinny when we met so I needed to gain some weight, but I did not need to gain fried food, Doritos-style weight. I was starting to feel like garbage in every way imaginable: thinning hair, poor complexion, gastro issues, easy bruising, brittle nails, muffin top, jiggly legs and cellulite, smushy arms, clothes too tight, etc. I know, I know... seems like I'm being tough on myself. But hear me out! ...
We all know what the best version of ourselves is. We know when we are taking good care of our bodies, and when we are not. I was not taking good care of myself, I was not getting enough exercise, and I was starting to feel like crap. Instead of complaining about it every time I looked in the mirror, or couldn't zip my jeans, I made some changes. The changes happened gradually and now they are just a part of my life.
1. First, I took some 'before' pictures, and some measurements. I was so self conscious at this point that I took the picture about 1,000 times so I looked "skinny" in it. The one I went with wasn't the most honest before picture but it does a good job of showing the changes I've made.
2/15/19: Weight: 120lbs, Chest: 32", Waist: 25.5", Butt: 38"
2. I found a workout program that excited me, called Xtend Barre. I absolutely love these workouts. They are low impact and something I can sustain for the rest of my life if I want to. I also got back to taking the 2-3 mile walks that I always had with Vale and Dougie.
3. I started eating healthy again. I stopped eating out frequently and started cooking more. I found that where I'm located it isn't super easy to find non-GMO, USDA certified Organic products but I did my best to read labels and make sure I wasn't putting processed foods, antibiotics, hormones, etc. into my body.
I saw pretty immediate results by adding exercise to my routine and going back to the healthy lifestyle I've always had.
3/13/19: Weight: 116.8, Chest: 31", Waist: 24 3/8", Butt: 37".
I dropped inches and lbs right away, and started seeing definition in my abs. Unfortunately, after that point, I sort of plateaued in a lot of ways. I was definitely seeing increased definition in my body because of my workouts, but I wasn't reaching my full potential.
My sister and Chris' sister, almost within the same week, decided to try plant based diets. I had zero interest in cutting out meat until I really started to think about it. I have so much trouble where I'm located finding high quality, healthy meats without paying an arm and a leg. I always end up being grossed out by some part of the meat that I'm eating. I love vegetables. Why not at least try it and see what happens?
I'm a bit of a research nut and especially so when it comes to what I put in or on my body. I had some unfounded concerns about my ability to get all of the vitamins and nutrients I needed, and enough protein/ iron. The more I researched, the more I decided I'd become a Flexitarian.
Here's is some good info on the different types of vegetarians:
My version of Flexitarian is this:
I am mostly plant based, however I do eat cage-free/organic eggs, some organic dairy, and some wild sea food. I'm pretty intolerant to cow's milk, so I stick with sheep's milk and goat's milk cheeses which don't seem to bother my system at all. Because I still eat eggs and the occasional fish and dairy I don't really have to worry about any of the pitfalls of veganism, which I'll discuss in a hot second.
Benefits:
There are loads of benefits when you switch over to a vegetarian diet, especially if you do it right. There absolutely is a wrong way to be a vegetarian: for example, lots of processed snack foods are considered "vegan," but that doesn't make them good for you. If you live on toast and crackers you are not going to get any of the benefits of a plant based diet. If you fill your body with vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, etc. you will likely see positive health results. This sort of diet is good for heart health, reduces the risk of cancer (especially in women, and especially when you still eat eggs and some dairy), prevents Type II Diabetes, lowers blood pressure, promotes bone health, and decreases asthma symptoms.
Concerns:
People often worry that if they go vegan, or try some sort of vegetarian diet, they will sacrifice protein, their workouts will suffer, they won't get any vitamin B 12 or Omega 3's, they'll be low in iron, etc. You can become a vegan and get the daily recommended dose of all of these things, as long as you are mindful. Because I've decided to be a flexitarian, I am having no trouble getting everything I need daily. That was part of the reason I decided to keep eggs and some dairy in my diet: so I wouldn't have to think so much (combinations of foods are important in a vegan diet so you get everything your body needs), and because getting B 12 as a vegan means either fortified products or soy products. I really want to steer clear of processed foods and so I would rather eat cage- free eggs from happy little chickens then ingest soy products/ cereals/ rice beverages or supplements. I'm sure certain supplements work well for certain people, but I'm a firm believer in getting your vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet. Supplements are largely unregulated and it's very difficult to tell how much of them actually gets absorbed into the body. There is also a lot of research that points to extra crap, that we don't need, being absorbed into our bodies which can cause problems with our digestive track, kidneys, etc.
I love how Gimme the Good Stuff Blog outlines the pros and cons of supplements here: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/best-multivitamins/
What's happening now:
I've been on this flexitarian diet for a month now. In the beginning I was sick as hell. I had a headache around the clock, I was so gassy I could have become a new energy source, I was so unbelievably exhausted, and spent most of my day on the toilet dealing with those demons we discussed earlier. I seriously considered giving up, but I stayed the course and I'm so glad I did.
This is an awesome article that describes what some people go through while detoxing, and how to cope:
One month in and...
1. My skin looks awesome.
2. My hair looks shinier and feels fuller.
3. My bloat has completely gone away.
4. I have lost more weight (4.2 lbs) this month as a flexitarian than I did between February and July eating meat. I went from 120 lbs in February to about 117 the beginning of July. I started my flexitarian journey in July and I am now a little over 112 lbs (it's mid-August). Woohoo!
5. I am enjoying my meals more than ever: no dry or chewy meat, no stomach aches immediately after I eat, etc.
6. My energy level is back up and my workouts are just as effective.
7. I don't miss meat at all, and if I have a craving for something I will let myself have it. Hasn't happened yet, but I think I can sustain this type of lifestyle better if I don't become a dictator.
Favorite Recipes So Far:
Cauliflower Taco Bowls:
Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms
Pesto Pasta
Zucchini Burrito Boats
Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
Mediterranean Salmon Bowl
What do you think? Anyone else thinking about giving this a try? I would LOVE to hear your food-related stories in the comments section below! Do you have some concerns which are stopping you from taking the plunge? Tell me what they are! Here's to a healthy lifestyle, however you choose to go about it! Poop-Poop-Hurray!
xoxo
Alyssa
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