How I started

So it was January 2012 and I decided something had to change.  But when and how?  I also understood that the human species are fairly resistant to change, but i felt if done a bit more slowly and with a complete understanding as to why you are doing it then it may successfully become a habit. 

For my first week I decided to give OBVIOUS sugar.  You know them...the obvious ones...like Twinkies, Eclairs, Red Velvet Cake, Blue Bell Moolenium Ice Cream, and the like.  Also during this week I would research how much sugar was in other types of food I was eating.  I was surprised!  Processed food is teeming with hidden sugar.  Since I was still requiring 30+ units of insulin per meal (Yes...I said 30 or more) I decided to start reading all labels and learn the different names used for sugar.  This is when I realized that I would need to eat more fresh food and stop with the processed foods.  I did this for 2 weeks and lost 15lbs.  I was flabbergasted and amazed. 

My next step was brought about by something I saw on TV.  On a Sunday 60 Minutes was playing and I had not even intended to watch it.  They announced a segment about sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup by Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology.  His presentation was spot on.  I understood every word the man said and it made sense.  He backed up everything he said with incontrovertible science.  The next morning I watched his lecture on YouTube  Sugar: The Bitter Truth.  I was now off table sugar and HFCS. 

These were my first two big moves.  Every two or so weeks would include another tweak to my eating.  I have to mention this also - I still did NOT count a single calorie.  My sugar cravings were intense the first 3 days and waxed and waned for about 3 weeks.  Today I don't have any cravings for sugar and actually crave tomatoes, grapes, oranges, and nuts for snacks.

Quick Side Note:

You can eat out and eat clean:

My husband and I visited a small restaurant on the NW side of Houston/Tomball called Kabab Kahani.  I had the Mixed Grill with very lean beef, Tandoori chicken, and veal kababs and instead of rice I had double salad (fresh cabbage and greens, fresh tomatoes, fresh herbs) drizzled with a creamy garlic sauce.  Very tasty :) !

Eating better:

Be Nutty!  The right nuts can help improve you health.  Mayo Clinic: Health and Nuts

Ok...over and out.  Remember to ask yourself if you "are worth it?"

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”

― Hippocrates

Just the beginning....

Since the beginning of 2012 I have been eating clean.  I gave up refine sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, potatoes, white rice, breads, and corn.  It wasn't a New Years resolution.  It just happened to that time of year when my Rheumatologist told me that if I wanted to keep killing my brain I only needed to keep eating sugar and let my diabetes run rampant. 

I suffer from an autoimmune disease called Central Nervous System Vasculitis.  The quick and dirty description of CNSV is that the vessels that supply oxygen to my brain and spinal cord become inflamed and over time my brain and spinal cord receive less and less oxygen.  This wreaks havoc on a person!  I was on a chemotherapy drug called Cytoxan for several months and massive doses of Prednisone, but I kept relapsing.  It was then that my doctor told me to get my nutrition in line or die.

Well we have all heard of those folks who are warned by their doctors to straighten up or pay the price and they keep on drinking, eating, or smoking and get sicker or worse.  I am not that person.  I have stuff to live for!  My son is getting married, my two younger kids are in college, my nieces and nephews are always on my mind and I love just being with my husband...plenty of reasons to get on board.

Its now August 2012 - 8 months later - and I have lost 68 lbs so far and I haven't started exercising yet.  I have not counted a single calorie.  Best of all...if I am hungry I eat!  Occasionally I have day where I will eat just veggies and nuts throughout the day or a day where I will visit the fridge several times.  But I only put good food in my body now.  Big difference.

When I started in January 2012 I just simply avoided sugar.  By Feb I learned about High Fructose Corn Syrup after watching Dr Robert Lustig on 60 minutes.  What an eye-opener!  With all my 'refinements' to my nutrition I am now eating clean.  I still eat some lean meat and fish, tons of low glycemic veggies, and fruit.  I do have real cheese from time to time and will start the next phase of decaffeinating myself and lowering my salt intake.

So...as this is just the first post on my blog...I will share more from here on in.  Stay tuned...if I can do it so can you. 

This weeks grocery haul: $67 bucks...that included a $10 bag of multi-grain dark Asian rice.

 And for dinner:  A Veggie Lentil Stew....started with roasted peppers and garlic.  I browned onions, more garlic, chives, green onions, and mushrooms for a nice thick stock.

 And Voila' ... dinner is served!  Includes: Onions, pablanos, jalapenos, wax peppers, bell peppers, garlic, green onion, fresh chive, fresh mushroom, yellow cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, snow peas, fresh green beans, fresh roma tomatoes.  Seasoned with oregano, sage, bay leaf, cayenne, and my evil salt.

A nice side note:  I made enough for 2 or 3 days!