ch ch ch changes

When my sisters and I were visiting my niece earlier this month, we watched a movie “Fat Sick and Nearly Dead” which promoted a plant based diet (actually, it promoted juicing). Although I would never go on a total juice fast, I do believe it is good for you and hope to (someday) get a juicer so I can add that to my regimen.

Louise’s partner Lee has celiac disease, as well as other major gut issues. She has to be very careful with what she eats and any deviation from her diet can cause a serious flare-up. Everywhere we went that weekend, Lee had to bring her cooler with her food while the rest of us chowed down on whatever was available.

Even though I was with someone 100% gluten free, I personally threw that restriction out the window.

I didn’t suffer particularly … but I sure did notice some unpleasant consequences.

She and I talked quite a bit about diet and she gave me several suggestions on gluten free options … not to mention a big shopping bag full of gluten free foods to try.

She lent me another movie – Forks over Knives – a documentary that promotes plant based diets. I’m not sure I could ever go 100% vegan, but I definitely am ready to reduce the amount of animal products I eat. I had already been considering this anyway. While I was doing a bit of research on how to make the healthy transition from carnivore to part-time herbivore, one link I clicked took me to the PETA site.

I should have closed that window immediately.

I really wish I had closed that window.

Since then, I have had no inclination to eat meat … or an egg … or even a bit of cheese.

That site is brutal. I’m an animal lover. I was (am) traumatized.

I know the pictures they post are extreme. I know that. But, those are the things I see now when I think “hmmmm … I should boil myself an egg!”

So, I’ve started making some changes. Eating “nothing that had a mommy”.

I used to have a boiled egg every morning. Now I’m having steel cut oatmeal with fruit (and a light drizzle of maple syrup).

Morning snack is the same – a banana or some other fruit

Lunch is the same – a salad or veggies … except I sometimes used to include chicken or bacon on my salad. I’m excluding that now.

Afternoon snack is the same – gluten free cracker and hummus

Supper this week has been a fly by the seat of my pants experience, so hasn’t created too much stress. I’ve been picking at this and that. Salads from the deli counter, corn chips and guacamole, veggie stir fry. I’m going to look for some real recipes to try.

Already lost 2 1/2 lbs and I only look 5 months pregnant instead of 7.

Not sure if this is a result of cutting out the animal products or just because I’m being more conscious of what I’m eating. I suspect it’s more that … but I’ll take it however I can get it. I’ve gained quite a bit of weight lately. (I actually had our graphic artist ‘take off a couple inches from my hips’ in the Birthday picture I sent to boss!! It was such a horrible picture … yes, I’m too vain).

I also started doing my yoga-stretching routine again. My range of motion is so restricted. If I’m this bad at 56, I can’t imagine what I’ll be like at 86. A friggen block of wood, I suspect.

So … we’ll see how that goes.

I am terrible for adopting lifestyle changes for a couple weeks and then returning to my status quo. But, my status quo isn’t really that great and for many, many reasons, it’s important that I stick to something …

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No news from Lara, but the on-line sites aren’t a never-ending stream of ‘breaking news’ so we’ll go with the no news is good news concept. She really wasn’t at risk, unless she did something dumb …

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Rainy day today, but nice. Not storming, just a steady downpour. I know most people prefer hot, sunny days but I actually like weather like this.

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Radio is playing hits from the 70’s. Where has the time gone? Excuse me while I slip into a state of melancholy. Seems the early summer always has this effect on me.

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Must get at it.

* I WISH YOU WELL! *