After a month of cleaning up your diet and/or adding more whole foods to your eating plan, what do you have to show for it? Did you make any changes that you plan to continue? Did you discover anything deep and meaningful about yourself?
I learned quite a bit this past month. For one thing, I can live without sugar! And not just cutting out white sugar, but every form of refined sugar and artificial sweeteners. The last time (January) that I tried this for a month, I did not quite succeed. This time, I found it much, much easier. I think it was the Eggplant Terrine that really helped!
For years and years, I have been struggling with my final meal/snack of the day. I have absolutely no trouble eating very healthy meals from breakfast through dinner. I normally don't eat any snacks in between these three meals, which works well for me because I eat a very early dinner. The only problem with this plan is the evening hours. By about 7pm, I am always hungry again. And this is the weak point, where I would normally want to consume something sugary.
I would always try to make my own treats and keep them as healthy as possible, but they would still include some form of sugar. And often some grains as well. For the past month, I cut out all grains and all sweeteners. Instead, at around 7pm., I ate another very small meal. And usually this was a slice of Eggplant Terrine. I found this dish so delicious, I could easily convince myself that I was having a special treat. And it was sugar-free!
So I believe that one of the keys to eating healthy around the clock is to make sure you really enjoy what you are eating. If you want to cut out sugar, find dishes that taste terrific without any sugar. And I am not a big believer in faking things. I avoid artificial sweeteners as these just stimulate more cravings for sweet things. Instead, try to really delve into other taste sensations! Enjoy a few salty nuts, or a rich, creamy sauce, or a sour, tart dressing.
And how did this whole foods regimen work in terms of weight loss? Very well! As of today, I am down 5 and a half pounds from the first of September. I look and feel much better than when I began. My moods have been stable and my cravings have been so minimal, I was never really tempted to cheat. I am now at a weight that feels healthy to me, so my goal is not to gain anything back. In order to do this, I will have to stick with my sugar-free diet. I know that as soon as I try to add those treats back in, the pounds will be creeping up on me.
I would love to hear more about your Whole Foods Journey! Share your own results and inspire us to continue searching for a healthier way of life.
I learned quite a bit this past month. For one thing, I can live without sugar! And not just cutting out white sugar, but every form of refined sugar and artificial sweeteners. The last time (January) that I tried this for a month, I did not quite succeed. This time, I found it much, much easier. I think it was the Eggplant Terrine that really helped!
For years and years, I have been struggling with my final meal/snack of the day. I have absolutely no trouble eating very healthy meals from breakfast through dinner. I normally don't eat any snacks in between these three meals, which works well for me because I eat a very early dinner. The only problem with this plan is the evening hours. By about 7pm, I am always hungry again. And this is the weak point, where I would normally want to consume something sugary.
I would always try to make my own treats and keep them as healthy as possible, but they would still include some form of sugar. And often some grains as well. For the past month, I cut out all grains and all sweeteners. Instead, at around 7pm., I ate another very small meal. And usually this was a slice of Eggplant Terrine. I found this dish so delicious, I could easily convince myself that I was having a special treat. And it was sugar-free!
So I believe that one of the keys to eating healthy around the clock is to make sure you really enjoy what you are eating. If you want to cut out sugar, find dishes that taste terrific without any sugar. And I am not a big believer in faking things. I avoid artificial sweeteners as these just stimulate more cravings for sweet things. Instead, try to really delve into other taste sensations! Enjoy a few salty nuts, or a rich, creamy sauce, or a sour, tart dressing.
And how did this whole foods regimen work in terms of weight loss? Very well! As of today, I am down 5 and a half pounds from the first of September. I look and feel much better than when I began. My moods have been stable and my cravings have been so minimal, I was never really tempted to cheat. I am now at a weight that feels healthy to me, so my goal is not to gain anything back. In order to do this, I will have to stick with my sugar-free diet. I know that as soon as I try to add those treats back in, the pounds will be creeping up on me.
I would love to hear more about your Whole Foods Journey! Share your own results and inspire us to continue searching for a healthier way of life.
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