Thinking outside the {pizza} box

4 weeks!  I've been sticking with this project for 4 weeks.  I'm so excited!  I'm so proud!  I'm so surprised!  I'm kinda scared.  I'm hoping that my determination will keep pushing me forward.  I'm hoping I have the tools that I need to get myself to that place I need to be in order to feel like I'm my best me.  I'm not shooting for a certain size or a weight (okay maybe I have something in mind) or even a decade, I'm just working towards the place were everything is better. 

One tool that I have that has helped me a ton is Pintrest.  Yes Pintrest.  It has helped me find so many different ideas that help me to think outside the box.  I have found food ideas, workout plans, and advice on how to tie my shoes.  Where would I be without it.  I also have found that you have to do more than just pin the activity or recipe, you have to actually do it. 

My lunch today came from Pintrest.  Cauliflower Crust Pizza (http://366daysofpinterest.com/2012/09/25/day-238-cauliflower-crust/. ) I topped my pizza with flavors that say Mexican to me--Salsa for the sauce, colorful bell peppers, black beans, green onions, avocado, and cilantro.  It was pretty good.  I did not use the amount of cheese called for (only used 1/4 of a cup) and I baked my pizza at 450 instead of putting it under the broiler.  *One tip--if you have a silpat use it, I made a pizza for my little gluten-free friend on a pizza stone and it stuck, badly.  The flavor of the "Pizza" was pretty good, the "crust" was not chewy like pizza and it needed a fork to eat it, but it was a nice alternative.  Will I ever eat regular pizza again?  Yes.  I will.  Having options is always nice.

Feeling Brave (but just a little)

I did something today that I have not done in a very long time.  I laced up my "new" skates and hit to the ice so Poppy and I could learn how to skate together.  It is a lot more work than I remember. 

Poppy took to the ice and like she'd been wearing blades her whole life.  Me, not so much.  I don't remember the blade being so thin.  The balance is so much different than I remember.  I made it around the ice track? (not sure what you would call Boyd Parks rink) twice.  With the help of a "walker" and my arches, calves, hips, back, and maybe even my teeth were aching.  With great defeat, I unlaced my boots and called it a day.

I didn't think of myself as a quitter.  I thought of it in the light that I tried.  And I will try again.  Soon.  I realized that it's okay to try something and not get it perfect the first time.  I realized that I did not want to push myself to point of injury and then not be able to do other activities. 

After I tucked the skates into the van, I walk around the parameter of the park for an hour and got one my Adopt 5 activities done while Poppy Moon skated her little heart out.  It was a good day.  There was even a little blood, sweat, but no tears.

+5 -5 +5more

Add 5
Break 5
Adopt 5 bonus

Not do bad for a diet Rx.  Fairly easy to do.  Most of the habits were things I had already put into place while on the white diet.  It almost seems too easy.  So easy that I have been second guessing myself.  There is so much information and contradiction that I reached out to others for expert advice (thanks Jenn).  It felt great when I was told I'm on the track that will take me to my destination.  I realized that it doesn't have to be a complicated magic formula at all.  It's basic, it's having a healthy foundation, it's filling your plate with "real" good food.

Add 5
Eat a healthy Breakfast. 
Eat fruits and vegetables (a lot of fruits and vegetables)
Eat whole grains
Eat healthy fats
Move at least 30 minutes every day.

For me, the adding was just a matter of swapping whole grains for the white foods I was eating--easy enough.  I was really excited because I was adding raw veggies and fruits to my menu.  And flavor with the ability to cook with coconut and olive oil.  Moving at least 30 minutes everyday is easy when you sneak it in here and there.  Adding is a success.  Check mark on all 5.  Gold star for me.

Break 5
No TV while eating (or computer or anything other than eating) and no more TV than exercise time
No sugar (only what's found in fruits)
No snacking unless it's fruits and veg
Moderate meat and low fat dairy
No eating at restaurants (unless you can find something that fits into the program)

Breaking one of the habits was much harder than the rest.  I had not been eating sugary treats while on the white diet, so that was something I was able to just keep going.  Snacking on fruits and veggies was a dream come true after having bread and rice chex as my option.  I have not incorporated dairy back into my diet because I think that is a food group I need to stay away from or I will end up white dieting again.  Eating only 3 oz of meat protein has been okay, too.    Having meals out has not been much of a challenge either.  I thought I would not like only being able to watch as much TV as my exercise time, but I found that I saved up time for my favorite programs and let the other ones go.  The hardest part is eating alone without doing something.  I have a hard time just eating.  I'm fine if the family is at the table with me, but I get so bored when I'm at the table alone. 

Adopt 5
Keep a record of everything you eat
Keep an activity record
Move More
Eat "Real Food"
Write your daily goals.

Adoption was easy for me.  I was recording my food and movement already and really adding another 1/2 hour after the first was okay too (plus then I could watch two of my favorite shows or one longer program) Eating real food--non processed.  has been easy too.  The challenge is actually writing down my goals for the day, I think them in my head, but I need to work on writing them down. 

So there you have it.  This is what has been keeping me busy over the last week or so.  If you want the down and dirty details.  you'll have to buy the book. 

Day 14

Today is the final day in my white diet phase.  I bet some of you bet I gave up since I was not blogging about my experience.  I did not want to bore you all with every little detail of my GI Recovery Adventure.  Here is my reflection.  I would fully recommend anyone who is having a little (or a lot) of tummy trouble give this a go (with doc approval). 

I feel amazing.  I do not have that bogged down feeling I was having a couple of weeks ago (and had felt for years and years).  I never felt hunger and I never devoured and entire loaf of bread.  I do not miss sugar the way I thought I would and having a very limited menu to pick from has made meal time less of a chore.  I even came up with a few new recipes (one I hope to share at some point). 

Now what?  Now that I have achieved this goal what is the next plan for my renovation.  That is something I've been thinking about over the past few weeks.  I went searching on the wild wild web to see if I could tame the beast called a diet.  I wanted to capture just the right thing for myself.  My requirements were that it needed to be healthful, something I can live with and something easy, free from crazy food combination, and something with very little investment. 

I googled (and did a pintrest search) the best way to lose weight and found there are way too many best ways to lose weight.  No wonder we are a fat country.  There is so many claims and promises and do this, don't do that (about the same food) stay away.  Crazy.  I wanted to find something simple.  Back to the basics.  I came across the Mayo Clinic Diet and I had my answers.

I invested $5 for the Kindle version of the book (meets the low cost requirement).  The diet is simple enough.  There is a two-week jump start to help you safely fast track into eating.  The down and dirty of it is:  You add 5 habits, You break 5 habits, and then if you want super results for the first two weeks, you add 5 bonus habits.  The five habits in each of the category are things I have been doing for the last 2 weeks so I figured "why not".  What do I have to lose (they claim a healthy and safe 6-10 pounds in the first two weeks)  After the 2 weeks are up and your weight is down, then you move into the Live it phase (the first phase is called lose it) where you eat (this will blow your mind) from the basic food groups (it's a plate now, no more pyramids).  I'm going to rock this. 

7 Days later

I got the flu or a bug or something that made my head feel as though it was going to explode.  This headache was served with a side of a spots in my vision, chills, a low grade fever, neck pain, sore throat and a little tummy discomfort.  It took me out of the rounds for a couple of days.  It was sneaky and came up on me fast.  I felt like one minute I was snowshoeing with the young man I love whole heatedly and then bam! 

I may have been out of it, but I'm back now to tell you that 7 days later and I'm still keeping at my stomach healing process.  And I feel really great (despite the above mentioned issue).  I don't feel as sluggish as I had before I started.  I can eat a bigger range of food now and for the most part (had a few hiccups here and there) everything is going along pretty good.  I made it through the hardest part. 

I wanted to reassure anyone who was wondering if this is a healthy diet. This is not a way of life for me.  I am not using this White Diet as a way to loose weight.  It is not a quick fix, fad, celebrity endorsed, bikini ready trend.  This particular way is just something to bring peace to my bowels and nothing more.  As soon as I have made the repairs that were needed, then I will move on to the next phase of my project.  Until then (only a week-ish), I will eat stomach healing rice, pasta, white bread, rice chex, rice crispies, cream of rice & wheat, ramen noodles, chicken, potatoes, turkey, oatmeal, cooked vegetables, applesauce, eggs, fish and legumes with a smile and the love that will lead me to the next step. 

The Test

Today was a day of tests.  I was able to add chicken to my list and so far so good.  I really was not worried--eager, yes.  I felt like a kid of the first day of school.  Wondering all the different culinary combinations I could create with a humble piece of white meat and my other selection of white foods.  My first adventure was white rice and a broiled chicken breast.  I find it hard to believe that there really is flavor in all the blandness. 

The chicken was not the real test.  The test was that my daughter and I spend the day away from home while my son had a computer birthday party with his friends.  That meant being away from home for a meal.  I called a couple of places ahead of time to see if I could order plain pasta and chicken--pasta was they could do, chicken was almost due-able (Noodles and Company could give me everything I wanted except they cook the chicken in oil and, well oil is not an option at this moment.  So I packed my rice and chicken thermos and headed out.  Once at the restaurant, I told them that I had to bring my lunch and I hoped they didn't mind that I ate it there--I had informed them that I was currently eating a very limited list of foods.  They said it was not a problem at all and that they understood (thanks Smiling Moose).--Sorry for all the lunch details--but sometimes I need to pound out these boring details for my own good.

But again--not really the test.  The girl and I went to a movie.  Where they have movie theater popcorn.  And I bought some.  A kids snack pack.  For her.  I had water.  And it was really okay.  I remember going to the movies all the time when I was growing up and never ordering anything.  Weird how you can go two or so hours without eating anything at all.  How ever did I make it through the entire show?

The real test was this morning.  The one that made me realize that I am stronger than I knew.  A test that proved that I actually have been transformed--what else could ever explain the phenomenon that happened today.  I (I hate to admit this for fear that someone might take my sash away) I, Stacy, went to a Girl Scout Cookie rally and did not sample a single cookie.  Not one.  Not even a thin mint.  That is pure strength.  I. Believe. I've got this.

The Orange

The fragrance of a freshly peeled orange bursting in my nostrils.  The oils lingering on my fingers.  Taunting me.  Waking me.  Pleading that I take notice.  I notice.  I do.  I notice that there is more to you then just chew, chew, swallow.  I'm aware of your texture, your coolness, the sound of your peel being gently pulled away, the weight of you in my hand, your bright color.  This isn't about forbidden fruits.  It's about awareness.  Reprogramming.  Appreciation.  Longing for a taste knowing that one day, it will be the sweetest morsel that has ever crossed my lips.  Waiting.  Wishing.  Dreaming.  Savoring one small bite at a time.  Nourishing and Nurturing pulp, thank you for filling up my senses today.