Awhile back, scientist found that eating sugar is just like snorting cocaine, at least to your brain. It sparks up the same receptors and so going from a freewheeling American diet to a low carb diet is incredibly difficult. Which brings me to my New Year's resolution of losing some weight by going low carb. Going from a carb diet to a low carb diet is incredibly difficult.
I do well with changes over time. Here is a process that I've found which keeps me from bipolar dieting. Keep in mind, these changes to your diet slow down weight loss. While I really want instant gratification of seeing the numbers drop on the scale, I believe I will be more successfull by making more small changes over the long term. The dietary changes I'm making are outlined in Healing Naturally by Bee. So far, after a month, since I've made my New Years Resolution, I've lost 6 pounds and here are the steps I took:
Week 2-4: Time to start replacing the high sugar fruits and vegetables so you are hit an overall lowerer carb count. Don't overwhelm yourself and remove one fruit a day until you are at a 1-2 fruit count. I prefer to have my fruits in the morning when I know I'll use the energy.
I do well with changes over time. Here is a process that I've found which keeps me from bipolar dieting. Keep in mind, these changes to your diet slow down weight loss. While I really want instant gratification of seeing the numbers drop on the scale, I believe I will be more successfull by making more small changes over the long term. The dietary changes I'm making are outlined in Healing Naturally by Bee. So far, after a month, since I've made my New Years Resolution, I've lost 6 pounds and here are the steps I took:
Week 1-2:
Remove the bread, cake, pasta, and anything that has loads of 'sugar' carbs like store bought juice, donuts, cupcakes {sigh}, and whatever else is processed. REPLACE with any and all fresh fruits and vegetables, even if they are high in sugar & or carb content. If you can't get fresh, then frozen is better than canned. The purist scoffs because technically, you are still getting sugar. However, when I am coming off the holiday sugar, I crave cookies and bread. When I stop eating it cold turkey I don't do well on changing my food habits. For me, I believe eating a carrot is much better than downing a donut.
The point here is to convert your eating style from processed foods to natural foods. In my case, I didn't feel deprived and did much better. That being said, it's not an easy task. Learning what foods to buy and what to make can be overwhelming. Here are some websites to help you go from processed to natural:
Remove the bread, cake, pasta, and anything that has loads of 'sugar' carbs like store bought juice, donuts, cupcakes {sigh}, and whatever else is processed. REPLACE with any and all fresh fruits and vegetables, even if they are high in sugar & or carb content. If you can't get fresh, then frozen is better than canned. The purist scoffs because technically, you are still getting sugar. However, when I am coming off the holiday sugar, I crave cookies and bread. When I stop eating it cold turkey I don't do well on changing my food habits. For me, I believe eating a carrot is much better than downing a donut.
The point here is to convert your eating style from processed foods to natural foods. In my case, I didn't feel deprived and did much better. That being said, it's not an easy task. Learning what foods to buy and what to make can be overwhelming. Here are some websites to help you go from processed to natural:
Andie Mitchell writes this blog and she has lost 135 pounds, has great food recipes, and the pictures are gorgeous!
Lisa Leake wanted to convert from processed foods to real foods and here is her story.
Great meal planning to make the conversion easy.
Week 2-4: Time to start replacing the high sugar fruits and vegetables so you are hit an overall lowerer carb count. Don't overwhelm yourself and remove one fruit a day until you are at a 1-2 fruit count. I prefer to have my fruits in the morning when I know I'll use the energy.
Here is the list I use from Bee's Healing:
Healing Naturally by Bee: Healthy Diet Foods
Week 3-5
You should start noticing a difference in your body, energy level, and also weight. The next thing to do is think about replacing your favorite "go to" foods with new ones.
I love creamy and cold (ice cream) and have replaced it with cold plain yogurt and spiced it with ginger & almond butter.
What are some of your favorite treats that you've modified so that they are 'better' for you?
Healing Naturally by Bee: Healthy Diet Foods
Week 3-5
You should start noticing a difference in your body, energy level, and also weight. The next thing to do is think about replacing your favorite "go to" foods with new ones.
I love creamy and cold (ice cream) and have replaced it with cold plain yogurt and spiced it with ginger & almond butter.
What are some of your favorite treats that you've modified so that they are 'better' for you?
4 comments:
This is very inspiring.
Go Girl!!!! mom
Hi there! Thanks so much for linking up! Good luck with your wedding cake! I was just asked to make one in June:S It will only be my third ever! It makes me so nervous! Following you now:)
"While I really want instant gratification ..."
We all want immediate gratification, but delayed gratification is usually much better.
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