I'm really excited to share how I've been eating the last four-ish weeks.
I've been able to able to start a low carbohydrate, medium protein, high fat diet. It's not a "diet" per se, it's a lifestyle change. I have been eating this way for roughly 4 weeks, learning a lot as I go and in all of that time, I've felt like having a "cheat meal", if I'm going to call it that, ONCE.
That means, no sugar, bread, rice, legumes, potatoes, etc. Any carbohydrate that I get comes from vegetables, a bit of dairy, and a bit of fruit once per day. I eat a lot more protein, and A LOT more fat. Shockingly more.The focus in primarily on "real food". Nothing processed. Nothing that doesn't come in it's original state.
The first week I had a few headaches, but nothing major. I can't get over it, but apart from my cheat meal, I don't crave sweets. I don't crave french fries. I'm not interested in pizza. I bought a chocolate bar to "test" if I was going crazy on Sunday, and I ate a few bites and then THREW THE REST AWAY. I don't recognize myself.
Now, I have to say that the cheat meal was tonight, and contained ice cream and a lot of sugar and refined foods....so I'm hoping that....I won't crash too hard tomorrow and that I'll be back on my LCHF (low carb, high fat) way again.
A typical meal looks like this:
Breakfast: Coconut cream, yogurt (highest fat percentage I can find), cocoa nibs, coconut, chia seeds, walnuts, a few drops of Stevia, and maybe 8 or 10 berries. Coffee with MCT oil (or coconut oil) and hydrolyzed collagen (beef collagen that's been put into powdered form). I would really like to add some vegetables to my breakfast, but it's a work in progress.
Lunch: it's been a salad lately with chicken, vegetables, and the least processed, highest fat salad dressing I can find (I need to start making my own, but again, work in progress). If I end up eating out, I order a burger with bacon and order it with no ketchup and I don't eat the bun.
Lunch dessert: occasionally a square or two of 90% chocolate, but there is a recipe that I need to make for next week's lunches that's even better!
Supper: 3 eggs cooked in coconut oil with some ham thrown in. An avocado on the side with some Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or cucumbers. All topped with chives (from my garden).
Dessert: I'm a big dessert fan, so currently I have been having roughly 4 TBSP of 35% cream, with a few drops of stevia, with a tiny handful of berries.
The first couple of weeks my legs felt tired and heavy all of the time, like I had already worked out before I started my workout. Since then, I've increased my carbs a bit, and I'm learning more and more every day.
The hardest part is that I still have the habit of wanting to eat out or "treat myself" on the weekends....but nothing seems appealing to me (apart from my 1 cheat meal). I don't deny myself anything and if I'm hungrier one day, I eat more. I also have to supplement my electrolytes, because now that I'm eating primarily whole food - I'm not getting enough sodium.
The best part, other than beginning to lose some weight, is that this type of diet is known to be very, very healthy for people with brain diseases (ie: depression, epilepsy, autism). The other best part, is that I just don't crave sugar anymore. I'm not always buying junk that I know isn't good for me. I'm not craving stuff that I eventually give in to.
I'm curious how the next four weeks will treat me, especially after my cheat meal (which....I might add....wasn't THAT great, but I still enjoyed it), and especially while travelling. It's a very exciting time in my life....and I'm looking to learning and sharing more about my new eating regime.
