Month 1 Wrap-Up

Well, the first month is drawing to an end. So what have I learned thus far? Mainly the lesson from month 1 is: Food matters, just like the aptly titled documentary says!  I'm really glad I started with food for many reason. I've seen results (weight loss at 12 lbs so far), I've felt results (my mind is clearer, my mood is better and more even, I quit my therapist), and I feel so changed by my realizations from this month that changing my lifestyle one month at a time does not seem like a daunting task. In fact, it seems inevitable.  Someone noticed the weight change the other day and it got me to thinking. If someone asks about my new 'diet' I'm going to instead tell them I've changed my lifestyle. Telling people I'm on a diet insinuates that it will come to an end at some point (when I've lost enough weight, or when I get tired of it), but knowing what I know about food and how it effects me, this isn't a diet, this is knowledge which manifests permanent change. Besides, the contemporary definition of diet leads to thoughts of limiting yourself and counting calories, carbs, etc. What I'm doing is eating what we all should be eating in the first place. When we choose to eat garbage, I say that's a "diet". Or maybe more simply put, I've changed my diet (changed it back to natural, whole, pure) instead of "I'm on a diet".

So what has been on my plate this month? Lots of salads, with lots of different things to keep it interesting and to make sure I get all the fiber, protein, healthy fats, and nutrients I need. Lots of color!

I've not completely weened myself off of fish yet. I crave shrimp a lot and I'm working on finding a good protein and Omega-3 replacement that I enjoy. I've been moving towards a juice reboot in a manner suggested by http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com which means also weening myself off of caffeine and dairy products. I've also been discovering lots of new things like mangos, coconut milk, how cranberries are delicious on salad and how avocado is good on almost anything! Walking through the market, there are so many things I can't wait to try, and now that I've read up on some of these super foods, I'm excited to try them.
Basically, at least 50% of what I eat is raw fruits and veggies, then nuts, whole grains and proteins. I keep a lot of fruit and veggies and nuts by me at work so I'm never starving.

The Hard Parts:

• The only "side effect", I guess you could say, of my change in diet is heartburn. I've been reading up on it, trying to eat foods that are supposed to help (like bananas) and I'm definitely avoiding things like beano because of the toxins. 

• Giving up coffee is a hard one for me, and mostly because it is a comfort thing to me. I've moved a lot, but where ever I go, there is always a coffee shop. But I've been switching it out for green tea a lot and hopefully soon I can put that down as well.

• Then there is the social aspect of changing your lifestyle in this way. It is not easy to go out to dinner with friends, especially if they want fast food. And it's very hard to not sound "preachy" when telling people what you are doing. People get angry at those who are doing what they know they should be doing.  My friend made a good point the other day. She said she understood now why people are "food pushers". Those people who want to eat something bad so they convince you to eat it too. She was visiting from out of state and hadn't had In 'n Out for a long time so we went to get her a cheeseburger. But she said she'd rather tell me to eat one too so she wouldn't feel so bad eating it herself. 

•  Vegan does not necessarily mean whole, natural and healthy. I went to such a Raw Vegan place and soon realized, yes it was meat and dairy free, but there were plenty of dishes with tons of added sugar and, I was surprised by this, not a whole lot of actual raw.  My friends and I shared a dessert (I had a few bites), and I also had a hot maca drink because I'd read about it as a super food. However, I believe it was mixed with a lot of sugar, because for the rest of that day and the next I was craving junk food.

• The only time I've missed all the crap (like burgers, pizza, etc) was after I'd had that sugar in my system. And that was the worst time. Once it was out of my system, the food daydreaming stopped and I felt much better. Now when confronted with sugar, I know what it's going to do to me and I don't even want to go there.

• Lastly, I've read about all these amazing super foods I'd love to try...but they are really hard to come by unless you have somewhere to grow them yourself. Luckily I live in a place like LA, and I know if I search hard enough I'll find a little shop in Silverlake or Venice or somewhere that actually sells Goji Berries, but it's too bad this stuff is not more readily available to the public, and a part of the public knowledge. And the stuff that makes it is when it becomes part of a fad, is processed, bottled, sugared and then sold as "health food", like the acai berry.

The Great Parts:

• You know that feeling when you need to eat and you know if you don't in the next 15 minutes, you'll probably rip someone's arm off? Yeah, I had the worse case of that... Not anymore. Sure I get hungry. But not, "holy crap I'm going to hurt someone if I don't eat something right this minute" hungry. I guess not having all the crap in my system has gotten rid of "The Food Crabbies" as I like to call it. 

• As I said above, I've lost 12 lbs in a month. That's a third of the way to my total weight goal, and that's without really exercising or counting calories or watching carbs. 

• I'm more present and alert.

• Kicked my depression and quit counseling.

• Found a new love and appreciation for great food.

• Restored vitality in my body and skin.

• Confidence. 

• I feel prepared to tackle my next 11 months!