Discussion Board

One of the best feelings in the world is to go through a week ~ look back ~ and feel the accomplishment of eating plant strong. I know that this won't be a grand achievement for me until a few months have passed and several pounds have dropped, but it still feels that way. I don't feel like I am rushing to a finish line anymore. I am just cruising along doing what is best for my body. I feel incredible! Most importantly, my search for "something better" has ended. I just know I have found it. It really doesn't get any better than this.

I did what I thought I could not do in giving up meat for good, dairy for good and now oil for good. Now I am confident that I will do what I have never done - and that is to experience being a thin and healthy person.

January ~ Week 1: Weight Loss 7 lbs.

Feeling great about that!

I am going to take pictures with every 10 pound loss.

I have reached a place of such contentment with this way of eating. What really made a huge difference for me is getting the junk food out of the house. It isn't here and I don't look for it at all anymore. I go to the grocery store and simply ignore it.

It has been well over a month now that I have not eaten meat or dairy and a week with absolutely no oil. The next mountain I have to climb... letting go of SALT. I threw it away a couple weeks ago. Then my husband complained and I felt guilty for taking that away too, so I purchased him small container of sea salt (in a grinder). I can't leave it alone. It has to go.

I know the dangers of salt, especially with my disease and with what I have overcome - there is no excuse for not making this change. I will do it today! I am never going to do anything "tomorrow" again.

Goodbye Salt

Debi. Thought you might enjoy this old Facebook entry from Jeff on the impact of 'just a little oil' given your newfound oil-free status:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-novi ... ?mid=57111
Kate

Wasn't that a great film!....I hope they come back in a few months and give a report to how those people did.....Love your Blog!....I use beans all the time...it has become our nightly duty before bed.."did you soak the beans?" if we forget I use the quick boil and the soak for an hour then the cook in the slow cooker...smaller beans work really well this way...It will be a good year!...my first full year with my health in my hands trough the fork in my mouth....

I love reading your journal as you make your way along this way of eating. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Kate ~ that was really good.

Thanks giddyupgin and Debbie... for the positive words. I love my journal. It keeps me on the straight and narrow.

My second attempt at throwing away the salt was successful. I won't buy it again. My husband will have to smuggle it in. I actually confronted him today about his salt use. You see... in 10 years of marriage the only time he has ever used salt was in soup. Now he suddenly uses it on everything. When I questioned him he said...

"Well, when you take the fat out of everything you have to some flavor." It sounded like something I would say.

Anyway, my first day without salt. I craved it a couple of times on my food, but just ignored the craving and survived.

Have you tried Mrs. Dash Onion and Herb seasoning? Adds a wonderful flavor to everything without added salt. Perhaps a shaker jar on the table will help quiet your husband's salt addiction.
Kate

I think we tried one months ago, but it was more for me and I wasn't ready to give up salt yet, so I didn't use it. However, I just looked online and there are several blends. Sounds like a good idea. Worth a try! Thanks Kate.

It seems that life is becoming so much more routine and comfortable for me now. Habits are forming that will last a lifetime. I don't feel the "quick fix" feeling anymore at all. The farther down the road I get from animal proteins, the less I remember how much I loved them. I just love how I feel so much more.

I have found that there is so much more than food that had to be changed. Several of my life habits had to be changed in order for me to succeed at being plant strong. I went out and walked yesterday in the sunshine. It felt so good. My body was not quite as excited about it last night when I got some pretty severe leg cramps. I find that I have to take things slow, but the end result is going to be lasting.

This year seems to be about so much more than just eating healthy and losing weight. I have been writing a blog and challenging myself to making one change a day in my house to make it healthier. This was a huge challenge to take on, but it has honestly been so easy. There were so many things that needed to change. I have gone through the years hearing that this is bad or that is bad, often ignoring. I don't ignore anymore. I want as many toxins out of my life as possible so that my body can truly heal. It is a combination of healthy food, a healthy environment and healthy habits. I see that clearly now.

I am embracing this new lifestyle with a passion that I have not felt in the past with my fad dieting. It isn't something to "try" but something to "do." The one thing I have to remind myself of is patience. I tend to want to rush the process to get to some imaginary finish line and reach a perfection. Other than getting to a goal weight and healing my kidneys ~ there is no finish line. There certainly isn't perfection. There is just day by day, feeling strong and loving life.

Congrats on the 7 pound loss! I love reading your journal, you're a very smart woman.

Thanks so much!

I reached my first milestone today. My plan for weight loss was to break it up in 10 pound increments. I am going to take a picture every ten pounds to motivate and see progress. It will be fun to make a little video when I reach my goal. So... 11 days into the new year and 10 pounds down. I'm feeling great about that.

Interestingly enough, I am finding that my tastes are changing in a very good way. I am craving simple. I had a salad for lunch yesterday and some white rice with salsa on top. So simple and delicious. Dinner - I tried to make a fake cheeze sauce and pasta that my son asked for. It wasn't good. I was wishing for my rice with salsa.

Congratulations! I'm looking forward to reading about all your future successes.