Discussion Board

Was just reading kirstykay's journal and as always am inspired by the conversation going on there. What grabbed me was the talk about indulgence and my take was a bit different though probably in the end the same. I have been robbing my flesh of all the wonderful pleasures of health when I choose to continually injure it with nonfood. I rob myself of that easy peaceful feeling, that energy, that clear mindedness, that joy in simple foods that goes with choosing life, all of which fuels my life's desires, my work, my relationships. I've said this so many times and I have yet to say it so many more, each day....I choose life. Today, I will have lots of pleasure in the sun pouring through my window, in the words I share with someone needing a home, in my brown rice and broccoli, in my boy's beauty, in my aching muscles that will get to the top of the stairs, on my couch reading of all the wonderful success here, in the love story I read before bed.

Anna, I love what you have to say here. Abusing my body with "food" does not bring real pleasure and enjoyment. It helps for about a minute, then it hurts physically and mentally.

I've been having a tough time lately too. After losing 65 pounds in the past 9 months, I have gained back 2 1/2. That doesn't sound like much, but I want to stop that trend in its tracks, and I also have more to lose. Let's support each other in taking care of ourselves.

Anna you are at the tipping point of eating differently as a way of life. You may have been here before, maybe not. But the frank reality is the enjoyment from those few seconds of injuring yourself isn't really that good. This is clearly more visible from a distance and with the perspective of a long seemless stretch of healthy eating. Youknow you are there when you say to yourself that those moments of indulgence really were not that pleasurable in hindsight. And even more oddly, the moments of indulgence make the exercise you do acts of torture and punishment as you mentally work off those assaults to the body.
It can all come together for you and everyone has their moments of awakening and call to action. Could this be yours? Do ask yourself how long of a time you want to make it between Wed May 27, 2009 12:29 pm and that moment of rebirth. The clock ticks.....
f1jim

Hi Anna,

I love your post. I feel the same way. I know going back to SAD or VAD would be painful and I believe going forward to all-in McD will be rewarding. I've experienced what I would describe as a mourning period for the past month. I think a shift occurred in my mind and I accepted that I cannot ever eat non-McD if I want to be healthy physically and emotionally and I'm sad. I know I will be happier after this becomes a way of life and my life will bring unexpected things I will treasure as a result. But, I think it was natural to go through some sadness and anger. I feel positive and grateful right now so that's a good sign.

Toadfood, you got it! Congrats on all those lbs gone! You are so right about it being good for about a minute and then the rest of the day sucks. I want to feel good most of the time so it's worth eating well. Now perhaps I can iron that thought on my brain.

Jim, your continued presence is so valuable. Thank you. I kind of clenched a little reading your post and thinking that in all this time since I started I have made change. I'm not where I was back then healthwise, but much improved. But then I thought this... if I had only eaten healthy all this time I'd be in an even better place. I would have reached my goals and have greatly reduced my risk of disease, cancer, etc. So I embrace your message and so hope this is my moment.

kk, I hear you. I have grieved too. Still am sometimes. Actually I'm trying not to think about it too much because I may just walk out the door and go to the corner for a poboy. I do, though, have genuine moments of just being grateful for the precious opportunity to eat well. So many don't have it. Ahhhh. We'll get this. That commercial about the Quaker oatmeal cookie just came on and I'm laughing. The woman takes a bite out her neighbor's cookie, lamely pretends she didn't while leaning forward to take another bite. That's me. In my head this is what has been going on.

Morn: potatoes, orange, peach, carrots

Aft: McDougall cup split pea soup over potato

Even: br rice, broc, green beans

Exercise: a bit of weights. Cleaned house instead of going to the gym this morn. Wanted to do something this eve to just be in the habit.

So once again I'm writing in my journal and laughing at that oatmeal cookie commercial. It makes my loose skin (from McDougalling) shake. I just love her pretending she's not eating the cookie while she's chewing and leaning over to take another bite. I so identify with that kind of denial. She's acting out the crazies in my head.

Now, I have to say I'm doing well with my healthy eating and exercise. Yesterday:

Morn: oats and broccoli, raw sweet potato and ff mango dressing

Afternoon: orange, br rice and broc

Evening: ff veg chili, br rice and green beans, broc

Today:

Morn: chili, brown rice over lettuce, orange, carrots and salsa

Afternoon: McDougall Pad Thai cup over broc (I know, no more refined flour and why does a McDougall cup not have whole grains?)

Even: white rice veg sushi, br rice and shroons and since I'm hungry again some chili over lettuce later.

I know all this sounds like a lot of food but it's not really.

Exercise: hit the gym -30 min of cardio, 30 min of weights. Felt good.

Anna, as I was reading your food list, I wondered if you've stopped getting hungry at night? If so, what do you think made the difference? That happens to me if I don't eat enough for dinner.

Another question I have is how you cope with the heat in NO in terms of exercising during the summer months?

Glad you're doing well and feeling happy!

Birdy, Hi! I have been doing ok with not being hungry in the middle of the night because I've been eating more during the day. As far as the heat, it's hard to deal sometimes. When I'm eating healthy however it's easier. I just don't get as hot. Also it seems the more raw food I eat the cooler I am. I guess there is a good reason salads are craved in the summer.

So, I'm getting ready to go to Florida 2 separate times this week. I have my McDougall Split pea soups, oatmeal, potatoes packed. Hoping to get some veggies once I get there.

I'm hoping to get in some exercise too- hotels have gyms.

I'm back from the first trip and I have to say I am pleased with how I did. I don't remember ever having done this well on a trip, especially for work. It wasn't perfect (veggie burger) but good. No room service or ordering in happened. I put veggies in my suitcase along with all the other planned stuff and cooked in the microwave. Love Mcdougall cup split pea soup over potato and veggies. So I leave Sunday for Orlando and am looking forward to doing well again, even better. I need to pack more food this time. I did well this Fri eve too and am stoked (yah, I'm bringing that word out)! The thing I am most pleased about is where I am in my head. The brat is mostly silent and I am feeling gratitude for the opportunity to eat this way.

Got some exercise in too in the hotel gym. Plan to work out this weekend as well. I really love how I feel. You would think I'd be ripped. Not by any stretch of the imagination! But definitely feeling good. I know I'm in so much better shape because of how I deal with fatigue. It's all just easier than it used to be. I remember being tired all the time. Now, even when I'm tired I can still get alot done. It's just wonderful.

Please please...let my best self continue this path. (said to the dozing brat)

I think you ought to copy and print your last post because it's so positive and specific about the rewards of what you're doing with food and exercise. I have quite a problem with overheating during hot weather and find it interesting that McDougalling helps with that. I also have a horrible problem with motion sickness on planes (and other moving objects!) which I'd very much like to get over. I wonder if this diet would help with that...

I hope your trip to Orlando is good. Sounds like you've got a great plan in place for getting the food and exercise you need when traveling.

I posted in my journal about the cooking class, but briefly, the instructor uses a ton of oil and salt in all his dishes so that's making the class somewhat less useful to me. It's still fun and interesting, but I probably won't take more classes unless they're specifically low fat vegan.

Enjoy the beautiful ocean if you get time after your work there in Orlando!

Birdy, I have to say the motion sickness wasn't as bad this time. Could be the better food. I still have not been totally compliant but enough that with better food and some good herbs the hot flashes are better too- much better. Goal for the next week is to post food and exercise each day.

Food for today:

oats and broc

veg soup (mine, so on plan), potatoes, grapefruit, arugula, cucumber

salad w/ beans, corn tortilla

veg soup

Exercise: maybe will hit the gym. if not able will do calisthenics at home.

Good goal for the coming week. Looks like you're doing Maximum Weight Loss program?

Interesting that the diet and herbs are helping with the hot flashes. I also remember that drinking a lot of cool water every day helped.

We have a vacation the end of June that involves air flight. I'm hoping that I can be strict with the regular McD program between now and then and see if it helps with the motion sickness. I do take ginger capsules before flying which works as well as Dramamine without the side effects.

You must be getting very fit with the exercise you've been doing for the past couple of years or so. I really admire your progress with changing your diet, your weight loss, and your exercise. What a great role model for your son.

Birdy, my exercise has been sporadic. I am fitter but would like to make more progress. This morn I watched Treme, got a bit depressed and decided I'd better get up and do something. I shopped and shopped from the veggie truck that drives around my neighborhood (if I haven't told you, he sings with a loud speaker about the veggies he has), the farmer's market, the Sav-a-lot, and finally Whole Foods. I just bought some local, some cheap and then got whatever I couldn't get elsewhere from Whole Foods. Making some lentil stew right now with potatoes, carrots and spinach. Have garbanzos and pintos soaking to cook tomorrow. Plan to make refried beans for the boy who likes burritos. Also, some Mexican br rice, raw zucchini "spaghetti" w/ raw marinara (love this stuff), garbanzo burgers and a potato, bell pepper and squash soup w/ some garbanzos thrown in. I'll freeze some for the following week because I won't have as much time to cook next weekend. Heading to the folks to finish the spring cleaning and I just may cook some for them. Susan has the "crab" cake recipe on her site that looks good and I think my parents would like them. Anyway, I had a decent day with food. Could have left out the sunflower seeds.

oats and broc, sunflower seeds in shell so not a lot.

oats and broc

big salad w/strawberries and red onion and 321.

lentil and veggie stew, frozen fruit bar

Exercise: nothing. I'll do better tom.

It's been a good day so far. Made it to my UU church, made another store run for cumin and lemon. The pintos are in the crockpot cooking for the boy's burritos and some to freeze, the garbanzos on the stove almost done for the burgers still to be made and perhaps some hummus. Plan to put the burgers on salad perhaps w/ some hummus for dressing. I made a veg curry w/ potatoes, squash, carrots, kale, cabbage, lots of bell pepper and cauliflower. Also made a quick coleslaw w/ cabbage, Cindy's ff mango dressing, red onion and carrot. At some point still will make the Spanish rice w/ zucchini. I'm in the mood for cooking and it always helps me continue to eat healthy. A friend and I made plans today to meet once a week for a while to talk about how we are doing with our health goals and just to support each other, chase away the denial, etc.

morn: oats and broc

Aft: lentil and veggie stew

Eve: veg curry so far and probably some slaw later and garbanzo burger

Exercise: Just has not happened. Maybe a few minutes of weights just so I'm working on the habit? I have to hit the gym this week. My foot is still messed up so I need to use their cardio machines because I can't run.

oh my gawd, I just realized I could still be coming here when I'm 80 provided the generous site is still up. Even if I have 35 years of eating healthy and I'm the model senior citizen I could see myself still afraid of backsliding. I am an impulsive neurotic. Damn. Whatcha gonna do? Dr. McDougall is gonna have to say enough already, go away! But like for the gumbo, I'll still be drawn, the person in 09 who couldn't believe she'd air it out in public. My mother wrote a song when we were kids living on the coast about us going to New Orleans (home) to eat the gumbo. "They say go go go and I say no no no, you give me more gumbo and I go but they give me more gumbo and I don't go" Ok, it was very amusing to six kids in a station wagon. If you've never had the gumbo (the real stuff) you won't get it and even though I know it's not healthy and has animal and sea-life suffering involved, I still feel sorry for you. Just can't help it. Anyway, this is the way I see it Dr. McDougall. Since I can't have the gumbo, I just may need this site till I die and since you are partially responsible for the no gumbo you ought to keep the site going. Really now. And it would probably be a good idea if you ever come to New Orleans to avoid the no gumbo topic. Maybe, you could distract them with sex talk. You know, eat this way, the parts will work till you die kinda thing. You have to have something that good to make up for the gumbo. Just tryin to be helpful.

I'll stop now. I was just entertaining myself while I drank my morning cup of tea and thought about the day ahead of healthy eating for which I am very grateful.