We are only human...........
No style of eating made me feel better than eating plant based. That being said it is hard for me to adhere to. I love a good glass of wine, a fine pastry, craft coffee, pizza, and cheese........... god, how I love cheese! Staying plant based is VERY hard for me. So, now I am back to eating what I want but try to make the vast majority of my diet as plant based as possible. It is not easy but we can do it.................right?
Plant Based
Prepare to have your life changed. Seriously, when I was plant based I had freakish amounts of energy, my skin and hair were radiant and I was losing weight with ease. Oh, and no RA pain! None! This book pictured to the left is pivotal. If you can just listen to it on audio book by the 3rd chapter you will be ready to change your diet. My husband and I really liked it. We ate anything other then meat (that was easy), processed foods, and dairy (not so easy). The cheese was the hardest part. Nothing can replace cheese, I mean nothing. We did so good we decided to treat our self to a date night to our favorite pizza joint. It is a cozy little place on a Main Street. We had the window seat, my favorite table! We ordered a bottle of wine and enjoyed a delicious pizza, it was heaven. But pizza is the gateway drug I tell you! All it took was that damn pizza to get us right back on track to our evil ways. We are definitely more mindful now and eat WAY more plants then ever but have yet to go back to full plant base. Hopefully someday when the time is right. P.S. I gained all the weight back I lost during this time, my husband, not a pound. Bastard!
The Keto Diet......................
Ok, so after breaking my foot I put on 20lbs. It was too much. I seriously was having a melt down. I needed to loose weight fast to help me get focused. So I started keto. It actually works for quick weight loss, but no way I could sustain this long term. I would give just about anything for a bowl of yogurt and a slice of bread right now. I was at whole foods and seriously wanted to tackle a guy with a loaf of brioche in his hand. Watching The Great British Baking show non stop is also not helping. I must be a sadist. Either way I am on week two and have lost 10lbs. I am only doing this for a month then transitioning to plant based with cheese and olive oil. That seems reasonable to me:) We are also going to Spain and Portugal January 2020 so I will surely be packing on a few pounds during that trip. As for my RA pain at first I was not doing well at all. It was actually some of the worst pain I have had in years. But I think that may be due to the detox phase. You feel like you have the flu for awhile. But after getting over that hump I feel fine. No pain at all.
Changing the way you eat.................
My favorite food groups are bacon, sugar, and chocolate. Yum!!! However, these are not your friend, especially if you have RA. Here I will share what I am learning as I try to change my evil sugar loving ways.
We all know we should eat our veggies, add more fish to our diet, and avoid processed foods. But, this can be difficult. Eating healthy is expensive and time consuming! If you want to go organic, you will be paying even more! I am learning how to balance what I should and should not splurge on. What should be bought organic, and what is safe to buy non organic. Hopefully what I am learning will help you! Happy Eating!
We all know we should eat our veggies, add more fish to our diet, and avoid processed foods. But, this can be difficult. Eating healthy is expensive and time consuming! If you want to go organic, you will be paying even more! I am learning how to balance what I should and should not splurge on. What should be bought organic, and what is safe to buy non organic. Hopefully what I am learning will help you! Happy Eating!
Sugar...................Is Like A Bad Boyfriend
You know the type. He is hot, really hot! All the other girls want him, he makes you feel good and says all the right things. But you know, deep down inside he is going to break your heart. But, you soak it up and go for it anyway. You carry on the love affair for as long as you can, there are highs, there are lows, but in the end, you end up feeling like crap, your body feels used and abused. This is my life with sugar.
SUGAR CREATES INFLAMMATION :(
SUGAR CREATES INFLAMMATION :(
Organic VS Non Organic..........................
It is hard to know what you should buy organic and what is just a waste of your hard earned dollars. We trust our grocery stores to be selling us only the healthiest products, but this is not always the case. You have to do your research. Do not be afraid to ask your grocer questions, we are talking about your health here!!!
If there is a thick peel or skin, like a banana or avocado, you can go non-organic. Otherwise go organic where you can. I always shop first at my Farmers Market, then my local organic section in the grocery store. Try checking your area for CSA co-ops. Farmers will provide you with weekly fruits and veg for a price, and mANY even deliver!!! REMEMBER....BUY WHAT IS IN SEASON AND STAY AS LOCAL AS POSSIBLE.
If there is a thick peel or skin, like a banana or avocado, you can go non-organic. Otherwise go organic where you can. I always shop first at my Farmers Market, then my local organic section in the grocery store. Try checking your area for CSA co-ops. Farmers will provide you with weekly fruits and veg for a price, and mANY even deliver!!! REMEMBER....BUY WHAT IS IN SEASON AND STAY AS LOCAL AS POSSIBLE.
Dont Forget Those Supplements!
- Fish Oil
- CoQ10
- Tumeric
- D3
- Flax Seed
- Milk Thistle
- Baby Aspirin 81mg
- Cinnamon
- Cannabis (A category all on its own!)
Eating Out..................Step Away From The Burger Mam
I used to eat out....................ALL THE TIME! I was very unhealthy. Oooooohhhhhh, the sweet drippings of burger juice running down my chin, only to be wiped up by some french fries and washed down with a giant soda. This feeling of burg-euphoria was quickly followed by regret. waves of nausea, chest pains, and exhaustion. Damn you delicious burgers!!!!!!
Now, I usually try to fill my body with things that make it say, "Thank you". But sometimes you want a night out. When this is the case, make the smartest decisions possible. Not only must we worry about the type of food we are eating, but also, WHO IS AND HOW IS OUR FOOD BEING HANDLED? When working with a suppressed immune system, even the most minor of bugs we pick up can be devastating. Be careful kids!
Now, I usually try to fill my body with things that make it say, "Thank you". But sometimes you want a night out. When this is the case, make the smartest decisions possible. Not only must we worry about the type of food we are eating, but also, WHO IS AND HOW IS OUR FOOD BEING HANDLED? When working with a suppressed immune system, even the most minor of bugs we pick up can be devastating. Be careful kids!
{Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid}
